Beefed up AHC Components

[crazy1323]

Does anyone know where to get the beefed up AHC components? I am looking to add an ARB bumper and winch to my LX 570.

I am concerned about the AHC carrying the extra weight so I want to look into the AHC parts made for armored 200's and LX 570's.

Since I do not plan on any extra weight in the rear, can I just use the front beefed up components?


Thanks,
Paul

 

[4x4tripping]

What kind of stuff do you plan to do with your setup? And what else you will carry?


I suggest to start with the stock suspension. Just with Frontbar and winch - is within the normal load - which the suspension is designed for

 

[crazy1323]

What kind of stuff do you plan to do with your setup? And what else you will carry?


I suggest to start with the stock suspension. Just with Frontbar and winch - is within the normal load - which the suspension is designed for

Thanks, I guess I will run the stock suspension until it wears out. I figured with the extra weight of a steel bumper and winch, I would need to beef it up like I did in my 80 with stiffer springs.

 

[Mago]

Paul,

Toyota Nestle in Germany sells beefed up AHC shocks/coils, they use them for amoured vehicles. You would need much more than what you intend on adding to use them.. I believe they told me once 600kg (around 1500lb) more.

 

[4x4tripping]

I would try it at first with the stock suspension configuration.

When you aren't happy afterwards, try at first the stronger AHC shocks (Nestle).

I had also the stronger violet springs - what was much too stiff before I add more weight some weeks later...

 

[Mago]

I would try it at first with the stockthemension configuration.

When you aren't happy afterwards, try at first the stronger AHC shocks (Nestle).

I had also the stronger violet springs - what was much too stiff before I add more weight some weeks later...

Heinz,

Were they just springs you added or shocks as well?

When you add them without the extra weight, does the car go up and down normally? Or is it stuck at normal height?

 

[4x4tripping]

You can also set the height of the vehicle, like in stock configuration, the weight dont count there.

I had at first Frontbar & Winch and the stronger suspension - and this setup was way too stiff. Later with adding weight - it was perfect like stock. Because of this i guess - that you can drive stock, also with bullbar and winch...

 

[Mago]

Heinz,

How much more weight did you add before it felt like stock? What is the recommended added weight to start using this suspension?

 

[Mago]

Also, can you install the shocks alone or is their behavior complemented with the springs?

 

[SWUtah]

This goes to beefing up the AHC, how heavy of a tire will the stock AHC handle? Normal tire weight 41lbs, BFG AT KO2's in 275/55/20 are 54 lbs. Will the normal AHC handle this heavier tire with no ill effect?

 

[longranger]

I would try it at first with the stock suspension configuration.

When you aren't happy afterwards, try at first the stronger AHC shocks (Nestle).

I had also the stronger violet springs - what was much too stiff before I add more weight some weeks later...

Can you share more info about “violet springs,” pls. Maker & p/n. Thank you ahead of time.

 

[Mago]

Upgraded AHC suspension..

 

[longranger]

Upgraded AHC suspension..

Mago, thank you, but I don’t see the part numbers. I see your photos, which are EXTREMELY helpful, but I might just be blind.

Also, am I reading this correctly — the stock AHC-enabled LC/LX570 has different height springs in the front — Left and Right?

 

[longranger]

I re-read the entire thread, and if the heights are different, Left and Right, is that difference maintained Front and Rear?

 

[Mago]

Hi longranger,

I haven't dismantled the front suspension, only the rear coils. So I don't know if there is any height difference in the front. I suspect not.
As for the armored front springs, I will have to measure those and let you know, by next week.
I don't have part numbers, but I have their Art.-Nr.: NSAHCTOYLCV8 at Toyota Nestle, the vendor.
Equipment Land Cruiser V8: OFFROAD-NESTLE

 

[longranger]

Hi longranger,

I haven't dismantled the front suspension, only the rear coils. So I don't know if there is any height difference in the front. I suspect not.
As for the armored front springs, I will have to measure those and let you know, by next week.
I don't have part numbers, but I have their Art.-Nr.: NSAHCTOYLCV8 at Toyota Nestle, the vendor.
Equipment Land Cruiser V8: OFFROAD-NESTLE

Thank you — this is very VERY helpful for a lot of people who are trying to build expedition-capable rigs that add a lot of additional weight.

Can someone confirm whether any of the known large “armoring” shops are able to actually retain fully-working AHC?

Not surprisingly, the marketing materials for these garages rarely list component manufacturers; most often, there are just assertions like “upgraded shocks” or “heavy duty springs” — forcing us to reverse-engineer precisely what’s going on. There’s no doubt that there are “heavy load” suspension components being put in the armored versions of our beloved LC/LXs — but the key question is whether they are also able to maintain, and perhaps even expand, AHC capability.

Can anyone shed light on this, specifically in the context of 200-series LXs (or AHC-enabled LCs). Thank you.

 

[Mago]

Welcome, there are also Bilstein AHC suspension for armored cars.. I suspect those will be cheaper than the ones in Europe.

Bilstein Products | ACE Armour

I would contact Bilstein in the U.S. (if that's where you are?)

 

[longranger]

Thank you — this is very VERY helpful for a lot of people who are trying to build expedition-capable rigs that add a lot of additional weight.

Can someone confirm whether any of the known large “armoring” shops are able to actually retain fully-working AHC?

Not surprisingly, the marketing materials for these garages rarely list component manufacturers; most often, there are just assertions like “upgraded shocks” or “heavy duty springs” — forcing us to reverse-engineer precisely what’s going on. There’s no doubt that there are “heavy load” suspension components being put in the armored versions of our beloved LC/LXs — but the key question is whether they are also able to maintain, and perhaps even expand, AHC capability.

Can anyone shed light on this, specifically in the context of 200-series LXs (or AHC-enabled LCs). Thank you.

Welcome, there are also Bilstein AHC suspension for armored cars.. I suspect those will be cheaper than the ones in Europe.

Bilstein Products | ACE Armour

I would contact Bilstein in the U.S. (if that's where you are?)

Great suggestions, again. I actually have it on my to-do list to contact shops that do armored LX570s to pick their brains about particular AHC questions (not only questions about load bearing, but also questions about lengthening and/or rerouting AHC plumbing).

Just haven’t gotten around to it yet, and I figure some of the most knowledgeable and hard-core mechanics and engineers are already kicking it here on ih8mud anyway.

 

[Mago]

Please share your findings here!

 

[ElRob]

Please share your findings here!

Any update on your findings?