AHC with harsh ride (1 Viewer)

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Sorry, no help here. I swapped to traditional suspension and still have the same issues. I swapped every rubber piece that I could see as associated with rude quality and it’s still the same. Finally gave up and really hate to sell it because the 100 series is so solid otherwise but don’t drive it more than once a week or so.
I wonder if it could be body mount bushings? I actually have those already, but it seems like a lot of work, hahaha.
 
Did you ever sort this out? I've got the same issue.

New globes from Impex, new fluid, new OEM bushings alllllll around (upper and lower shock bushings, upper/lower front control arms, upper/lower rear control arms)l, panhard bushings).

Pressures are in spec - rears are actually a little low since I swapped to king springs, but prior to that they were a little high on old OEM AHC springs and it rode the same.

Doing the 16 step test on all four corners seem to indicate that the damper actuators are working properly, and it changes steps as I drive as it should.

Ride quality on little stuff SUCKS (my 700' gravel driveway is hell), but it is smooth over medium/big stuff.

I've put a lot of time, effort (rear upper shock bushings...), and money into keeping AHC, but I'm currently super dissapointed.

Any wisdom from @IndroCruise, @PADDO or @uHu ?
I've seen, here on mud, a few cases like this reported. Really puzzling.
When everything measures the same as on a truck with a more comfy drive, what can be wrong?
One thing to check, if you haven't, is that the steering sensor is straight, as the L/R valves (gate) will close at a steering angle of more than 30 deg (or was it 35), which gives a harsher ride (like having a solid anti roll bar).
Otherwise, I can think of
1- air bubbles in the valves (bleed, again),
2 - type of tyres, and tyre pressure,
3 - pollution in the hydraulic system,
4 - height sensors with loose linkages or unstable signal (worn carbon trace).
 
@LJE @Joshuak172
Have either of you guys replaced your body mount bushings?
 
No, I haven't yet changed body mount bushings.

To put things in perspective, I've got a 2003 Sequoia on an Eibach 1" lift that has all poly urethane bushings in the front end. It still sucks up minor road variations SO MUCH better than the LX.
 
I've seen, here on mud, a few cases like this reported. Really puzzling.
When everything measures the same as on a truck with a more comfy drive, what can be wrong?
One thing to check, if you haven't, is that the steering sensor is straight, as the L/R valves (gate) will close at a steering angle of more than 30 deg (or was it 35), which gives a harsher ride (like having a solid anti roll bar).
Otherwise, I can think of
1- air bubbles in the valves (bleed, again),
2 - type of tyres, and tyre pressure,
3 - pollution in the hydraulic system,
4 - height sensors with loose linkages or unstable signal (worn carbon trace).

@uHu , maybe you know the answer on this. Only the vgrs equipped have a steering angle sensor. I did some logging on my MY'99 and it shows a reading for the steering angle with a value of 85.5 degrees. Is this a default value if it doesn't see the sensor, or not equipped? Or am I entirely wrong and all MY100's have the sensor? Unless Toyota used different terminology, I have been thru the FSM/EWD and found nothing of the sort.

I to have the high speed rebound damping issue. Just figured I was due for some basic fluid maintenance as it's been a while.
My numbers are a bit low 5.8/6.0 but that's because I was set-up with a lot more weight that has since been removed.
However, I noticed that the damping concern is not consistent and seems to respond to me toying with the damping switch.
 
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yes, tons of work and didn't help

No, I haven't yet changed body mount bushings.

To put things in perspective, I've got a 2003 Sequoia on an Eibach 1" lift that has all poly urethane bushings in the front end. It still sucks up minor road variations SO MUCH better than the LX.
Have you bled each corner recently to check for air bubbles?

One of the guys on here last year or 2023 maybe had new globe(s) fail soon after install. Bleeding a while after install generally makes that obvious. Not a common thing, but it can happen.
 
yes, tons of work and didn't help
Just to be clear, I'm referring to the bushings between the body and frame, not the suspension components, upper/lower control arms, etc. Removing these bushings, except for the front and rear corners, isn't that much work, IMO.

Just wondering, because I replaced these on my 80 and it made a noticeable difference. Granted, it doesn't have AHC, but still...I'm trying to plan PM for my 2000 LX470 before it goes off to live a new life with my son after college.
 
Just to be clear, I'm referring to the bushings between the body and frame, not the suspension components, upper/lower control arms, etc. Removing these bushings, except for the front and rear corners, isn't that much work, IMO.

Just wondering, because I replaced these on my 80 and it made a noticeable difference. Granted, it doesn't have AHC, but still...I'm trying to plan PM for my 2000 LX470 before it goes off to live a new life with my son after college.
Yes, the body mounts bushings. There were 8, maybe 10 of them? It has been a while and while they weren’t the hardest thing to change out it was definitely time consuming and there was no perceived improvement in ride quality. I did this after changing out ever other suspension bushing. Upper and lower control arms, sway bar bushings, steering rack, trans mounts, transfer case, engine mounts, etc.
 
Thanks for the reply. This is good to know information. Can you share how many miles you have on your truck and what tires you have?
 
Thanks for the reply. This is good to know information. Can you share how many miles you have on your truck and what tires you have?
182k. It’s had this issue since 130k or so. Consistently regardless of tire, e rated ko2, p metric at3, c rated Toyo mt currently.
 
@uHu , maybe you know the answer on this. Only the vgrs equipped have a steering angle sensor. I did some logging on my MY'99 and it shows a reading for the steering angle with a value of 85.5 degrees. Is this a default value if it doesn't see the sensor, or not equipped? Or am I entirely wrong and all MY100's have the sensor? Unless Toyota used different terminology, I have been thru the FSM/EWD and found nothing of the sort.
If you have AHC, you have a steering angle sensor. On cars without vgrs, it's very easy to reset the sensor. Just make sure to have the steering straight, then unplug and replug the sensor, and reset fault code.
 

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If you have AHC, you have a steering angle sensor. On cars without vgrs, it's very easy to reset the sensor. Just make sure to have the steering straight, then unplug and replug the sensor, and reset fault code.

Thanks for the pdf. I had searched in the ewd for the sas and was coming up empty. This could very well be the route of my problem.
 
If you have AHC, you have a steering angle sensor. On cars without vgrs, it's very easy to reset the sensor. Just make sure to have the steering straight, then unplug and replug the sensor, and reset fault code.
I believe I did reset my SAS and still no change. I'll double check to make sure my front & rear gate valves are opening/closing as they should though.
 
If you have AHC, you have a steering angle sensor. On cars without vgrs, it's very easy to reset the sensor. Just make sure to have the steering straight, then unplug and replug the sensor, and reset fault code.

So I looked into the SAS this afternoon. Didn't use Techstream but used the Autel unit at our shop. Baseline reading showed approx -85'.
I unplugged the sensor while observing the data and it didn't flatline or throw a fault. However, I was able to get it to zero out by removing the steering wheel, spinning the sensor until it read zero, unplugged it to hold the zero value, re-centered, and plugged back in. Now reads '0' with the wheel centered.

I will say I feel a noticeable difference in the high speed bump response and absorbs them a bit better now. Definitely not as harsh as it was before.
Could use a good fluid flush and some pressure tweaks and I think it'll be near perfect.

Thank @uHu
 
Alot of good information here!
I have a 99 mod 4,2 diesel with 407000kms on it that have some issues with the AHC when the outside temperatur drops under 0°celcius. Then it gets this bumpy ride-feeling, and the AHC OFF light is blinking in the dashboard. After 10 minutes of driving things get back to normal and the heightlevel sets correctly.
I have new coils, new rear oem hydraulic dampers (old where leaking) and new fluid in the system. I get 7-8 marks fra H to L in the fluidtank.

Thinking of replacing all four globes. Is that the way to go?

Could it be that the gaslevel is low, and get even lower in cold temp?
 

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