LX470 - Appears to list to one side...help! (1 Viewer)

[RainyDayRider]

I just purchased a 1999 LX470 that I just love. However, my wife noticed that from behind it appears to be slightly lower on the drivers side than on the passenger side. After carefull consideration (and ensuring that it wasn't just parked funny) I have to agree with her. I tried resetting the hight from low to high and then back to neutral but it remains slightly off. I have no idea what might cause this. Any help would be greatly appreciated... by the way I am not very mechanical (though I have my aspirations) and I live a hell of a long ways from any Lexus dealers.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Jim_Chow]

Measure the distance from the bottom of the fender well to the top of the wheel (not the tire) for each corner and compare the numbers. Are both left front and left rear too low? If it's just the rear corner, the coil might be sagging or AHC sensor is off. If it's the front, you can adjust the t-bar, but you need to realign the front since it's IFS. With the AHC, you can't just adjust the t-bar until both sides are level up front like w/ no AHC. You have to measure the pressures first (pressure at each shock has to fall in a certain range for the AHC to go to L or H properly), then adjust the t-bar until the pressure in the spec'd range. Then you tweak the AHC sensors to fine tune. The cheap & dirty way is to just tweak the AHC sensors until it's level, but there's no guarantee the pressures will be in spec and you still need an alignment since you've tinkered w/ the front height. Another possibility is using a trim packer with the rear left coil if the spring is fatigued.

 

[jonpierre]

my rig does the exact same thing. i'm hoping an OME lift will cure it.

 

[RainyDayRider]

After measuring the front and rear from the bottom of the fender to the top of the wheel it is definately lower on the drivers side by approximately 1/2 an inch front and rear. What does this tell us?

 

[uHu]

This tells you that the AHC hasn't adjusted your rig to the correct height on both sides, either because one of the front sensors is mal-adjusted or faulty, or because it can't do it. If it is that the AHC can't cope, it could be because of a broken/weak spring, and it should also tell you that it can't go to Hi when/if you press the Hi button, by reverting to N, or even to Lo.

First, you could check that your coil springs and torsion bars are ok by letting out the pressure in the AHC system via the bleeder plugs. (You need a can of AHC/fluid ready for getting it up again) The suspension should then nearly rest on the bump stops. Then look for a list. Of course, if it rests on the bumpstops, you want see any list, but it shouldn't go all the way down if the springs are not very worn. If the springs are ok, and it's just the AHC giving it a limp, you could be able to adjust the front AHC sensors to even it out. But if this is something that has developed, you probably have a sensor with a problem, which would not be uncommon. Might be easly fixable tho'.

 

[Jim_Chow]

Does it also list to the left by 0.5" if the engine is running? (ie, AHC pump is running?)