MauiUZJ
Gotta have duct tape...
- Thread starter
- #21
@PADDO Thank you for your informative post. I concur that the 25.5mm Torsion Bars are wholly inadequate in a Non-AHC suspension. As I have learned more about torsion bars, and driven a few more miles with the knowledge gained, I believe I definitely need the 60% or more stiffer front TB's to improve the ride, and I thought it was too stiff at first... But really now I feel the springs allowing rapid movement of the wheel, and the OME shocks with their aggressive valving are trying control the rapid movements of the poorly sprung wheels, and it all is quite jarring to the driver and passenger up front. The front and rear of the vehicle seem to handle bumps quite differently, which is disconcerting. I do not want to take it off road the way it is now, as I think it will stress components in unintended ways, and possibly bend the Torsion adjusting bolts.
Unless you count my 88 Camry LE Alltrac with CDL, this is the first 4wheel drive Toyota I have owned that was not riding on a solid front axle, and three of those had leaf springs. This LX470 rides worse than any of them over rough pavement and potholes at moderate speeds. Wish it were riding at least as good as a Land Cruiser 80 series....
Previous full time or part time 4WD Toyotas I've owned.
85 Pickup, SR5 Long Bed Extra Cab, 22R W. 20R head & Weber 38D, stock height with triple front shocks.
85 4Runner, 3VZE & Auto swap, 5.29 gears, Powertrax No-Slip Rear, 35" SS on 16" deep rims, ~8" lift.
87 FJ60 2F, Stock Height, 4 speed manual, Factory springs
88 Camry Alltrac, 3SFE, 5 speed, and CDL, all stock.
92 FJ80, 3F, Stock Height, 31" BFG's, CDL. (Miss this one the most right now).
@Julian Stead : The PO had a local suspension shop on Maui do what they could for nearly 2k, & none of the parts they removed are still available. I am missing the front & rear AHC shocks, & rear AHC springs that I know of.
Accumulators and pump/reservoir are still in place although it looks like they drained all the AHC hydraulic fluid, and at least the rear accumulators are dead.
Reinstating the AHC would be fine, maybe even preferable for most of this trucks intended uses.
I don't know as I have never ridden in an AHC equipped vehicle. Sounds complicated, but given the FSM and time I am sure i could fix it...
If I found a set of decent take off parts I would consider revamping the AHC, but I have too many projects right now to take that on and I really just need this truck to fill it's intended role ASAP so it can "earn it's keep".
I Posted on a couple of classifieds last night about AHC parts, so we will see what the cost there might be.
The Dealer Quote for getting the AHC working was several thousand more than I paid for the truck.....
Doesn't matter since I would never take it in to them for anything other than the annual safety inspection, free coffee, and to comment on the Gaudy Grill on the new LX570 in the showroom.
I do all my own car repairs and mods, as time and money allow, so I guess I am not your typical Lexus owner.
This coming month I am simply trying to get this truck up to a decent level of functionality, i.e. Riding like a truck is better than feeling like it is on blocks up front.
Later I do plan to off road the LX, or at least load it up and take it on the rough back roads and trails to remote beaches around the back side of the island on family camping adventures....
One fine day...
Unless you count my 88 Camry LE Alltrac with CDL, this is the first 4wheel drive Toyota I have owned that was not riding on a solid front axle, and three of those had leaf springs. This LX470 rides worse than any of them over rough pavement and potholes at moderate speeds. Wish it were riding at least as good as a Land Cruiser 80 series....
Previous full time or part time 4WD Toyotas I've owned.
85 Pickup, SR5 Long Bed Extra Cab, 22R W. 20R head & Weber 38D, stock height with triple front shocks.
85 4Runner, 3VZE & Auto swap, 5.29 gears, Powertrax No-Slip Rear, 35" SS on 16" deep rims, ~8" lift.
87 FJ60 2F, Stock Height, 4 speed manual, Factory springs
88 Camry Alltrac, 3SFE, 5 speed, and CDL, all stock.
92 FJ80, 3F, Stock Height, 31" BFG's, CDL. (Miss this one the most right now).
@Julian Stead : The PO had a local suspension shop on Maui do what they could for nearly 2k, & none of the parts they removed are still available. I am missing the front & rear AHC shocks, & rear AHC springs that I know of.
Accumulators and pump/reservoir are still in place although it looks like they drained all the AHC hydraulic fluid, and at least the rear accumulators are dead.
Reinstating the AHC would be fine, maybe even preferable for most of this trucks intended uses.
I don't know as I have never ridden in an AHC equipped vehicle. Sounds complicated, but given the FSM and time I am sure i could fix it...
If I found a set of decent take off parts I would consider revamping the AHC, but I have too many projects right now to take that on and I really just need this truck to fill it's intended role ASAP so it can "earn it's keep".
I Posted on a couple of classifieds last night about AHC parts, so we will see what the cost there might be.
The Dealer Quote for getting the AHC working was several thousand more than I paid for the truck.....
Doesn't matter since I would never take it in to them for anything other than the annual safety inspection, free coffee, and to comment on the Gaudy Grill on the new LX570 in the showroom.
I do all my own car repairs and mods, as time and money allow, so I guess I am not your typical Lexus owner.
This coming month I am simply trying to get this truck up to a decent level of functionality, i.e. Riding like a truck is better than feeling like it is on blocks up front.
Later I do plan to off road the LX, or at least load it up and take it on the rough back roads and trails to remote beaches around the back side of the island on family camping adventures....
One fine day...