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- #21
There is no lift. Just swapping out. Thanks for your help.
1999 LX470 Very Bouncy Ride and Front Drops to Low Height Position
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just replace the sensor...
I'd like to see the linkage, maybe it's just come apart, maybe easy to remedy. I'd try taping it together just to see if that helps before I started ordering lc replacement suspension.
I'm not sure about the front sensor, but the rear sensor has an inexpensive dorman replacement equivalent, maybe the front does too.
AHC Failure- Front end dropped - sensor?
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Yes, all three sensors are the same part #. And a relatively easy replacement, if you don't rush it and pay attention to the position of the original linkage and sensor.
If it's that rusted out, I would entertain looking for a different/southern 100.
I had a similar symptom with my 2001 LX very bouncy ride. I won't go into all the details, you can see my thread if you're interested. But my globes (front ones at least) were shot. There was some debate about what the cause of my bouncy ride was but in the end, with the very generous help of PADDO, I was able to pull my front globes and verify they were toast. Even if the back ones weren't toast, they were soon to follow. And keep in mind, my LX went to H & L OK. But my front end would randomly lower and then raise back up. Not normal. And my ride was crap (bouncy). Borderline unsafe.
I debated whether to bite the bullet and buy new globes but in the end, with the age of my truck, I decided to just go with the LC set up. I paid cash for the truck, bought from original owners. I put $1500 in maintence in it and hadn't planned on paying another $2k to replace the globes.
I was going to buy the LC suspension conversion kit from cruiserparts.net but I ended up having my mechanic buy the OEM parts from his buddies at Toyota (he used to work there) and I saved myself a little cash. The shocks are cheap, the rear springs are pretty expensive. But I paid him $400 in labor, $550ish for parts and another $90 for the alignment (done at a different shop down the way).
Some extremely knowledgeable members here on this board have said that LC torsion bars should to be installed as the LX bars cannot support the front end without the ACH system. I told my mechanic this and he said no, they will be fine. I quoted everyone I had talked to saying the opposite but he said don't worry about it. OEM Landcruiser torsion bars are not cheap, $300-$400 for each side and I hadn't really worked those into the equation. When I went to pick it up, it was perfect. He said the alignment shop had to re-index the bars but they were just fine. The height was perfect too (originally my front end was several inches lower than the rear) and now the front was about 1/2" lower...totally changed the look of the car.
How is the ride?? SO SOLID. I feel like I'm driving a nimble beast. It's completely stable and balanced. I've got a slight inclined portion of road on my drive home from work that goes over several rail road tracks. I used to slow way down and cringe as my front end bounced like a pogo stick. Now I can take those same tracks at 50mph and it's so tight. Is it buttery smooth? No but my other car is an LS460 so if I want a cloud like ride I drive that. With the LC set up, I can feel the road and I feel very secure. It's comfortable, and did I say SOLID? I don't know what the LX should have rode like with a proper functioning AHC system because mine never functioned properly. But I'm so glad I went with the LC set up. It should be headache free.
My mechanic that did the work also drives an LX470, his is a 2006. He compared the LC ride to his and said it's somewhere between the middle 2 settings. Not COMFORT and not SPORT. I'd say that seems somewhat accurate but again, my ACH was tainted. Side note: He said as he emptied out the ACH reservoir, there was about 1/2 of sludge at the bottom and he's almost certain it was power steering fluid. But the system was definitely contaminated and after hearing that, I was so glad I decided to move on from the ACH system. Whatever the sludge was was most likely in the lines and everywhere else in the system. Not even sure if you can clean something like that completely out??
And he disconnected the ACH system under the dash so the ACH lights on my dash are out and I pulled the ACH control on the console and put in an OEM LC console dish. So it looks pretty stock.
That's my story, hope it helps.
I debated whether to bite the bullet and buy new globes but in the end, with the age of my truck, I decided to just go with the LC set up. I paid cash for the truck, bought from original owners. I put $1500 in maintence in it and hadn't planned on paying another $2k to replace the globes.
I was going to buy the LC suspension conversion kit from cruiserparts.net but I ended up having my mechanic buy the OEM parts from his buddies at Toyota (he used to work there) and I saved myself a little cash. The shocks are cheap, the rear springs are pretty expensive. But I paid him $400 in labor, $550ish for parts and another $90 for the alignment (done at a different shop down the way).
Some extremely knowledgeable members here on this board have said that LC torsion bars should to be installed as the LX bars cannot support the front end without the ACH system. I told my mechanic this and he said no, they will be fine. I quoted everyone I had talked to saying the opposite but he said don't worry about it. OEM Landcruiser torsion bars are not cheap, $300-$400 for each side and I hadn't really worked those into the equation. When I went to pick it up, it was perfect. He said the alignment shop had to re-index the bars but they were just fine. The height was perfect too (originally my front end was several inches lower than the rear) and now the front was about 1/2" lower...totally changed the look of the car.
How is the ride?? SO SOLID. I feel like I'm driving a nimble beast. It's completely stable and balanced. I've got a slight inclined portion of road on my drive home from work that goes over several rail road tracks. I used to slow way down and cringe as my front end bounced like a pogo stick. Now I can take those same tracks at 50mph and it's so tight. Is it buttery smooth? No but my other car is an LS460 so if I want a cloud like ride I drive that. With the LC set up, I can feel the road and I feel very secure. It's comfortable, and did I say SOLID? I don't know what the LX should have rode like with a proper functioning AHC system because mine never functioned properly. But I'm so glad I went with the LC set up. It should be headache free.
My mechanic that did the work also drives an LX470, his is a 2006. He compared the LC ride to his and said it's somewhere between the middle 2 settings. Not COMFORT and not SPORT. I'd say that seems somewhat accurate but again, my ACH was tainted. Side note: He said as he emptied out the ACH reservoir, there was about 1/2 of sludge at the bottom and he's almost certain it was power steering fluid. But the system was definitely contaminated and after hearing that, I was so glad I decided to move on from the ACH system. Whatever the sludge was was most likely in the lines and everywhere else in the system. Not even sure if you can clean something like that completely out??
And he disconnected the ACH system under the dash so the ACH lights on my dash are out and I pulled the ACH control on the console and put in an OEM LC console dish. So it looks pretty stock.
That's my story, hope it helps.
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I think that's the best way to go.So only parts you needed were 4 shocks and rear springs.As you say alot of people say change torsion bars but even here in UAE everybody leave the standard Lx ones have no issues.Did he just disconnect the AHC not take it out and for the lights not show up in dash is it only disconnecting underneath dash and fuse box on engine bay.
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Yes, all that was needed was 4 shocks and rear springs. He left the globes installed so they didn't leak all over the damn place. He got the shocks out and capped the lines that went to those (if anyone wants them for cheap in SoCal, PM me...they are only couple years old). As far as the ACH goes, I found a thread on here where someone said there is a module under the steering wheel above the pedals for the ACH. I told my mechanic that and I guess he unplugged it? I don't know that he touched any fuses but I cannot be certain. No error lights and no ACH lights (little truck and H N L lights all off).
Sounds simple not to complicated.Might have to do mine in future.I will be leaving standard torsion bars see how ride feels as you did and have no issues.
Keen to hear how the underrated TBs perform long term, particularly whilst underway with the vehicle loaded to GVM.
One of the forums sponsors, i believe its cruiserparts.net has a stock non-AHC LC suspension system listed on their site for significantly less than $1000.
There's nothing wrong with buying used LC bars, provided they weren't rusty. The heaviest half of the car is on those lexus bars.
You bought new rear springs, why would you not defer your money to the important half of the car. For that matter, there's no reason to not buy used front LC bars and used rear LC springs. What if there were 4 torsion bars, Which set would you replace first, front or rear?
You bought new rear springs, why would you not defer your money to the important half of the car. For that matter, there's no reason to not buy used front LC bars and used rear LC springs. What if there were 4 torsion bars, Which set would you replace first, front or rear?
I'll definitely report back if the LX TBs don't hold up. My guy that did the work worked at Toyota for years and then Lexus before opening his own shop...for whatever that's worth. He said he checked the part numbers for the LX & LC and they both default to the same part no. now...so I don't know? I don't know what system he was checking but I imagine that he wouldn't put me in a unsafe situation considering I insisted he triple check the TB requirements. I was on the verge of sounding like I was arguing with him, insisting the TBs needed to be replaced. I checked around for used LC bars and couldn't locate any. If I need to pick up LC bars down the road, I gladly will. I've been driving with my current set up for about 4-5k miles including a 1500 mile road trip with the LX loaded down and it performed flawlessly.
Curious to know how the LX bars held up over time.