Lexus ES300 (2002 year). Service manual — part 118

CHASSIS – SUSPENSION AND AXLE

CH-33

211CH56

Upper Support

Optimized characteristics

Coil Spring

Optimized spring constant

Lower Arm

Extended arm length

Optimized characteristics

Stabilizer Bar

Optimized spring constant

Shock Absorber

Increase stroke

Linear control valve used

Service Tip

To prevent hazardous conditions, make sure to empty the gas from the shock absorber before discarding
a low-pressure (N

2

) gas sealed shock absorber. For details, refer to the 2002 LEXUS ES300 Repair

Manual (Pub. No. RM911U).

181CH22

Front

King Pin Axis

Axle Center

2. Front Suspension

General

Through the optimal allocation of components, and the adoption of the nachlauf geometry, the front
suspension realizes excellent riding comfort and controllability.

Nachlauf Geometry

The front suspension adopts the nachlauf
geometry in which the king pin axis is located
ahead of the axle carrier. As a result, excellent
straightline stability has been realized and the
steering feeling has been improved.

CHASSIS – SUSPENSION AND AXLE

CH-34

174CH03

Low-pressure
Gas (N

2

)

Linear
Control
Valve

206CH29

199CH110

Low Speeds

Damping Force Characteristics

C-Valve

Cutout
Valve

Leaf
Valve

Extension
Side Damping
Force

Compression
Side Damping
Force

Low Speed

Medium and High Speed

Linear Control Valve

Conventional Valve

Piston Speed

Shock Absorber

1) General

Low-pressure (N

2

) gas sealed front shock

absorbers with a linear control valve have
been adopted to realize both driving stability
and riding comfort.

2) Construction of Linear Control Valve

The linear control valve consists of a C-valve, a cutout valve and a leaf valve. These valves adopt a
laminate construction and form orifices. At low piston speeds, the oil flows through the cutouts of the
valves to achieve a linear damping force.
Through the adoption of the linear control valve, the changes in the damping force are made constant
at low piston speeds, thus making the vehicle behave more smoothly in relation to the steering operation.

CHASSIS – SUSPENSION AND AXLE

CH-35

208CH16

Upper Support

Optimized characteristics

Coil Spring

Optimized spring constant

Shock Absorber

Optimized damping force characteristics

Lower Arm

Revised bushing characteristics

To prevent hazardous conditions, make sure to empty the gas from the shock absorber before

discarding a low-pressure (N

2

) gas sealed shock absorber.

Removal/installation of the height control sensor or replacement of the rear suspension will cause the

height control sensor output to change on models equipped with the automatic headlight beam level
control system. If any such work is done, perform initialization in order to store the value of the height
control sensor output in the memory of the headlight beam level control ECU and adjust the aim of
the headlight beam.

For details, refer to the 2002 LEXUS ES300 Repair Manual (Pub. No. RM911U).

Service Tip

3. Rear Suspension

General

Rear suspension realizes excellent stability and controllability by optimizing the suspension geometry and
the allocation of components.
The wheel stroke has been increased to ensure stability and ride comfort on rough roads.

CHASSIS – SUSPENSION AND AXLE

CH-36

208CH18

Large load distribution to No. 1 arm

Small load distribution to No. 2 arm

Lateral Force

Toe-in

208CH17

Large retraction of No. 1 arm

Small retraction of No. 2 arm

Longitudinal Force

Cornering Geometry

When a lateral force is generated, the load becomes distributed to the No. 1 and No. 2 suspension arms as
shown below. This causes the wheels to toe-in, in order to ensure the proper stability of the rear suspension.

Braking Geometry

When the longitudinal force is generated, the displacement locus of the No. 1 and No. 2 suspension arms
will toe-in as shown below, in order to ensure the stability of the vehicle.