Lifting an LX when sensors and tech stream isn’t enough.

[Killacaviar]

I know there is a lot about this throughout the forum. I also understand the “use the search function” response may be warranted here. However, I want more…lift. I would really like to be in the 2.5 inch range in Neutral. I find High mode to be a bit over sprung when wheeling a mostly stock weighted truck.

I’m a little confused about the Oem front spacer install and how that plays into potential ride hight. Do spacers simply act as an AHC pressure release for the vehicle. Will the spacer actually yield any lift? I have a bunch laying around in the garage from my last 200.

I’m coming from a land cruiser 200 and enjoyed being at 2.5-3inches all the time and properly sprung. I love the AHC…everything about it. I really want to make it work.

I’m at full sensor lift with 35s at the moment. 35s stuff and don’t rub at all after some adjustments. I just want the ground clearance in N (I drive over 20mph off road often).

Again, this may be very redundant and I apologize. But I would love some direct input on the subject.

Thanks all.

 

[eatSleepWoof]

Spring spacers will make AHCs job easier, but will not result in any lift.

 

[tbisaacs]

There are some folks who have adjusted the height sensors beyond factory range by extending / making new brackets. The ride will be negatively impacted.

For the driving off-road at over 20 mph, what are you hoping to gain with higher than neutral height? I’m assuming your bombing though the whoops-if that’s the case I assume you’d want maximum wheel travel.

Increasing pressure by overloading the height offset or sensor won’t give you more, in fact it may limit it. This is where adding a strut spacer make more sense as it will yield more down travel instead of height with AHC.

Front Shock Spacer - Increased Suspension Stroke?

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[Killacaviar]

Yea. I assumed making new brackets would really worsen the ride even in neutral.

I understand I’ll gain an inch of down travel with the OE strut spacer. I was just looking for a bit more ground clearance in the neutral setting. Like I mentioned, the ride quality in high is already terrible when adjusting the stock sensors, maybe that added travel from spacers will help some. But anything over crawling in high is horrid. Is suspension travel lost when in high mode?

It’s a real shame the speed trigger wasn’t 10mph higher. I understand it’s purpose and respect it. At the end of the day you can’t have it all, wishful thinking on my part I suppose.

 

[lx200inAR]

Yea. I assumed making new brackets would really worsen the ride even in neutral.

I understand I’ll gain an inch of down travel with the OE strut spacer. I was just looking for a bit more ground clearance in the neutral setting. Like I mentioned, the ride quality in high is already terrible when adjusting the stock sensors, maybe that added travel from spacers will help some. But anything over crawling in high is horrid. Is suspension travel lost when in high mode?

It’s a real shame the speed trigger wasn’t 10mph higher. I understand it’s purpose and respect it. At the end of the day you can’t have it all, wishful thinking on my part I suppose.

When you are in 4Lo the trigger is at a higher speed (40kph), and when it lowers it drops to a N+1” height until 80kph.

Since you already agree riding in H is uncomfortable, you know that just jacking the sensors is not a great idea. Adding spacers will preload the springs more buying you back some comfort, and will give you back some of the down travel lost when lifting. There are a few active threads right now where LX owners are working on pushing the travel limits of AHC, with Spacers and with long arm kits.

there’s also a very well fleshed out thread on adding spacers to AHC trucks.

it also sounds like you could benefit from watching the recent YouTube channel where a guy really breaks down the Toyota IFS. He has multiple videos on his channel.

 

[grinchy]

The only way to gain real clearance is to continue to push tire size. The rear diff pumpkin isn’t getting higher in high mode.

If you’re after more stroke for high speed running than the tundra conversion is a good place to start. You might also consider bagging ahc and moving to a longer stroke conventional suspension. Since the whole point of ahc is running the lift only when you need it so you don’t have to deal with all the compromises of a 4” lift all the time, it really is t designed to run as a daily that way.

For running H mode at other speeds I could have sworn someone figured out how to defeat that, I didn’t pay super close attention, wasn’t what I wanted to do. In this situation you’d put the sensors in lowest setting, set HOU low as well, and then run on H instead of N all the time.

Probably the easiest way to jack it up cosmetically permanently is a body lift. Having done aTemporary lift to put in a new fuel filler, this won’t take too long and is pretty easy to reverse. Unless you’ve already cut the bumper plastic for aftermarket bumpers.

 

[highfructose]

Just an idea, but if go into high mode results in less than stellar comfort from the suspension, you might reduce air pressure in the tires to regain a little “softness” to the suspension.

If you’re trying to really push the limits, you might consider going with an ultralight wheel along with the largest tire you can fit…thereby reducing the amount of “weight” coming upwards at each bump.

For consideration: my wheel and tire package is 91 lbs (stock lx570 20’s and k02 275 60 r20’s). If price were no issue, I could reduce that by 30 lbs while keeping the same height tire and gaining a bunch of sidewall (titan forged wheels and bcg trail terrain 285 70 r17’s).

Imagine removing a 30 lb dumbbell from each of your tires every time you hit a bump…while also reducing your tire pressure. I imagine you could get some significant comfort back.

 

[NKP Garage]

I went through this on my LX470.

* 2" Shock spacers, to bring shocks back into the range they were designed to work in
* Swap in stock LC springs, or you could do spring spacers, but I think LC springs are a better option
* Then adjust sensors to your liking
* And with the IFS you may need to space those front wheels out a little + alignment to get things back into spec