AHC vs. Slee 1.5 inch lift

[BillysIdol]

hi all
I’m considering either fixing up the AHC on my truck or just waiting and doing the Slee 1.5 inch medium duty lift. I want to keep somewhat of a stock ride height and quality. Can anyone talk on the ride quality of that kit? Any other suggestions on an AHC replacement?
Thanks

 

[TXLX100]

Are you asking about the slee shocks or OME shocks for the lift? I'd be interested to know how the slee rides. If you are looking for around stock height, non-AHC land cruiser torsion bars and Toyota shocks seem to be the safe way to go. The cheapest lift kit will be OME, and goes up from there in price with Radflo, Icon, others.

Honestly, I wish I had just used stock torsion bars and shocks when I removed AHC. Well documented, but the OME kits are rough riding for stock weight 100s. These trucks have pretty good angles and clearances in stock height and can easily fit an upsized tire.

 

[95Fantasma80]

Fix the AHC and get 33's, and continue the magic carpet ride and instant lift when needed.

 

[vman07]

My AHC was removed. I have slee remote reservoir shocks, rear OME springs, OME torsion bars, and SPC uca's, and my 07' rides on the rougher side. I never experienced AHC but I imagine it was softer than my current setup.

I imagine it would be a more plush ride with a properly functioning AHC, but no regrets on the current setup, it does well off road and I can deal with the slightly harsher ride.

 

[MattyO]

If your AHC is in good working order then keep it. You can do a sensor lift that will net you about 1.5 inches of lift and takes about 10 minutes. AHC is a great system’ don’t remove it unless it has problems. Mine is 20 years old and still going strong even with bumpers and now a winch.

 

[BEG]

If you want to maintain stock ride height and quality, fixing the AHC is the ticket. It's contrary to forum lore, but there isn't anything in the aftermarket that compares to a well- tuned AHC system unless you are ready to spend some serious cash on boutique setups.

 

[chuckscap]

Are you asking about the slee shocks or OME shocks for the lift? I'd be interested to know how the slee rides. If you are looking for around stock height, non-AHC land cruiser torsion bars and Toyota shocks seem to be the safe way to go. The cheapest lift kit will be OME, and goes up from there in price with Radflo, Icon, others.

Honestly, I wish I had just used stock torsion bars and shocks when I removed AHC. Well documented, but the OME kits are rough riding for stock weight 100s. These trucks have pretty good angles and clearances in stock height and can easily fit an upsized tire.

I had Slee replace the AHC on my 2000 LX470 with their 1.5" Medium OME lift kit and I'm very happy with it. Originally it rode rough, but it wasn't the torsion bars it was the OME Nitro Sport shocks. I replaced them with OEM Toyota LC shocks and it rides great!

 

[TXLX100]

I had Slee replace the AHC on my 2000 LX470 with their 1.5" Medium OME lift kit and I'm very happy with it. Originally it rode rough, but it wasn't the torsion bars it was the OME Nitro Sport shocks. I replaced them with OEM Toyota LC shocks and it rides great!

That's what I hear. I haven't really gone long distances offroad in my 100. Going to load it up with weight, air down 16's and see how it does before I decide on next set of shocks

 

[Somebodyelse5]

Ditch the AHC, I have seen it ruin too many trips.

 

[TXLX100]

Ditch the AHC, I have seen it ruin too many trips.

Really? What was the common failure? I know globes get stiff, but I've never heard of a failure otherwise.

 

[TXLX100]

I had Slee replace the AHC on my 2000 LX470 with their 1.5" Medium OME lift kit and I'm very happy with it. Originally it rode rough, but it wasn't the torsion bars it was the OME Nitro Sport shocks. I replaced them with OEM Toyota LC shocks and it rides great!

Do you have any issues with extension using the OEM shocks and increased ride height? Might be a cheap solution for me to consider

 

[Somebodyelse5]

Really? What was the common failure? I know globes get stiff, but I've never heard of a failure otherwise.

Honestly, I am not sure what the specific failures were, but I believe it was a globe and controller issue...the system wouldn't maintain any height. Happened at HIH8 last year and they couldn't get it fixed in a reasonable amount of time.

 

[suprarx7nut]

If most your miles and time are highway, then I'd go AHC. AHC is wonderful when it works correctly.

 

[chuckscap]

Do you have any issues with extension using the OEM shocks and increased ride height? Might be a cheap solution for me to consider

I haven't had any issues but I don't wheel hard, only to get to my favorite camping, fishing and hunting places. Up 11 miles of pretty bad rock crawling on the way to Red Mountain north of Gunnison I had no issues, but it's not really technical. Next time I'm at Slee I'll have them check and see how much articulation if any I have lost.

 

[BEG]

I haven't had any issues but I don't wheel hard, only to get to my favorite camping, fishing and hunting places. Up 11 miles of pretty bad rock crawling on the way to Red Mountain north of Gunnison I had no issues, but it's not really technical. Next time I'm at Slee I'll have them check and see how much articulation if any I have lost.

The only time I'd recommend replacing AHC is if you are constantly In excess of GVWR, since the components are engineered for a certain weight range and there aren't enough aftermarket options at the moment. What you're asking isn't a problem for AHC (especially if you're talking about replacing with something as basic as OME and stock LC shocks). The stock AHC shock actuator has more travel than the conventional LC shock and you get up to +/-4" of lift from N (2" at the touch of a button, the other 2" automatically when you're high centered) while keeping the comfort, CV longevity and gas savings at normal height while on the road.

 

[chuckscap]

I replaced my AHC when I bought my used 2000 LX470 because I had a $3000 repair credit from the dealer for anything found wrong in the first 30 days (I paid $9600 for it and it came with a new set of BFG KOs) and Lexus gave me an estimate just for parts to repair my AHC of $3600. If the AHC was in good shape I wouldn't have replaced it. As it is I'm very happy with my "new suspension" with the OEM shocks.

 

[JJ_SC]

Ditch the AHC, I have seen it ruin too many trips.

I'm curious how many times AHC has truly failed enough to ruin a trip. I've overloaded my Cruiser and caused it to quit. But that's not a failure - it's the system working correctly. So far though, I haven't really heard of someone getting stuck because AHC failed. You said you've seen too many, but only mentioned one. I suppose I should do a search, but maybe ignorance is bliss! lol.

I wonder because I love the system and want to keep it. I'm planning to do the AHC lift after the holidays. But I do have that worry of failure in the back of my head.

 

[jsigone]

My AHC was plush when it worked and didn’t have bunch of weight in the back. Fast forward to a weekend long camping and wheeling trip in the desert. Camping plus shooting gear/steel targets plus 10gal gas and 3 bundles of wood on the roof. The AHC went into limp mode 1hr into a 4hr night drive on trails across the desert to camp site. With two bundles of wood burned and put the extra fuel in the tank. The system went back to normal. Few months later I had another issue with not much extra weight on a day trip in the mts and the system failed to raise all together. 200k on AHC

Swapped out the system For what’s in my Sig. extended fox 2.0 shocks $520, swayaway t bars $230, OME 860 springs $165, TT diff drop $260. Pretty darn nice system per dollar for stock ish weight truck like mine aka stock bumpers. I have 105series rear shock in to get the extended 2.5” over OEM to match the 2.5” ome springs. Some call it slinky system setup. 100 series fox shock is 1.5” over stock. Cost is likely cheaper or same as fixing the AHC, but I like the reliable idea that if a shock fails, I can go into a off-road part store, autozone or dealership with some shock in hand to get me home for around $100. Fluid alone for the AHC is greater than $100 and I don’t need a laptop or software to diagnose it.

Btw, my setup is equal to between setting 1-2 on the AHC dial as far as plushness goes but handles turns like it’s a sport mode. Fine fit with tire pressure

 

[Joe Bob]

Keep ahc. Failure is rare. Not going to high mode because of weight is not failure, it is the system protecting itself. If you plan on caring heavy weight, ie. Bumpers, sliders, armor, etc then you will need to upgrade the springs and adjust torsion bars. I put King Springs.on mine. I'm running Dissent rear bumper, sliders, gobi stealth rack, packed with 2 adults, 2.kids,.130lbs of dogs and towing a UEV490 and my maintained AHC works great on my '06!

 

[Ramathorn15]

Keep ahc. Failure is rare. Not going to high mode because of weight is not failure, it is the system protecting itself. If you plan on caring heavy weight, ie. Bumpers, sliders, armor, etc then you will need to upgrade the springs and adjust torsion bars. I put King Springs.on mine. I'm running Dissent rear bumper, sliders, gobi stealth rack, packed with 2 adults, 2.kids,.130lbs of dogs and towing a UEV490 and my maintained AHC works great on my '06!

This. I'm loaded more than most 100s on here and love the AHC. I have:

16 gallons of water in spare location
14 gallons of water on rear bumper
5 gallons of fuel on rear bumper
Rtt as far back as possible
Drawers that stay loaded with kitchen and recovery gear
Two 60lbs dogs
Dissent rear bumper
Hilift
Shovel
Axe
Traction mats
Trasharoo sometimes loaded with fire wood

I now run the stock coils and tbars from a Land cruiser that I recently lifted. It drives amazingly, even loaded up with ridiculous weight.