Bilstein Shock Compatability with AHC (1 Viewer)

[LXRookie]

Hi All,

I'll try to keep this organized:

Sitrep: All 4 Shocks need replacing on my 05 LX with AHC system that I want to keep

Problem: 4 new AHC compatible OEM shocks (48510-69127/ 48530-69145) will cost ~$1000 all told with taxes and shipping.

Question: Bilstein shocks (4600 series) are cheaper, but are the compatible with the AHC system?

 

[94SRUNNER]

Hi All,

I'll try to keep this organized:

Sitrep: All 4 Shocks need replacing on my 05 LX with AHC system that I want to keep

Problem: 4 new AHC compatible OEM shocks (48510-69127/ 48530-69145) will cost ~$1000 all told with taxes and shipping.

Question: Bilstein shocks (4600 series) are cheaper, but are the compatible with the AHC system?

They are not compatible. You must replace them with either new or used AHC shocks.

 

[uHu]

Why would you want to change the shocks on an AHC equipped truck? It doesn't have shocks like a conventional suspension system has. Suspension damping happens in the actuators, not in what looks like shocks. Have you read the AHC threads in here? If you did, you could change your username soon

 

[CanadianRockyCruiser]

I'll bet that your shocks don't need to be changed. I'll bet that your AHC neutral pressures need to be adjusted. Read:

Definitive list of AHC maintenance items

My nagging "issue" with AHC is wondering if the suspension doesn't feel quite right. I feel bumps pretty well and I subjectively recall an older 100 series land cruiser standard suspension feeling like being on a cloud vs the small cracks in the road. The question is driving me insane when I'm...

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[LXRookie]

I'll bet that your shocks don't need to be changed. I'll bet that your AHC neutral pressures need to be adjusted. Read:

Definitive list of AHC maintenance items

My nagging "issue" with AHC is wondering if the suspension doesn't feel quite right. I feel bumps pretty well and I subjectively recall an older 100 series land cruiser standard suspension feeling like being on a cloud vs the small cracks in the road. The question is driving me insane when I'm...

forum.ih8mud.com

Thanks for the reply! I had my AHC neutral pressures adjusted to be close to spec (the back were too high when the front were in line) but I was still disappointed with the ride so I went looking and found these. To my untrained eye it looks like 2/4 of these are blown and 1/4 is damaged pretty significantly. Anyone care to take a look and tell me if I'm wrong?

 

[CanadianRockyCruiser]

What pressures are you getting in the front and rear? Looks like they were definitely leaking. If they have subsequently been adjusted back to spec, that might just be residual oil. Consider cleaning it off and testing to see if it re-emerges. At the same time, check the fluid level and color in your AHC reservoir.

Have you checked how many graduations on the AHC reservoir your fluid moves from high-to-low? Harsh ride is frequently associated with shot accumulators. As an additional aside, consider checking your ball joints.

 

[uHu]

The most rusty part is the protective shield of the shock. Cut it off like this:

Clean and anti-rust treat

and put on a piece of plastic drain pipe as a shield. It will last much longer

 

[uHu]

Old and new:

 

[LXRookie]

uHu, thank you very much! You are the man!

 

[suprarx7nut]

@LXRookie those shocks (actually just hydraulic rams) look fine. Dripping fluid = bad. Wet surface = potentially fine.

AHC rams rarely go bad. When they do, they'll often be leaking with droplets of fluid.

Rusty protective sleeves are fine.