I have a 2003 LX 470 AHC with around 230,000 miles. I love my AHC, but it is now leaking dramatically from a line that connects to the front left shock and also less dramatically from both front shocks. Toyota dealer wants $2,300 to fix. Seems like it's probably time to delete the AHC. I use the car as a daily driver and I also drive about 60 hours each summer on rough Forests Service roads. I don't do serious overland. I haven't done any modifications to the vehicle. Looking for an economical fix that will allow me to keep doing what I'm doing. I'm handy but I don't think I would be able to do my own suspension work. I've been reading threads on this forum about AHC delete, and thought I would pose the question again for my specific situation: What do you recommend?
2003 LX 470 AHC Delete?
- Thread starter JuddGrossman
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To my knowledge, "deleting" the AHC requires changing the "shocks" to conventional LC shock absorbers. Which also requires changing the LX springs & torsion bars to conventional LC springs/tbars, because AHC "shocks" augment LX springs/tbars to support part of the vehicle weight and act as damped springs, so changing to conventional shocks requires the stouter conventional LC springs/tbars.
The conventional LC shocks also require their own washer under the top nut, the LX version has a flat so it won't work. (Unless you have beefy drill bit and drill press/clamp to drill it out.)
I converted my 1999 LX in 2010, because the AHC Accumulators had leaked down requiring replacement. OEM springs, torsion bars, and shocks were less expensive than Accumulators, which evidently require replacement about every 10-12 years due to nitrogen loss, plus the fluid for the Accumulator changeout. The conventional gear will last a lot longer than AHC; conventional springs and tbars will outlast the vehicle.
I trained and did a fair amount of suspension work as a pup, some in later years too, this conversion is not the most difficult suspension work. But if one is not comfortable doing suspension work I would not try to convince him to try it. (Lest anyone take offense with my terms - have you ever seen a woman doing suspension work? The answer is no for a reason.)
The AHC was truly magical when this vehicle was new. I much preferred it to the LC conventional suspension it now has. But c'est la vie, the AHC is too expensive to keep going long term. Maybe that is one reason LX470's seem to be getting more rare these days.
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Is your leaking line rusty? If so it's a no-brainer - convert. If you're handy it's certainly something you can do. Watch some videos before you make the call. The conversion parts don't cost much but you will have to get the washers out of Japan. AHC is great and generally durable but in a 20+ year old vehicle it can't compete with a conventional suspension for maintenance cost and peace of mind.
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There's not a ton of rust on this car. The line is leaking from where it connects at the top of the shock. My local mechanics won't work on it. Toyota says they will fix it but more stuff can go wrong. I like the idea of having a system that my local guys can work on if necessary. Would something like this be a good idea: 100 Series/LX470 Stock Height Replacement Suspension Kit - Fits 1998-2007 100 Series/LX470 Applications (OME100STOCK) - https://cruiserteq.com/100-series-lx470-stock-height-replacement-suspension-kit-fits-1998-2007-100-series-lx470-applications-ome100stock/
Yes. I think don't change out the torsion bars unless and until you perceive the need. Many people are happy with the LX bars re-indexed by a couple of splines, depends on how much weight you are adding if any. You can overdo the TBs and end up with a very harsh ride. You can do better than that on the washers at Impex in Japan.
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I just completed an AHC delete on my 04 LX and it was a bit of a project. Mine was quite rusty, so every line was junk and most of the nuts and bolts holding the components to the frame were rusted beyond easy removal. The biggest fight I had was getting the upper nuts off of the rear shocks. I ended up just cutting them with a torch depsite not wanting to get in there that close to the floor with it, it was the only way.
On a rust free vehicle, it wouldn't be too bad of a job, a weekends worth of work in a driveway or garage floor. I removed everything associated with the AHC, but you could leave lines and components where the4y are if you want a quick swap, though it will probably leak fluid for several weeks as the lines drain down.
On a rust free vehicle, it wouldn't be too bad of a job, a weekends worth of work in a driveway or garage floor. I removed everything associated with the AHC, but you could leave lines and components where the4y are if you want a quick swap, though it will probably leak fluid for several weeks as the lines drain down.
Using the original LX torsion bars without the AHC support will overload them, they will be twisted and stressed beyond design range.
Maybe they can be indexed to achieve correct ride height, but this only masks the overstressed overtwisted condition.
They may last for a while like this, but premature failure is a distinct possibility. (Unlike all-OEM condition where they will outlast the vehicle if properly designed and made as with Toyota.)
I wouldn't do it.
There is a considerable amount of evidence that this is "mud myth". There has been a lot of people, on this forum and elsewhere, who have been perfectly happy with the LX torsion bars for years on end. A great many LX owners don't add weight and don't engage in serious off-roading. One of the defining characteristics of torsion bars is that they are adjustable. There's no evidence that re-indexing by a couple of splines is stressing beyond "design range". There wouldn't be so many people doing it and happy with it if that was the case. Which is why I say don't change out the torsion bars unless and until you see a need. It's easy to do it later if necessary.