GX460 front shock replacement - do front only or do all four? (1 Viewer)

[SDTrojan]

So I have a new-to-me 2012 GX460 with the adjustable height airbag rear suspension.
The vehicle is at 97k miles and the suspension is original.
From what I can tell, the rear airbag shocks are fine for now, but the front shocks are leaking.
My mechanic recommended replacing the front shocks "sooner rather than later".

My initial thought (since this is my first offroad vehicle ever) was to drive the stock suspension until I can figure out its limitations and how far I want to modify it.
The leaking shocks will expedite my decision making, it seems.
The shop recommended a Bilstein 6112 front/5110 rear shock lift (2" front, 1" rear), with an airbag delete.
I've attached their quote.

It seems like a solid lift kit, but I'm wondering if it's worth just getting the 6112 on the front to replace the leaking shocks, and to continue using the rear airbag suspension for a while. I'd be doing this for the point of saving money (upfront at least), and getting to know the car and what I want to do with it better.
Is this likely to cause some asymmetric behavior or premature wear and tear? I also imagine it might affect the rake and I'd have to lift the rear all the time?
Just wanted to get some opinions from the experienced folks here before I pull the trigger.

My vision for the car is family road trips and relatively mild/moderate off-roading to start - fire roads, long washboard roads (Hole in the Rock road in Utah or the road out to Eureka Dunes in Death Valley comes to mind), some moderate trails in the Sierra Nevada.

Not planning on any bumpers for now, probably just some beefier skid plates.
Unlikely to ever tow.

Thanks.

P.S. Purely out of ignorance of not being familiar with lift kits, what do the bump stop replacements and KDSS spacers accomplish in the below quote?

 

[Jstawgn]

6112 are Monotube digressive valved shocks. The OEM are low pressure twin tube design. They would have very different damping characteristic. It would induce some weird handling characteristics.

I do like 6112 but they do not 2.5" diameter rear shocks. The 5116 they recommend have pretty high failure rate on this platform for some reason.

Dobinson IMS are only 50 mm piston for this platform.
Ironman is coming with new Monotube with 57mm piston. No reviews yet. I only know @GXO is working to get the first prototype for GX460 fitted this week.
OME MT64 seems to be a bit more expensive and probably geared for heavily loaded vehicle.
Apache off road AX2 are pretty affordable and they been getting good feedback. I would choose this over bilstein 5100.
To me Bilstein 5100 is excellent choice only if paired with stock spring and your vehicle is stock weight.

 

[Hiluxforever]

I went with the 5100s and have been very happy, but i drive with a lot of intense crosswind so need a digressive damper.

 

[Tacticus]

I have a full set of OEM ones I can sell you,

I used to have OEM and upgraded to Kings all the way around, and all they are extremely nice..... ill admit the OEM ones were already extremely nice as is. If i were to do it all over again I would keep stock and focus on better utilizing what I had and adjust other components instead.

 

[suitcase]

The KDSS spacers (theoretically) help correct KDSS lean. KDSS is a hydraulic suspension system and some people have experienced leaning towards the passenger side - especially with a lift. When I lifted my GX, I had the KDSS spacers installed, but still had leaning. Also, the front KDSS spacer extended the length of the KDSS shock and caused it contact the backside of my CBI skid plate. I took the front KDSS spacer out. In my case, the lean was sporadic, but it seems to have gone away with time and driving. I left the rear KDSS spacers in because they helped rotate the sway bar away from the spare tire as I'm running slightly larger than stock. The cost for the spacer kit seems high. I think I paid $150 a few years back.

I went with a Dobinsons IMS and have been pretty happy thus far. I also saved the OEM suspension and would be willing to sell. If you can wait, I visit family in LA during the summer and can bring it with me. I had my suspension installed by a fella in Long Beach that does mechanic work on the side out of his house. I don't know if he still does it, but the cost was a bargain compared to the shop quotes I was getting. He goes by the handle SuperDave.

 

[SDTrojan]

I have a full set of OEM ones I can sell you,

I used to have OEM and upgraded to Kings all the way around, and all they are extremely nice..... ill admit the OEM ones were already extremely nice as is. If i were to do it all over again I would keep stock and focus on better utilizing what I had and adjust other components instead.

Thank you. My initial plan was to keep everything stock and explore the limits of the vehicle for a year or so, but the leaking front shocks have expedited my decision making.
Funny enough, after my initial post, I began hearing a periodic whoosh from right behind the fuel door, which I believe is the drivers' side rear air suspension compressor, so I may be forced to expedite my suspension plans further.

The KDSS spacers (theoretically) help correct KDSS lean. KDSS is a hydraulic suspension system and some people have experienced leaning towards the passenger side - especially with a lift. When I lifted my GX, I had the KDSS spacers installed, but still had leaning. Also, the front KDSS spacer extended the length of the KDSS shock and caused it contact the backside of my CBI skid plate. I took the front KDSS spacer out. In my case, the lean was sporadic, but it seems to have gone away with time and driving. I left the rear KDSS spacers in because they helped rotate the sway bar away from the spare tire as I'm running slightly larger than stock. The cost for the spacer kit seems high. I think I paid $150 a few years back.

I went with a Dobinsons IMS and have been pretty happy thus far. I also saved the OEM suspension and would be willing to sell. If you can wait, I visit family in LA during the summer and can bring it with me. I had my suspension installed by a fella in Long Beach that does mechanic work on the side out of his house. I don't know if he still does it, but the cost was a bargain compared to the shop quotes I was getting. He goes by the handle SuperDave.

Thank you so much for explaining the KDSS spacer, that's really helpful.
As I mentioned to Tacticus above, since my rear air suspension seems to now be having issues too, I may just end up getting a full lift kit all around.
Thank you so much for your kind offer to sell me your OEM suspension.
I'll check with my local shop regarding the rear and let you know.

Regarding the person that installed your suspension in Long Beach, was their handle on IH8MUD or another forum?
I may reach out to them, Long Beach is not far.

 

[Tacticus]

Thank you. My initial plan was to keep everything stock and explore the limits of the vehicle for a year or so, but the leaking front shocks have expedited my decision making.
Funny enough, after my initial post, I began hearing a periodic whoosh from right behind the fuel door, which I believe is the drivers' side rear air suspension compressor, so I may be forced to expedite my suspension plans further.

Thank you so much for explaining the KDSS spacer, that's really helpful.
As I mentioned to Tacticus above, since my rear air suspension seems to now be having issues too, I may just end up getting a full lift kit all around.
Thank you so much for your kind offer to sell me your OEM suspension.
I'll check with my local shop regarding the rear and let you know.

Regarding the person that installed your suspension in Long Beach, was their handle on IH8MUD or another forum?
I may reach out to them, Long Beach is not far.

Okay excellent just let me know, ide be glad to help however.

I will say be very careful with upgrading suspension it can cause a lot of headaches and more upkeep than you may be willing to deal with. Cor example my King shocks although very nice, it uses a Heim joint and that is high maintenance. As well as the shocks need serviced every 50k or so (this isn't a kings issue alone, all brands have the same issue even ones mentioning non service etc). When you do suspension lift you will need to combat Kdss lean with spacer as other mentioned as well as you will need to replace your UCAs, I had two spc UCAs fail on me and it was extremely annoying they had a really bad batch, I ended up replacing them with dobinson billet aluminum ones. But then you get into needing bump stops, BMC , fender bang out for larger tires etc etc. then you have to install a rear track bar to realign it since you lifted the vehicle, as well as extended brake lines blah blah blah. I've done all of it and I wish I would have taken it off roading as is..... Now I have a trophy vehicle that needs to stay in the garage and I had to get another daily. Just thinking out loud but some things to consider. I like your thoughts though hanging out with oem till you figure out what you need.

 

[Hiluxforever]

If you keep the lift modest you want need a bunch of other stuff. I have 1.75" and 1.5" I don't have any lean. I have not needed UCAs, either. Just the 5100s and a pair of spacers. Waiting to buy springs until I get a rear steel bumper and need a stiffer spring rate.

 

[Tacticus]

If you keep the lift modest you want need a bunch of other stuff. I have 1.75" and 1.5" I don't have any lean. I have not needed UCAs, either. Just the 5100s and a pair of spacers. Waiting to buy springs until I get a rear steel bumper and need a stiffer spring rate.

Very true, I can also add 35s and not change things per say but of course there would be problems.

Even a modest lift brings in issues, different travel u/d lengths, geometry etc. it really depends on what your doing with it or want to do and what your okay with getting away with. If your okay with not needing things to be good when your full tucked or extended or if your cool with your brake hoses stretching or you don't see doing any real off roading with it then yeah modest lift will be fine etc.

I agree though with all that said a nice pair of 5100 and spacers is great. But it really just depends on the use case and you have to go back to well why are you even putting 5100s on it to start with?

I just think there is a big difference between can and should and they is really subjective to OP needs and intended application.

 

[Tacticus]

So I have a new-to-me 2012 GX460 with the adjustable height airbag rear suspension.
The vehicle is at 97k miles and the suspension is original.
From what I can tell, the rear airbag shocks are fine for now, but the front shocks are leaking.
My mechanic recommended replacing the front shocks "sooner rather than later".

My initial thought (since this is my first offroad vehicle ever) was to drive the stock suspension until I can figure out its limitations and how far I want to modify it.
The leaking shocks will expedite my decision making, it seems.
The shop recommended a Bilstein 6112 front/5110 rear shock lift (2" front, 1" rear), with an airbag delete.
I've attached their quote.

It seems like a solid lift kit, but I'm wondering if it's worth just getting the 6112 on the front to replace the leaking shocks, and to continue using the rear airbag suspension for a while. I'd be doing this for the point of saving money (upfront at least), and getting to know the car and what I want to do with it better.
Is this likely to cause some asymmetric behavior or premature wear and tear? I also imagine it might affect the rake and I'd have to lift the rear all the time?
Just wanted to get some opinions from the experienced folks here before I pull the trigger.

My vision for the car is family road trips and relatively mild/moderate off-roading to start - fire roads, long washboard roads (Hole in the Rock road in Utah or the road out to Eureka Dunes in Death Valley comes to mind), some moderate trails in the Sierra Nevada.

Not planning on any bumpers for now, probably just some beefier skid plates.
Unlikely to ever tow.

Thanks.

P.S. Purely out of ignorance of not being familiar with lift kits, what do the bump stop replacements and KDSS spacers accomplish in the below quote?

View attachment 3836597

Also... Just saw they are replacing LCA bushings.... I would imagine it would be cheaper to just replace them since they just bolt on essentially? Or even upgrade them? I would definitely double check and look into this.

 

[Tacticus]

Also... Just saw they are replacing LCA bushings.... I would imagine it would be cheaper to just replace them since they just bolt on essentially? Or even upgrade them? I would definitely double check and look into this.

Just looked myself, Yeah you are about $800 deep in replacing parts on a LCA when you can get a new OEM one for about $250-$300 a side... That's about $500-$600 for brand new oem ones that have all new everything and something you could easily do yourself.... As well as if you want aftermarket options you could go with freedom off road I think they are like $360 a set, and moog $130 a side? Or some more expensive options dirtking, total chaos etc.

 

[Hiluxforever]

SuperPro LCAs are a middle ground that has gone through all the fancy Aussis engineering that folks over here don't have to do. I will probably need to get those, myself.

 

[SDTrojan]

Okay excellent just let me know, ide be glad to help however.

I will say be very careful with upgrading suspension it can cause a lot of headaches and more upkeep than you may be willing to deal with. I like your thoughts though hanging out with oem till you figure out what you need.

Thanks so much for the advice. I guess the reason I'm considering a lift in the first place, is if I am forced to replace the original suspension already due to it failing, and I'm paying someone to perform the labor, I might as well upgrade the suspension and gain some ground clearance that might be needed down the road when I get into more serious trails. I'd be perfectly happy with the current suspension if it wasn't leaking and I wasn't worried about it failing during my first trip offroad with the vehicle.

If you keep the lift modest you want need a bunch of other stuff. I have 1.75" and 1.5" I don't have any lean. I have not needed UCAs, either. Just the 5100s and a pair of spacers. Waiting to buy springs until I get a rear steel bumper and need a stiffer spring rate.

I was intending for a 1.5-2" lift. I had been watching some videos on a Youtube channel called Tinkerer's Adventures where he cautions against beefy lifts and the reduced down travel they allow, actually making vehicles articulate worse offroad and lose traction more quickly.
Your specs sounds right around where I'd love to be.
Do you have 5100s front and back?

I agree though with all that said a nice pair of 5100 and spacers is great. But it really just depends on the use case and you have to go back to well why are you even putting 5100s on it to start with?

I just think there is a big difference between can and should and they is really subjective to OP needs and intended application.

My deeper problem is that I've never owned an offroad vehicle, period. This is my first one. And I've never taken it offroading.
So I really have NO clue on how far I want to push it, what kind of trails I'll eventually get into, etc.
Which is why the original suspension failing is such a bummer. I was hoping to learn a lot about the car first with its original suspension.

Also... Just saw they are replacing LCA bushings.... I would imagine it would be cheaper to just replace them since they just bolt on essentially? Or even upgrade them? I would definitely double check and look into this.

Yeah, the pre purchase inspection showed the bushings beginning to crack. The parts cost is fairly low, but the labor is a lot.
I had also considered whether it was worth just replacing the entire LCA.

Just looked myself, Yeah you are about $800 deep in replacing parts on a LCA when you can get a new OEM one for about $250-$300 a side... That's about $500-$600 for brand new oem ones that have all new everything and something you could easily do yourself.... As well as if you want aftermarket options you could go with freedom off road I think they are like $360 a set, and moog $130 a side? Or some more expensive options dirtking, total chaos etc.

SuperPro LCAs are a middle ground that has gone through all the fancy Aussis engineering that folks over here don't have to do. I will probably need to get those, myself.

I've never worked on suspension components before.
Is LCA really something I could do myself?
I did recently buy a floor jack and 4 jack stands and some tools.
If you guys think it's more efficient to replace the entire LCAs, I'll definitely look into that.

 

[Tacticus]

Thanks so much for the advice. I guess the reason I'm considering a lift in the first place, is if I am forced to replace the original suspension already due to it failing, and I'm paying someone to perform the labor, I might as well upgrade the suspension and gain some ground clearance that might be needed down the road when I get into more serious trails. I'd be perfectly happy with the current suspension if it wasn't leaking and I wasn't worried about it failing during my first trip offroad with the vehicle.

I was intending for a 1.5-2" lift. I had been watching some videos on a Youtube channel called Tinkerer's Adventures where he cautions against beefy lifts and the reduced down travel they allow, actually making vehicles articulate worse offroad and lose traction more quickly.
Your specs sounds right around where I'd love to be.
Do you have 5100s front and back?

My deeper problem is that I've never owned an offroad vehicle, period. This is my first one. And I've never taken it offroading.
So I really have NO clue on how far I want to push it, what kind of trails I'll eventually get into, etc.
Which is why the original suspension failing is such a bummer. I was hoping to learn a lot about the car first with its original suspension.

Yeah, the pre purchase inspection showed the bushings beginning to crack. The parts cost is fairly low, but the labor is a lot.
I had also considered whether it was worth just replacing the entire LCA.



I've never worked on suspension components before.
Is LCA really something I could do myself?
I did recently buy a floor jack and 4 jack stands and some tools.
If you guys think it's more efficient to replace the entire LCAs, I'll definitely look into that.

Definitely would say it's worth getting new LCAs instead, since not only will it be cheaper, you will have new ball joint and bushings all in one for cheaper plus the LCA itself, since the LCA comes with everything.

 

[SDTrojan]

Definitely would say it's worth getting new LCAs instead, since not only will it be cheaper, you will have new ball joint and bushings all in one for cheaper plus the LCA itself, since the LCA comes with everything.

That makes a lot of sense, thanks for the heads up.
Labor wise, is there any time savings in doing LCAs + suspension install at the same time, or are they basically independent?
If I replace the LCAs with OEM ones, I imagine there isn't any new alignment required?

 

[suitcase]

Thank you. My initial plan was to keep everything stock and explore the limits of the vehicle for a year or so, but the leaking front shocks have expedited my decision making.
Funny enough, after my initial post, I began hearing a periodic whoosh from right behind the fuel door, which I believe is the drivers' side rear air suspension compressor, so I may be forced to expedite my suspension plans further.

Thank you so much for explaining the KDSS spacer, that's really helpful.
As I mentioned to Tacticus above, since my rear air suspension seems to now be having issues too, I may just end up getting a full lift kit all around.
Thank you so much for your kind offer to sell me your OEM suspension.
I'll check with my local shop regarding the rear and let you know.

Regarding the person that installed your suspension in Long Beach, was their handle on IH8MUD or another forum?
I may reach out to them, Long Beach is not far.

SuperDaves lift installs/mechanic work

Hey guys/gals I'm Dave. I do all types of repairs on Toyota/Lexus vehicles. Mostly lift kits/overlanding mods but I also get down with engine work and other services. Just about any repair except rebuilding transmissions. I've personally owned a GX470 and currently own an LX470. I'll be posting...

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