2-2.5" AHC Lift Using King Coils & Shock Spacers
- Thread starter DirtDawg
- Start date
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DirtDawg - I see where you purchased the King Coils and AHC spacers, where did you purchase the front/rear sway bar links and rear sway bar bushings from?
I am new to MUD and just bought my first 2004 LX. Have new black 18x9 +18mm wheels set to some BF KO2 285/65s and will be looking to lifter her up next.....
By the way thanks for this thread and have fun on your trip to CO, can't wait to see pics.
I am new to MUD and just bought my first 2004 LX. Have new black 18x9 +18mm wheels set to some BF KO2 285/65s and will be looking to lifter her up next.....
By the way thanks for this thread and have fun on your trip to CO, can't wait to see pics.
DirtDawg
"It'd be alot cooler if you did"
- Thread starter
- #44
Welcome to mud! Be sure to post up your ride once you get all the goodies on!DirtDawg - I see where you purchased the King Coils and AHC spacers, where did you purchase the front/rear sway bar links and rear sway bar bushings from?
I am new to MUD and just bought my first 2004 LX. Have new black 18x9 +18mm wheels set to some BF KO2 285/65s and will be looking to lifter her up next.....
I just sourced aftermarket parts from rock auto. I don't mind going with aftermarket on non-critical items like sway bar hardware. As for the trip, we're headed out tomorrow morning after class! I might log on and post up sow pics halfway through, but you'll probably just have to wait til I get back
hoser
SILVER Star
A little bit late to the thread... I do own a pair of front shock spacers but have yet to install them. But I do know Rohitash has been running them for the past 10 years as we purchased them at the same time and he hasn't exactly babied his LX. I can only offer my opinion on the front spacers... take it for whatever it's worth. The front spacer can add a little bit of down travel to the front suspension. Without the spacer, the "shock" limits the down travel. With the spacer, the balljoint/UCA area contacting the shock limits the down travel. Ideally, there would be a limiting strap but I don't think it is as bad as it sounds. With the spacer, up travel is not reduced because the the AHC shock's compressed length is quite short (IIRC). If anybody has some front AHC shocks out of the vehicle, please post the compressed length.
As far as CV problems with extra down travel, I don't think it is a concern with the minimal amount of down travel gain. Just gotta go easy on the throttle like you would when the wheels are fully locked to one side. Plus, when the suspension is fully extended, there is usually hardly any grip on that one wheel.
Let me install my front spacers in the coming weeks and then I'll be able to give a better assessment.
The top arm contacting the shock is not a good thing, but can be either fixed by a limit strap as you mentionned, how ever it should already give a good 20mm extra drop at the shock mount, so a good 35mm at the wheel. it could be possible to remove the top shock shield to clear the room for the top arm, just as koni raids are, no top shield, or fit soft top shields as bilstein or OEM sport shocks, but it make the job a bit more complicated as you need to take the shock out of the car for that
I am not getting contact between my light racing UCA and my actuator when at full droop with the AHC spacer installed. It's very close but no contact. I believe my anti sway bar is my limiting factor of down travel and I'm ok with that.
We with AHC don't have shocks, we have a hydraulic actuator and I'm pretty certain that the top portion would not be able to be modified in this way.
We with AHC don't have shocks, we have a hydraulic actuator and I'm pretty certain that the top portion would not be able to be modified in this way.
DirtDawg
"It'd be alot cooler if you did"
- Thread starter
- #50
Well Ive been back from my trip for over a week now, guess I should post my findings.
As for stuffing/extending with the spacers, It was not an issue for me. Fully cycled the front and rear multiple times with no issues or damage. I took some pics, but they were not at the extreme point of travel (I apologize as I usually am having so much fun that I forget to take pics).
The truck rode pretty well the whole trip minus a little front end vibration due to slightly out of balance tires. But I have come to a conclusion. Whether my system is fully working or not (I think I have a rear globe hitting the crapper), it does not handle the oversized tires well. IDK if I am just generally a fan of firmer suspension, or just being a snob, but the AHC is way to soft for my taste. Even with the knob in the stiffest setting, it still doesn't handle like I want it too. So I think I'm going to eventually just swap in OME/Icon setup. Plus part of me feels reassured with new suspension parts under the beast. Also the spacers creak like an old wooden boat. Im going to try some white lithium grease to see if that quiets them down, but man did I notice it on the trail. The last thing is that I am going to toy with my pressures a little bit. The rear handles well unloaded, but not well loaded, so I am going to throw some 30mm spacers onto of the King coils to lower that back down.
As for stuffing/extending with the spacers, It was not an issue for me. Fully cycled the front and rear multiple times with no issues or damage. I took some pics, but they were not at the extreme point of travel (I apologize as I usually am having so much fun that I forget to take pics).
The truck rode pretty well the whole trip minus a little front end vibration due to slightly out of balance tires. But I have come to a conclusion. Whether my system is fully working or not (I think I have a rear globe hitting the crapper), it does not handle the oversized tires well. IDK if I am just generally a fan of firmer suspension, or just being a snob, but the AHC is way to soft for my taste. Even with the knob in the stiffest setting, it still doesn't handle like I want it too. So I think I'm going to eventually just swap in OME/Icon setup. Plus part of me feels reassured with new suspension parts under the beast. Also the spacers creak like an old wooden boat. Im going to try some white lithium grease to see if that quiets them down, but man did I notice it on the trail. The last thing is that I am going to toy with my pressures a little bit. The rear handles well unloaded, but not well loaded, so I am going to throw some 30mm spacers onto of the King coils to lower that back down.
DirtDawg
"It'd be alot cooler if you did"
- Thread starter
- #53
Posting to update.
The spacers squeak for me. Like over every bump. I am going to first tighten to see if that remedies anything, if not I will disassemble and reinstall with grease on the mating surfaces. Otherwise I have no complaints.
I feel like my rear end could benefit from lowering the pressure a little bit, so I have decided to lower my overall suspension ~1" to improve handling characteristics in the front (I have a ton of bump steer @ 21.75") and to lower the neutral pressures in the rear. Will report back on how this goes.
Ultimately my long term goal is to rip out the AHC and replace with a 2" ironman set up. Between not-perfect globes, and just the general wear on the system from almost 17 years of use, the susp still doesn't ride the best. Plus I'm a conventional susp guy and prefer springs and shocks under me. I also see icon in my future at some point and this will help set me up for that.
The spacers squeak for me. Like over every bump. I am going to first tighten to see if that remedies anything, if not I will disassemble and reinstall with grease on the mating surfaces. Otherwise I have no complaints.
I feel like my rear end could benefit from lowering the pressure a little bit, so I have decided to lower my overall suspension ~1" to improve handling characteristics in the front (I have a ton of bump steer @ 21.75") and to lower the neutral pressures in the rear. Will report back on how this goes.
Ultimately my long term goal is to rip out the AHC and replace with a 2" ironman set up. Between not-perfect globes, and just the general wear on the system from almost 17 years of use, the susp still doesn't ride the best. Plus I'm a conventional susp guy and prefer springs and shocks under me. I also see icon in my future at some point and this will help set me up for that.
DirtDawg
"It'd be alot cooler if you did"
- Thread starter
- #54
Posting to update.
I lowered the lift down to improve handling characteristics and to decrease the bump steer I had.
Before/After:
Front Height: 21.75" / 20.5"
Rear Height: 23" / 21.5"
Front Pressure: 6.5 / 6.4
Rear Pressure: 6.5 / 5.6
Wow, I was amazed at how much the ride improved from lowering the front ~1". Bumps are less harsh and my bump steer is completely eliminated. I found that my lower bushings on my front and rear "shocks" are pretty much blown.
As for the squeaky spacers, I found that both lower mounting boots were not fully torqued, so I disassembled, covered the mating surfaces in anti-seize, then reassembled. I'm glad to report that my Lexus no longer sounds like a '90s chevy coming down the road.
I lowered the lift down to improve handling characteristics and to decrease the bump steer I had.
Before/After:
Front Height: 21.75" / 20.5"
Rear Height: 23" / 21.5"
Front Pressure: 6.5 / 6.4
Rear Pressure: 6.5 / 5.6
Wow, I was amazed at how much the ride improved from lowering the front ~1". Bumps are less harsh and my bump steer is completely eliminated. I found that my lower bushings on my front and rear "shocks" are pretty much blown.
As for the squeaky spacers, I found that both lower mounting boots were not fully torqued, so I disassembled, covered the mating surfaces in anti-seize, then reassembled. I'm glad to report that my Lexus no longer sounds like a '90s chevy coming down the road.
Is there anyone out there that has done this install that lives near Sacramento? I'd love to chat with you about your experiences. Please pm me.
My AHC is still working so I think I am going to go with the Slee override controller Part: SOF1104 - for $50.00
Does anyone know if IH8MUD peps get any discounts on Slee? If not no biggie, $50 won't break the bank. lol
Need to remove the running boards and get some sliders on this bad boy next!!!
Does anyone know if IH8MUD peps get any discounts on Slee? If not no biggie, $50 won't break the bank. lol
Need to remove the running boards and get some sliders on this bad boy next!!!
I have a slee override I'm no longer using if you're interested. Id be willing to $40 to your door
DirtDawg
"It'd be alot cooler if you did"
- Thread starter
- #58
I am not based out of Sacramento, but am willing to answer any questions you have.
To clarify, this lift was performed to increase the load capacity of the LX, while providing a lift that keeps the travel within the stock ranges of the hydraulic shock. My AHC works fine, just the combo of not-fully charged globes and the old system causes a not-stock ride.
Nothing wrong with the slee override controller, but I feel it to be a little unnecessary. You can achieve the same goal by adjusting your sensors as shown in this thread. Whichever direction you go I suggest you keep your globe pressures in spec to keep your system working well.
uHu
Bridgeburner
About 320 mm from the underside of top mount to the center of the lower bolt.
This pic shows about 326 mm, but when you tighten the top nut, the rubber will compress a bit.
Would you happen to have the extended length, too? Maybe for the rears also? I think this is the first time anyone has posted AHC shock specs.
