2009 LX 570 AHC questions.

[one4x4dad]

I am a new owner of a 2009 LX570 with 73k miles. One owner super clean and fully maintained by Lexus. I had a LX470(bone stock) and 100 series LC (kitted out by previous owner) previously.

The level of the suspension is off from drivers to passenger side throughout the 3 ranges. The front is lower on the drivers side by 3/4" on L M and H and rear is lower by 1/4" on the passenger side across the 3 selections as well.
It was noted on Thursday that I would need a drivers front strut by my mechanic. He said the drivers side is almost to the level where lexus recommends to change them ( he looked at eh fluid weeping on the strut body about 1/2 way down). Passenger side is just 1" of wetness on top of shock body. He said to change both fronts at the same time. He said I would be ok driving it for a couple of weeks. I am taking the kids on a 1k mile round trip tomorrow . He did not quote a price for doing this. The AHC was serviced at 61k miles and fluid changed by Lexus. No leaks anywhere. I just swapped the F & R diff fluid as well as the transfer case.
1. Can/should I adjust this with the sensor?
2. Should I get the struts swapped before we leave?
3 Will this be ok to drive for the next week?
4. What is the worse case scenario that could happen? Could the suspension fail completely and go to the lowest setting?
5. Should I swap all 4 if we are doing 2?
6 Should I swap to conventional shock setup ie: OME, King etc?
7

Does anyone know a good cruiser mechanic in the Houston area?

Thank you in advance.

 

[tbisaacs]

Only you can make that choice—but I drove for a year on 2 leaking shocks with no change In performance or function. Just keep an eye on the fluid level.

that being said, replacement is really no bigger deal then conventional shocks. Don’t go dropping coin on ripping it out just for that. My Indy mechanic charged me around $800 in labor to replace all of mine. Parts were about $500.

Some side to side difference is normal. If you crawl under the rear passenger side and look at the sensor you’ll see that it’s offset a bit for fuel tank.

 

[one4x4dad]

I did just fill the fuel tank.

 

[radman]

Leveling the left/right is relatively easy, but you may need an alignment after adjusting. Does it drive straight now?
What part of town are you in? Happy to take a look or help out with anything.

duggy's garage is one of the preferred shops in town, but they don't mess with AHC.

 

[TeCKis300]

Those height differences are within normal

Only you can make that choice—but I drove for a year on 2 leaking shocks with no change In performance or function. Just keep an eye on the fluid level.

that being said, replacement is really no bigger deal then conventional shocks. Don’t go dropping coin on ripping it out just for that. My Indy mechanic charged me around $800 in labor to replace all of mine. Parts were about $500.

Some side to side difference is normal. If you crawl under the rear passenger side and look at the sensor you’ll see that it’s offset a bit for fuel tank.

I echo this. A minor weep to the AHC shock is different than a standard shock. Any leak or weep on a standard shock would suggest it's already failed with large losses in function as they rely on charge pressure when manufactured. AHC shock pressure is continually maintained by the system. With an order of magnitude more fluid than that of a standard shock. A weep would be so slow that fluid loss may be almost unnoticeable. Like oil to the engine, one can continue to top it off and use, until the weep becomes something more.

 

[one4x4dad]

Thank you guys, I will make sure we have fluid and just watch it for now. We are in Katy.

 

[one4x4dad]

My mother had an Sl500 that had a type of AHC. Her mechanic told her he could replace it for 3800 or sell her a qt of mineral oil @ $25 and she could keep filling it twice a year. It ran for 2 years just fine with her adding fluid in her trunk filler.

 

[one4x4dad]

It drives perfectly straight. And the system raises each section in about 6 seconds. If I try and raise the system the second time it is definitely slower. Also it seems to level at stop lights starting with the rear.

 

[radman]

Thank you guys, I will make sure we have fluid and just watch it for now. We are in Katy.

any of the Toyota dealers will carry the fluid.

shine a bright light under the AHC reservoir (or hit it from the side from the top of your spare) to see what level you're at.