I have AHC in my 2000 LX. I have a diff drop and speed override switch. I run on high a lot. But I’d like to raise the front slightly just to level the truck (I really don’t like the rake when it’s at N and it still has rake at H... so can I do this by JUST ADJUSTING THE FRONT HEIGHT SENSORS? Can I do this and nothing else? I don’t have techstream or anything. And I don’t know what my pressures are. Thanks in advance,
2-2.5" AHC Lift Using King Coils & Shock Spacers
- Thread starter DirtDawg
- Start date
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You could adjust the rear down to match the front
Yes, I could and I may do that instead of lifting the front, however; I’ll be adding an ARB combination front bumper next week and would like to know how to handle the torsion bars, adjustments etc for that too. I really like AHC and want to keep it. But I also like the lifted look .
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I messed up. Big time. I adjusted the turnbuckle linkages up front (effectively making them shorter, but without any cutting). Now my front end is way high and isn’t adjusting down. I don’t know what my pressures are but it’s super stiff up front, and AHC isn’t adjusting is back down. Ugh. I had no business messing with this LOL. Any help?
First I'd make them longer and see if that fixes it.
Yes, I did that but it’s still sitting way up high in the front. I’ve driven it several times since, hoping the AHC system would lower it back down but nothing has worked. It seems like the pressure is really high also, almost no give to the front suspension, hops at bumps in the road etc... I’ve made the turnbuckles as long as they’ll go. Don’t know what to do next.
Did you try disconnecting the battery?
Touché
Mission accomplished!
What was the solution
Goodness... I’m not quite sure I could say what or why it finally worked out. I swear it has a mind of its own, Here’s what I was doing when it worked:
Unscrewed the height sensor turnbuckles entirely. Let the sensor arm fall all the way down, then I started the truck. The front went sky high. When it stopped, I put it AHC in high and raised the rear. Then, with the truck still running; I got out of the cab and fiddled with the sensor arms, (shortening the distance between, which dropped the front in my case... exactly the opposite of what I had read?), this lowered the front a little bit. I kept messing around with the arm, up and down until I had the level height I wanted. Then screwed the turnbuckles down. Drove it around. Works great. I’m sure tomorrow it’ll s**t the bed. LOL
I adjusted mine today too. I just slid the front spacers all the way to the top and gained about 3/4 of an inch and leveled the truck.
I'm gonna get a diff drop before I go higher
I'm gonna get a diff drop before I go higher
Yes, I had new CV’s installed and Slee diff drop just a couple weeks ago.
Approx. how much of the HEIM joint do we cut off to achieve 2.5" lift.
I managed to break the adjusting bolt in the helm joint on my driver's side front height sensor. It just sheared off right where it enters the bottom part of the assembly.
Any suggestions or part numbers for a replacement (short of a whole new height sensor)?
Any suggestions or part numbers for a replacement (short of a whole new height sensor)?
Super helpful thread - thanks to everyone who contributed!
I gathered all the a various parts to do the king springs/ahc lift at the same time as I replaced one of the lower ball joints. Was going to be both lower ball joints, but we mangled the first new one, so called it good just replacing one (only one had a torn boot, so oh well).
Just some comments that were discussed along the way but are kinda hard to dig out. This is on an otherwise stock 06 LX470 wearing 275/70R18 tires.
- the cv boots will hit the spacer bodies at full droop with the wheels fully turned (with both front wheels in the air).
- I had to bend the rear brake line brackets to free up some slack when the 100 was lifted off the ground (probably not a problem while wheeling unless you're jumping it).
- the limit to droop on the front with stock upper control arms and the brackets installed when both front tires are off the ground is the upper control arms hitting the strut dust shield.
- the limit to the rear droop when both wheels are off the ground is when the sway bar hits the strut bodies
- there's basically no pressure holding the rear king springs in when lifting the vehicle off the ground. I assume this is due to the slightly shorter uncompressed length of the kings. I'm not sure if this is a problem or not yet.
I was an idiot and so didn't get a before/after lift measurement. Definitely sits taller, I'd guess in the 1.5 inch range. The alignment was toed in about 3/4 of an inch thanks to the lift, but in going to drive it a couple weeks before getting it aligned so I can make sure the springs are settled and the car is level before paying for that work.
With the sensors, I just took the rear to max adjustment on the slider, and the fronts I trimmed about 1/4 inch off each end and screwed them in most of the way. Before and after below.
I like the ride - feels stiffer, particularly in the rear. I was worried it would be too stiff (I really like the cushy ride of the ahc suspension) but it's not at all. Definitely stiffer than stock though, no doubt, and I only carry around maybe 100 lbs of tools and such every day, so not a big load like drawers/fridge/grills/etc. I'm sure when we're loaded for camping, it'll be great.
My pressures were 6.7 ish front and 5.8 or so rear. I'll double check that this weekend after another round of bleeding the ahc.
I gathered all the a various parts to do the king springs/ahc lift at the same time as I replaced one of the lower ball joints. Was going to be both lower ball joints, but we mangled the first new one, so called it good just replacing one (only one had a torn boot, so oh well).
Just some comments that were discussed along the way but are kinda hard to dig out. This is on an otherwise stock 06 LX470 wearing 275/70R18 tires.
- the cv boots will hit the spacer bodies at full droop with the wheels fully turned (with both front wheels in the air).
- I had to bend the rear brake line brackets to free up some slack when the 100 was lifted off the ground (probably not a problem while wheeling unless you're jumping it).
- the limit to droop on the front with stock upper control arms and the brackets installed when both front tires are off the ground is the upper control arms hitting the strut dust shield.
- the limit to the rear droop when both wheels are off the ground is when the sway bar hits the strut bodies
- there's basically no pressure holding the rear king springs in when lifting the vehicle off the ground. I assume this is due to the slightly shorter uncompressed length of the kings. I'm not sure if this is a problem or not yet.
I was an idiot and so didn't get a before/after lift measurement. Definitely sits taller, I'd guess in the 1.5 inch range. The alignment was toed in about 3/4 of an inch thanks to the lift, but in going to drive it a couple weeks before getting it aligned so I can make sure the springs are settled and the car is level before paying for that work.
With the sensors, I just took the rear to max adjustment on the slider, and the fronts I trimmed about 1/4 inch off each end and screwed them in most of the way. Before and after below.
I like the ride - feels stiffer, particularly in the rear. I was worried it would be too stiff (I really like the cushy ride of the ahc suspension) but it's not at all. Definitely stiffer than stock though, no doubt, and I only carry around maybe 100 lbs of tools and such every day, so not a big load like drawers/fridge/grills/etc. I'm sure when we're loaded for camping, it'll be great.
My pressures were 6.7 ish front and 5.8 or so rear. I'll double check that this weekend after another round of bleeding the ahc.
Alrighty, so it's been a couple weeks. I like the way it sits, but I'm not thrilled with the spacer brackets and how it affects the suspension.
So, first off, I just raised the vehicle enough to get my front and rear pressures to the low end of spec. The front is around 6.0 mpa and the rear about 5.5 mpa. Not sure of the lift amount, but I'd guess in the 1/1.5 inch range.
Negatives - already starting to dent the dust cover on the ahc shocks up front. Oem control arms hit the shock body before anything else limits travel when lifting the whole vehicle. I might add a carefully sized pvc (or whatever I can find) shield to the shock body to spread the pressure a little more at full droop.
I'm hopeful that under actual 4wd conditions, the sway bar will prevent the front upper control arms and rear sway bar from hitting the shock bodies.
Apart from that, it's a great, cheap option. If you only want the looks of a lifted 100 series, this is the cheapest easiest way. Unfortunately, I get off pavement as much as possible, and I'll need to deal with the front/rear shock clearance issue sooner rather than later. I was hoping to avoid aftermarket upper control arms (and can't afford them right this second), but that will likely fix the front. The rear... Dunno. Helper springs (to prevent losing the springs) and limit straps maybe?
So, first off, I just raised the vehicle enough to get my front and rear pressures to the low end of spec. The front is around 6.0 mpa and the rear about 5.5 mpa. Not sure of the lift amount, but I'd guess in the 1/1.5 inch range.
Negatives - already starting to dent the dust cover on the ahc shocks up front. Oem control arms hit the shock body before anything else limits travel when lifting the whole vehicle. I might add a carefully sized pvc (or whatever I can find) shield to the shock body to spread the pressure a little more at full droop.
I'm hopeful that under actual 4wd conditions, the sway bar will prevent the front upper control arms and rear sway bar from hitting the shock bodies.
Apart from that, it's a great, cheap option. If you only want the looks of a lifted 100 series, this is the cheapest easiest way. Unfortunately, I get off pavement as much as possible, and I'll need to deal with the front/rear shock clearance issue sooner rather than later. I was hoping to avoid aftermarket upper control arms (and can't afford them right this second), but that will likely fix the front. The rear... Dunno. Helper springs (to prevent losing the springs) and limit straps maybe?
Following. Great info here to someone like me who is new to AHC!
Planning to give my 2006LX a mild 1.5”-2” lift to fit in 275/70R18 BFG KO2s.
Like what others have mentioned, I love how the versatile the AHC is, my kids and wife love the cushy ride. We all agreed that it sits a little low compared to the previous trucks we’ve owned so I have to do a mild lift to it.
I have a few questions for those who have done this mod:
- So for me to lift my LX 1.5” - 2” (max), is it really necessary to install the front and rear lower shock mount steel spacers (or replace rear coil springs to KINGS)?
- Let's say I just want to level the front with the rear, will adjusting the heim/sensor at the front do it? (it currently looks like it's kneeling or stooped down in the front - sorry I am not familiar yet with the terms I have no idea what's it called).
**Current setup:
- stock tires
- stock torsion bars
- 100 miles on to the new AHC fluid
- cranked the driver and passenger side torsion bars 4 1/2 turns yielded to 3/4" lift at the front (which I think was still not enough to level the front to the rear)
- i have no techstream to read pressures of the front and rear globes
Thanks in advance gents.
Planning to give my 2006LX a mild 1.5”-2” lift to fit in 275/70R18 BFG KO2s.
Like what others have mentioned, I love how the versatile the AHC is, my kids and wife love the cushy ride. We all agreed that it sits a little low compared to the previous trucks we’ve owned so I have to do a mild lift to it.
I have a few questions for those who have done this mod:
- So for me to lift my LX 1.5” - 2” (max), is it really necessary to install the front and rear lower shock mount steel spacers (or replace rear coil springs to KINGS)?
- Let's say I just want to level the front with the rear, will adjusting the heim/sensor at the front do it? (it currently looks like it's kneeling or stooped down in the front - sorry I am not familiar yet with the terms I have no idea what's it called).
**Current setup:
- stock tires
- stock torsion bars
- 100 miles on to the new AHC fluid
- cranked the driver and passenger side torsion bars 4 1/2 turns yielded to 3/4" lift at the front (which I think was still not enough to level the front to the rear)
- i have no techstream to read pressures of the front and rear globes
Thanks in advance gents.
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