Globes - DIY or shop?

[987R]

Our LX has 160k miles and the suspension is somewhat jarring on medium / bigger bumps.

I figured I'd do the globes and AHC flush, but then again, maybe paying a shop to do that would be nice!

Thoughts? Rough costs for the shop to do the work?

Recommended shops in Denver/West suburbs?

 

[slipkid13]

I don't know any shops that will do the globes, my mechanic wouldn't touch. It's not a difficult DIY, me and my buddy completed it in about 3 hours or so. I bought the globes from Japan on Ebay, much much cheaper. Have two 2.5L AHC fluid containers for the flush. Makes a huge difference in ride quality.

Read this thread, great instructions on the first page (I used those) and my experience changing out the globes.

LX570 AHC Globe/Accumulator Replacement | Page 32 | IH8MUD Forum

 

[rherrco]

Our LX has 160k miles and the suspension is somewhat jarring on medium / bigger bumps.

I figured I'd do the globes and AHC flush, but then again, maybe paying a shop to do that would be nice!

Thoughts? Rough costs for the shop to do the work?

Recommended shops in Denver/West suburbs?

Only shop I am familiar with in that area is ATLR in Arvada. I’ve used them for scheduled maintenance and they are reasonable as well as competent. But I don’t know if they are familiar with AHC. You could give them a call and find out. I did my own AHC and posted about it here. Not a job I’d recommend doing outside in the cold. If you have the tools and know how, expect to spend around $650. If you talk to ATLR, let me know what they say.

 

[LX Cruiser]

I don't know any shops that will do the globes, my mechanic wouldn't touch. It's not a difficult DIY, me and my buddy completed it in about 3 hours or so. I bought the globes from Japan on Ebay, much much cheaper. Have two 2.5L AHC fluid containers for the flush. Makes a huge difference in ride quality.

Read this thread, great instructions on the first page (I used those) and my experience changing out the globes.

LX570 AHC Globe/Accumulator Replacement | Page 32 | IH8MUD Forum

I did the same thing. Replaced globes one at a time, bled in the order I read about on the forum. Little to no change to ride quality though.

I have thought about bleeding the system again (I still have more fluid, but it was all coming out clean when I bled it before). Need to revisit it when I get some time.

 

[slipkid13]

I did the same thing. Replaced globes one at a time, bled in the order I read about on the forum. Little to no change to ride quality though.

I have thought about bleeding the system again (I still have more fluid, but it was all coming out clean when I bled it before). Need to revisit it when I get some time.

Maybe there is air in the system? It was like night and day for me in the ride quality improvement with the new globes. I had the original globes with 130K and 12 years old. All the harshness and jarring over bumps went away.

 

[slipkid13]

Only shop I am familiar with in that area is ATLR in Arvada. I’ve used them for scheduled maintenance and they are reasonable as well as competent. But I don’t know if they are familiar with AHC. You could give them a call and find out. I did my own AHC and posted about it here. Not a job I’d recommend doing outside in the cold. If you have the tools and know how, expect to spend around $650. If you talk to ATLR, let me know what they say.

I am sure Slee would be able to do this also, you might want to give them a call.

 

[32cls6speedmt]

I have read @2001LC posts and he does maintains a few of the members in this forum. If I was in Colorado then I would take lx to him.

Check the clubhouse section of this board.

 

[Willie G]

I have read @2001LC posts and he does maintains a few of the members in this forum. If I was in Colorado then I would take lx to him.

Check the clubhouse section of this board.

^^^ This.

Maybe in a few more years I can take mine to him and sys "Make it like new."

 

[a200]

100% do it ASAP. Berkshire Hathaway ownes the only dealership near me, and quoted $15k for the repair, criminals. I fixed it for $500 laying in my garage and half a Saturday. 3 of my globes were blown from what I can tell. If your 200 is over 10 years old, do not delay. I wish I had done it sooner. It was a night and day difference.

I went conservative and repressurized the system after each globe. Do your research on here and use it as an excuse to buy the big high torque Milwaukee impact.

This was also the end of my air-pumps from the start and stops. Hewitt gen 2 took care of that problem for me the next weekend. You can do it.

PS the globes are not metric, use the sae slightly smaller equivalent.

 

[ToothDr]

In addition to Slee and ATLR you could also give these guys a call. Located on the west side of town

Japanese Auto Service, Wheat Ridge, Colorado | keeping cars alive since '85

japaneseautosvc.com

 

[AZLX570]

Maybe there is air in the system? It was like night and day for me in the ride quality improvement with the new globes. I had the original globes with 130K and 12 years old. All the harshness and jarring over bumps went away.

I did the same thing. Replaced globes one at a time, bled in the order I read about on the forum. Little to no change to ride quality though.

Conflicting answers like this give me so much hesitation on whether or not to change my globes - leaning towards NO for now.

2013 LX. ~185K. Babied vehicle its whole life. No jarring "bouncy" ride. However, it does feel a bit firm mainly due to the LT 285/70/17 E rated tires. Fluid changed regularly/AHC system functions fine.

 

[32cls6speedmt]

Conflicting answers like this give me so much hesitation on whether or not to change my globes - leaning towards NO for now.

2013 LX. ~185K. Babied vehicle its whole life. No jarring "bouncy" ride. However, it does feel a bit firm mainly due to the LT 285/70/17 E rated tires. Fluid changed regularly/AHC system functions fine.

Can you tell a difference when switching from comfort to sport mode?

I could not with old globes. But with new globes it is big difference.

 

[slipkid13]

Conflicting answers like this give me so much hesitation on whether or not to change my globes - leaning towards NO for now.

2013 LX. ~185K. Babied vehicle its whole life. No jarring "bouncy" ride. However, it does feel a bit firm mainly due to the LT 285/70/17 E rated tires. Fluid changed regularly/AHC system functions fine.

My guess is that if the fluid is changed/flushed regularly then the globes probably have a longer life. Just my guess. Dealer "flushes" seem to be little more than adding a quart of hydraulic fluid to the proper level and not an actual flush/bleed.

If the truck rides fine then I think you are correct, no point in changing out the globes.

 

[LX Cruiser]

I went conservative and repressurized the system after each globe.

What did you do to repressurize the system after installing each globe?

 

[AZLX570]

Can you tell a difference when switching from comfort to sport mode?

I could not with old globes. But with new globes it is big difference.

Yes. I notice a difference. Not gigantic but noticeable, especially from Comfort to Sport. Enough for me to think "that's what they were going for."

 

[a200]

What did you do to repressurize the system after installing each globe?

I just started the truck and let it run for a few until the pump shut off. I just followed what others around here did.

 

[LX Cruiser]

I just started the truck and let it run for a few until the pump shut off. I just followed what others around here did.

Yeah, that’s what I did, too. Just wondering if I missed something

 

[CanadianRockyCruiser]

Our LX has 160k miles and the suspension is somewhat jarring on medium / bigger bumps.

I figured I'd do the globes and AHC flush, but then again, maybe paying a shop to do that would be nice!

Thoughts? Rough costs for the shop to do the work?

Recommended shops in Denver/West suburbs?

I would DIY, if you're a bit handy and have access to tools. It only takes a few hours to do all 4, and it gives you the confidence that it's done correctly.

Honestly, the hardest part is finding a clean way to add new fluid to the reservoir. I ended up zip-tying a funnel and a run of clear tubing to the fuel tank access door so I could fill the reservoir after each bleed.

 

[slipkid13]

I would DIY, if you're a bit handy and have access to tools. It only takes a few hours to do all 4, and it gives you the confidence that it's done correctly.

Honestly, the hardest part is finding a clean way to add new fluid to the reservoir. I ended up zip-tying a funnel and a run of clear tubing to the fuel tank access door so I could fill the reservoir after each bleed.

An easy way to add fluid is get a simple hand pump. I used an inexpensive one from harbor Freight.

 

[a200]

I used a horticulture spray pump modified with a length of tubing.