Airbags with AHC?

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kgrove

kgrove

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Jul 23, 2008
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45
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565
I'm getting mixed messages. I have a 2007 LC with AHC suspension - everything stock. My boat is a little tongue heavy, more so than my previous boat, and crushes the rear suspension so I wanted to add airbags. I've searched this site and seen numerous recommendations of the Airlift 1000 including some folks who added them to AHC suspended trucks. I had my local off road shop call around to get parts and they claim both Air Lift and Firestone don't "approve" of using their airbags with AHC suspension - say it messes everything up.

What gives? What happens if I install air bags on an AHC suspension truck? What loss of functionality do I have under normal driving or when loaded with heavy weight (trailer)? What specific experience do people here have with airbags on AHC trucks? What do I need to tell my mechanic that Air Lift and Firestone aren't telling them?

If this doesn't work, I may have to sell my truck and get something with more guts. LCs are crappy tow cars anyway, but the way my new boat swamps the suspension it rides like crap. I love my truck too much to replace it if there is a few hundred $$ fix for the suspension that will make the ride every other week while towing more tolerable.
 
I traded messages with hoser on this board about chaging out ahc springs for 80 or even 100 LC springs

Hoser, you may want to chime in...

For towing I've mainly heard of Air bags and have never heard you can't use them with ahc.
 
hoser said:
Give the airbags a try, it's less than $100 and 1-2 hrs of your time.
Click to expand...


Theoretically you are correct, but in my case I have to pay somebody else to do the work for me. I don't have the tools, facilities, experience, or time. I took it to the local shop recommended by a few others, but the shop won't do it since Air Lift and Firestone are both claiming air bags should not be put on an AHC sprung Land Cruiser.

If I can't figure this out, my other option is to sell my Land Cruiser and get a Tundra. Land Cruisers are great at many things, but unfortunately towing is not one of them.
 
I just can't find a solution to this. Nobody out there has details of how they added airbags to an AHC sprung LC? I hear hints and rumors its possible and been done, but can't find enough details and part numbers that I could take the car someplace to get it fixed. Getting very close to selling my favorite ever car because it can't handle the weight of my boat trailer.
 
Bring it over to Hoser then...

There are a few threads on this issue in here. Seems to be unproblematic. Some links below. Also read on the Oz forum, quite a few doing this down under.

When looking for airbags - might be better to search for the Lexus LX470. Same vehicle - different badge. The LX had AHC from 1998 to 2007.

Another solution is to reduce the tongue weight, move the boat back a bit. Never understood the US standards for tongue weight. Over here, a ball hitch is normally approved for a maximum of 75 kg (165 £) tongue weight, even if the GW of the trailer is 3.5 metric tons (7700 lb).

Threads:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/100-series-cruisers/501443-lx470-ahc-airbags.html
https://forum.ih8mud.com/100-series-cruisers/426704-air-bags-ahc-coil-springs.html
https://forum.ih8mud.com/showpost.php?p=1851357&postcount=4
 
How about installing a medium load 1.5" lift OME kit... and the airbags. Your local off-road shop would do it then, right? Seems like a better long term plan for towing anyway.

Are you running a weight distribution hitch?
 
I'll look into the lift kit.

I've read all those other threads (though will re-read and make sure I didn't miss something), but none of those showed specific installs on AHC sprung trucks. I talked to Firestone directly and they claim the airbags and AHC should not be combined as they fight against each other... Doesn't make sense to me but that's their claim, and as long as they are claiming that I won't be able to get a mechanic to install the bags or get a part number that will be correct for my truck (could get same part number as for normally sprung LC of same year, but springs are different - may need different length or diameter bag). It makes sense to me that the airbag and AHC would be fighting each other if the airbag were inflated more than necessary for the load I'm carrying. Incidentally, they are claiming this is not an issue unique to LC AHC systems and that airbags should not be installed on ANY truck with a leveling system.

I tried the angle of telling them it was an LX 470, but same story. They say if the LX had AHC, its a no go. Did ALL LX 470s have AHC or was it an option? They do list a 2007 LX 470 part number but their support line claims it only is for non-AHC LX 470s.
 
hoser said:
How about installing a medium load 1.5" lift OME kit... and the airbags. Your local off-road shop would do it then, right? Seems like a better long term plan for towing anyway.

Are you running a weight distribution hitch?
Click to expand...

Forgot your other question - No, no weight distribution hitch. Weight distribution hitch would screw up the surge brakes on my boat trailer.
 
I've never heard of or seen a LX without AHC. I understand the shops not wanting to do it for liability concerns. My opinion is airbags with AHC is the same concept as the torsion bars on the front, they carry load. I say go for it, when you find a place or someone to help you out. If the AHC acts wonky with airbags, then you can take them out and you are back at square one. Unless you really want a lift...

Has anyone ever installed bump stops with AHC suspension?
 
CreeperSleeper said:
I am running bags and AHC. I have had no issues at all. Everything functions as designed.
Click to expand...

How did you find the right part number? Same as what they indicate for non-AHC LC or LX470 of the same year?

Now I just have to find somebody who is willing to do the install...
 
I finally found a mechanic willing to install air bags in my 07 LC. That's the good news. The bad news is looking underneath I don't think he installed them correctly.

Do I remember right that they are supposed to cut the bump stop down quite dramatically? It looks like they left the bump stop at its full length, which means the air bags are slightly compressed or squished all the time. My fear is this will cause the airbags to be pinched or break much earlier than designed. Comments? If this is correct, does the fix require basically a full un-install followed by an re-installation after trimming the stops? Or is there a way to shave the stop down with the bag still in place? Since I can't do this work myself (I have neither the time nor the lifts and jacks), I'm on the hook for expensive labor rates unless I can convince them they should have known. This one is probably my fault since I supplied the parts and just asked them to install - I didn't print out full blown specific instructions for them to follow.
 
I'm pretty sure I saw a thread on here really recently that showed something of an enlarged hole above where the airbag was to be installed. It was for mounting or something? I don't have AHC or airbags so I can't speak with certainty on here but I definitely recall seeing a rig on here with larger holes for airbags.
 
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