Ahc Globe material

[ronnunan]

After ordering from Impex, customs charge me the 25% tariff because they said my globes had aluminum in them.
Can anyone confirm the material inside a globe? What aluminum could be inside?

 

[baltistyle]

After ordering from Impex, customs charge me the 25% tariff because they said my globes had aluminum in them.
Can anyone confirm the material inside a globe? What aluminum could be inside?

Pretty sure it’s steel. Can check with a magnet on your current ones. Not sure how rust would eat it if it were aluminum… though there is a tiny check valve inside.

 

[juicemode]

Also think steel, elastomer bladder inside. I can check with magnet in the morning.

 

[kbfj621989]

I’m reading that steel auto parts are also subject to the tariffs. Just tell them that you are doing the final assembly in the US.

 

[IndroCruise]

After ordering from Impex, customs charge me the 25% tariff because they said my globes had aluminum in them.
Can anyone confirm the material inside a globe? What aluminum could be inside?

There is no aluminium involved in the construction of the OEM Toyota/Lexus AHC 'globes' for LC100 and LX470.

It is much more likely that IMPEX and/or US Customs have decided to recognise the new US Tariff arrangements, even if the actual reason given in this case is not quite correct.

The AHC 'globes' (formally called 'Gas Chambers' in LC100 and LX470 Factory Service Manuals) are the "diaphragm" type of hydraulic-nitrogen accumulators (as distinct from "piston" type accumulators such as the cylindrical AHC Height Control Accumulator mid-way along the LHS chassis rail, and also distinct from "bellows" type accumulators such as the AHC Attenuator located below the AHC Pump). See more at .

Each LC100/LX470 'globe' consist of a hard, thick (~6mm) carbon steel shell made up of two "cups" (upper and lower) which are welded by the electron beam method after putting in place the diaphragm a.k.a. "resin membrane sandwiched between rubber layers" (FSM description).

As shown in the pics, the membrane has a steel "button" at the centre to stop the membrane from being extruded under gas pressure into the fluid entry at any time during storage or use.

After assembly, each 'globe' is pressurised by the manufacturer as specified in the FSM and as shown below via a steel valve at the Gas Fill Point at the top of the 'globe'. This fill point is then sealed and cannot be re-used. The LC100/LX470 'globes' (same items and Part Numbers on both kinds of vehicles -- Front 49141-60010 and Rear 49151-60010) -- are not repairable. There are no other devices inside the LC100/LX470 'globes'

The shell is magnetic as shown in the pic below (using a magnetic radio antenna):

The 'globes' are heavy objects for their size. The Front AHC 'globe' Part Number 49141-60010 hits the scales at about 2.25 kilograms (5 pounds).

There is no way that AHC 'globes' (a.k.a. 'spheres' a.k.a. 'Gas Chambers') are aluminium.

Land Cruiser Scotland produced a video showing his efforts to cut through an LC100 'globe' and expose the inner contents:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3vzd3h0Ad

More general informantion about Diaphragm Accumulators can be found in the attachment.