Lexus RX300 (MCU15). Manual - part 51

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CHASSIS — DRIVE SHAFT

77

DRIVE SHAFT

JDESCRIPTION

D The front drive shaft uses the double offset type CVJ (Constant Velocity Joint) on the front differential

side, and Rzeppa type CVJ on the wheel side.

D The rear drive shaft uses the tripod type CVJ on the rear differential side, and Rzeppa type CVJ on the

wheel side.

" Front Drive Shaft A

187CH04

187CH05

Wheel
Side

Double Offset Type CVJ

Rzeppa Type CVJ

Front
Differential
Side

Right Side

Rzeppa Type CVJ

Double Offset Type CVJ

Wheel
Side

Left Side

Front
Differential
Side

" Rear Drive Shaft A

187CH06

Wheel
Side

Rear
Differential
Side

Rzeppa Type CVJ

Tripod Type CVJ

Right and Left Side

CHASSIS — SUSPENSION AND AXLES

78

SUSPENSION AND AXLES

JSUSPENSION

1. General

A MacPherson strut type independent suspension is used for both the front and rear suspension.
On the LEXUS RX300, the characteristics, the allocation of the components, the spring and shock absorber
have been optimally tuned to realize excellent riding comfort, stability and controllability.

187CH44

" Specifications A

Tread

mm (in.)

1566 (61.6)

F

Caster*

1

degrees

2

°09’

Front
Suspension

Camber*

1

degrees

–0

°24’

Suspension

Toe-In*

1

mm (in.)

1 (0.04)

King Pin Inclination*

1

degrees

12

°10’

R

Tread

mm (in.)

1555 (61.2)

Rear
Suspension

Camber*

1

degrees

–0

°42’

Suspension

Toe-In*

1

mm (in.)

3 (0.12)

*

1

: Unloaded Vehicle Condition

CH

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CHASSIS — SUSPENSION AND AXLES

187CH09

Base
Valve

Rebound
Spring

Rebound
Stopper

Stopper Plate

Linear Control
Valve

79

2. Front Suspension

General

The MacPherson strut type suspension features an L-shaped lower arm with strut bar function.  Its optimal
suspension geometry ensures smooth controllability, and assists stability, riding comfort, and the ability
to overcome rough terrain.

187CH08

Shock Absorber

1) General

Low-pressure (N

2

) gas sealed front shock absorb-

ers with a linear control valve and a built-in re-
bound spring have been adopted to realize both
driving stability and riding comfort.

CHASSIS — SUSPENSION AND AXLES

174CH02

Low 
Speed

Medium and 
High Speed

Conventional
Valve

Linear
Control
Valve

Piston Speed

Extension 
Side Damping
Force

Damping Force Characteristics

80

2) Linear Control Valve

The linear control valve consists of a C-valve, a cutout valve and a leaf valve. These valves adopt a lami-
nate construction and form orifices.  At low piston speeds, the oil flows through the cutouts of the valves
to achieve a linear damping force.  At medium and high piston speeds, the valves flex to increase the
amount of oil that flows through, thus reducing the 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.
At medium and high piston speeds, the damping force is reduced to lessen the vehicle vibrations in rela-
tion to the roughness of the road surface.

174CH04

C-Valve

Low Speeds

Medium and 
High Speeds

Leaf
Valve

Cutout
Valve