Latest Guides
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GX470 Suspension Refresh: What to Replace While It Is Apart
Lexus GX470, model years 2003 through 2009. This guide covers the refresh job only. The coil conversion itself is covered in Rear Air Suspension: Diagnose and Coil Conversion for the Lexus GX. Table of Contents Toggle The Job Check First, Before You Order The Refresh List, In Order OEM or Aftermarket: The Summary Table The…
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Will a Differential Drop Kit Fix My Front-End Vibration? (GX470, GX460)
You lifted your GX, and now there is a vibration or hum from the front end. Someone in a forum thread tells you to buy a differential drop kit. This guide explains what the kit actually does, what it will not fix, and the diagnostic order that saves you from buying parts you do not…
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Do You Need Upper Control Arms With a 2.5 to 3 Inch Lift? (GX470, GX460)
You lifted your GX two and a half to three inches, got the alignment checked, and the shop tells you the caster is maxed out and the truck still wanders. Or you are planning the lift and wondering whether the upper control arms on your shopping list are actually necessary. This guide answers that question…
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GX Timing Belt or Chain? What Each Generation Has and What It Means for Maintenance
The short answer Generation Years Engine Belt or chain? Scheduled service? GX470 2003-2009 2UZ-FE 4.7L V8 Timing belt Yes, every 90,000 miles or 108 months1 GX460 2010-2023 1UR-FE 4.6L V8 Timing chain No replacement interval GX550 2024+ V35A-FTS 3.4L twin-turbo V6 Timing chain No replacement interval The belt vs chain split is the reason GX470…
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GX470 Exhaust Manifold Tick: Crack, Flange Leak, or Broken Stud?
The GX470 runs the 2UZ-FE 4.7 liter V8, and high mile examples often announce themselves on the first start of the day. You turn the key on a cold engine and hear a sharp ticking from one side of the engine bay. The tick follows engine speed, grows louder under load, and fades as the…
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Should You Replace Your GX470 Radiator Before It Fails? Side-Tank Leaks, Pink Milkshake Risk, and OEM vs Aftermarket
Applies to: Lexus GX470 2003-2009 (2UZ-FE 4.7L V8). GX460 and GX550 notes included at the end. Who This Guide Is For You own a GX470 with 150,000 miles or more and you have either found dried pink crust on the top of the radiator, watched the coolant level drop with no puddle under the truck,…
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Lexus GX550 Buying Guide: Is the Twin-Turbo V6 Worth It Over a Used GX460 or GX470?
The twin-turbo V6 makes more power and tows more than any GX before it. The old V8s have twenty years of proof. Here is the honest three-way math, the first-year problems and their fixes, and which truck to buy. Who This Guide Is For You are cross-shopping three very different trucks: a new GX550 at…
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Lexus GX Towing Guide: Real Ratings, Real Payload, and the Hitch Setup That Works
Yes, the GX can tow 6,500 lbs. Both the GX470 and the GX460 are rated for it, and the GX550 goes further, up to 9,096 lbs on the Overtrail trim. The rating is not the hard part. The hard part is the payload. A family of four, a full tank, gear in the back, and…
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How Much Does It Cost to Own and Maintain a Lexus GX?
Meta description: What does a Lexus GX really cost to maintain per year? Real owner numbers for the GX470, GX460, and GX550: dealer vs independent vs DIY costs, big ticket repairs by mileage, and whether the Lexus extended warranty is worth it. The GX has a reputation for being the cheapest way to run a…
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Heater Hose Tees: the Cheap Plastic Part That Can Strand Your Land Cruiser
Your heater tees are small plastic T-shaped connectors in the heater hoses behind the intake manifold. They split coolant flow to the front and rear heaters. They are made of plastic, they bake in the engine bay for a decade or more, and when one lets go it dumps coolant fast. This is a known…