1999 Lexus LX470 Further Inquiry; shocks and accumulators cost

[hmanasi93]

Hello everyone,

I posted a thread a few weeks ago on a 1999 Lexus LX470 that needed a lot of work but was for a really good price. I ended up taking a quick detour and bought a 97 LS400 that I bought as-is and flipped for $600 profit in 10 days and I'm looking for my next "project"/winter car.

I went back to craigslist and I found the guy re-posted that LX470 that I was looking at before and I thought i'd give the guy a call and see what was going on. This time the guy answers me almost immediately and I set up an appointment for the same day for me to see the car. Then the story behind this truck gets pretty interesting once I start talking to the guy.

Turns out this truck was a one owner truck to a Vietnamese family in Chicago, Illinois; I found a bunch of insurance cards to the guy and his family inside the truck from StateFarm Insurance. After digging a little, it turns out the truck was bought from a online auction (dealer only). I tried googling the previous owner's name to see if there was any contact info I could find on him and call him to see if I could get more info but I couldn't nothing in the white pages. Did a Illinois title search on the VIN and the last record is Statefarm taking the vehicle as lien to sell it through their online auction portal. I might end up getting a carfax to see what they have.

Anyway, to make this thread as non-obtrusive as I can, here's the run down once I saw the truck: The truck needs a pain job...... BAD. The whole truck is scratched up everywhere. I attached a link to my imagur so you can see the pictures. The suspension has good and bad; the AHC module is working great as are the pump and compressor for the system (I heard them engage). What is shot are the shocks and (I suspect) the accumulators as I noticed a bunch of leaked fluid underneath the wheels wheels and the guy confirmed it was from the suspension. There are no warning lights on the dash and I tried switching from LO to NORM for the suspension and it tries to engage the truck but nothing. The inside is filthy and the drivers seat and steering wheel need replacement. The steering wheel power adjustment will only adjust for tilt and the sunroof isn't working. Anyone with this issue?

That is the bad; the GOOD is that the Engine, Transmission, and 4WD are working as harmonic as anything I've ever encountered. Engine purrs, transmission shifts like a dream all in modes, and the 4WD will engage and disengage in anyway, shape, or form you ask it. Again, no warning lights for any of the these. The truck only has 135K actual miles (clean title). And everything else checks out.

My question to you guys: What are best shocks and accumulators that are on market now for performance; I'm not going to compromise to save a few bucks. I intend to use this truck for a little and sell it later. I don't want something so costly it doesn't make economic sense but I want good value. The struts OEM from Toyota in the links are about $800 all around and the accumulator spheres are also $800.

The guy from what I saw realizes he screwed up big time buying this truck from online auction and just wants to get rid of it; he's a Mercedes guy and doesn't know or appreciate these trucks enough to fix them. He just wants out of it. I think he will take $4200 for it. I talked him down to $4800 when I saw him, which is $600 is less than his posting. Thoughts?

Pictures of the truck are here:

Imgur

Parts:

Lexus LX470 Shocks & Struts | eBay

 

[Phat1842Many]

I pulled all the AHC stuff and put in the Fox 2.0 shocks with OME t-bars in the front and OME 865 springs in the back. It handles ok, is pretty comfortable and has a 1.5" lift from factory. If you do the work yourself following the guides on here it should cost $1,200 ish for parts (I paid more but I'm in France so everything here is crazy expensive to get your hands on). Pulling all the AHC stuff is a 2 banana job. Putting on the new stuff is a 1 banana. If you don't have a proper heavy duty jack and stands add that to the cost.

Search for 'keep AHC' in the 100 part of the forum for all you need to know. I vote for ditch the headache and possible crazy cost of AHC.

Cheers

 

[hmanasi93]

I'd like to keep the AHC in it and keep the car as stock as possible; especially considering the clean title and low mileage, even with the rough body. I'll look more into this issue but if I want a spring and shock set up, id just get the LC!

I wish this forum would have told me that the pictures weren't view-able though! I apologize greatly for any inconvenience but I am new to Imagur so here are the published pics.

1999 Lexus LX470 Project Vehicle

Anyone else have any input on the suspension?

 

[PADDO]

I wouldn't even contemplate installing new shock actuators or accumulator globes until the root cause of why the system is in Low/on bumps is understood and corrected. First off, not being able to raise to N will prohibit you from bleeding the system post shock/accumulator install so you'd still be in L or on the bumps and $1600 out of pocket (and those globes at $440 a pair with free shipping from Japan sound to good to be true). My recommendation is to learn how the whole AHC/AVS works (eg it doesn't have a compressor and the damper accumulators have no affect on raising/lowering) and then determine why it's not functioning before investing in it. Without the knowledge, experience and willingness to properly diagnose and repair this system you'll likely end up randomly throwing parts at it and wasting a lot of money. Honestly, and judging from the overall poor condition of that truck, I'd encourage you to consider replacing the AHC with conventional used LC takeoff parts if you're going to flip it.

 

[TexasCrane]

I'd be wary of a pair of accumulators for $400. That's less than the usual price for one.

 

[SWUtah]

Chicago truck, if the top side looks bad how much rust is on the bottom side? Go to stock LC suspenison if it's not a rust bucket.

 

[bctlex]

I dont see how the current purchase price (4.2K) + fixing whatever that is broken (including AHC) to make sense. This LX has AHC problem, interior and exterior is beat, major rust on the top rear hatch, and my guess the underneath is in terrible shape from rust. Also my guess here, that the vehicle most likely do not enjoy regular maintenance in its life.

I would rather buy a more expensive but well maintained vehicle with 200-250K miles ... but this is your decision, not mine.