LX570 AHC “Basics” - Added as sticky thread for AHC Issues (3 Viewers)

[LX Cruiser]

I'm at 151k. My ride is stiff. There is barely any difference at all between sport and comfort. Seems like my truck leans worse than every other LX I see on the road or parked in a parking lot. Also, my truck will sometimes randomly settle in height when I come to a stop. Front or rear. Usually the rear. It just drops a bit. I don't see any leaks anywhere.

I bought 3 cans of fluid for a flush. I'm wondering if I should wait to flush it and buy shocks and accumulators as well and swap it all at once. Is there anything else I should buy if I replace shocks and accumulators too? It may be a while before I can get to it.

 

[Battleship]

my truck will sometimes randomly settle in height when I come to a stop. Front or rear. Usually the rear. It just drops a bit. I don't see any leaks anywhere.

I think this part is pretty common, the self-leveling gets thrown off sometimes when you stop on a mild incline.

 

[PDoyle]

I'm at 151k. My ride is stiff. There is barely any difference at all between sport and comfort. Seems like my truck leans worse than every other LX I see on the road or parked in a parking lot. Also, my truck will sometimes randomly settle in height when I come to a stop. Front or rear. Usually the rear. It just drops a bit. I don't see any leaks anywhere.

I bought 3 cans of fluid for a flush. I'm wondering if I should wait to flush it and buy shocks and accumulators as well and swap it all at once. Is there anything else I should buy if I replace shocks and accumulators too? It may be a while before I can get to it.

You probably should take the time to read the 30 something pages. You may choose a different path.

 

[TeCKis300]

I'm at 151k. My ride is stiff. There is barely any difference at all between sport and comfort. Seems like my truck leans worse than every other LX I see on the road or parked in a parking lot. Also, my truck will sometimes randomly settle in height when I come to a stop. Front or rear. Usually the rear. It just drops a bit. I don't see any leaks anywhere.

I bought 3 cans of fluid for a flush. I'm wondering if I should wait to flush it and buy shocks and accumulators as well and swap it all at once. Is there anything else I should buy if I replace shocks and accumulators too? It may be a while before I can get to it.

This is typically a symptom of the accumulators bottoming out. Either as a result of failure, wear, too much payload/weight, not enough augmentation, or a combination of the above.

Change the accumulators.

Shocks may not be necessary to change unless you want to while you're in there. They are not expensive but changing them is probably 4x the labor of just doing the globes. Shock failure should be obvious if there's any weeping or leaking, otherwise I probably wouldn't touch them.

 

[degmla]

I need a second opinion. I was checking my transmission fluid level (thus vehicle is in diagnostic mode), and I noticed there was an AHC Code 13. Is this the same as code C1713? I think so based on this snip:

 

[okcfunky]

I'm biting the bullet and keeping my rig, so gonna get my FR shock replaced (and the driver side which isn't problematic) this month. ~2K for service. I got a dealer quote for a 4 globe valve replace at 5K, and given this forum and a recent complete rear suspension rebuild thread... figure I can do that part myself. It was tempting to look into going conventional, but for my purposes, it's a wash. I hate hydraulics, but wiring harness and engine swap? that's a nap and a beer hah.

 

[AnyMal]

I'm biting the bullet and keeping my rig, so gonna get my FR shock replaced (and the driver side which isn't problematic) this month. ~2K for service. I got a dealer quote for a 4 globe valve replace at 5K, and given this forum and a recent complete rear suspension rebuild thread... figure I can do that part myself. It was tempting to look into going conventional, but for my purposes, it's a wash. I hate hydraulics, but wiring harness and engine swap? that's a nap and a beer hah.

Honestly, im at the point of **** AHC.
If i were you and couldnt do the work myself, looking at a 5k quote, id rip it all the **** out and send it to hell where it belongs.

 

[lx200inAR]

I'm biting the bullet and keeping my rig, so gonna get my FR shock replaced (and the driver side which isn't problematic) this month. ~2K for service. I got a dealer quote for a 4 globe valve replace at 5K, and given this forum and a recent complete rear suspension rebuild thread... figure I can do that part myself. It was tempting to look into going conventional, but for my purposes, it's a wash. I hate hydraulics, but wiring harness and engine swap? that's a nap and a beer hah.

I'm not sure if I understand what you are saying here, but it sounds like you are paying 2k to replace the front shocks and then 5k to replace the globes?

The front shocks aren't any different than any other Toyota IFS, other than disconnecting the hydraulic line and then reconnecting when done. The shocks are 400-500 per pair. The globes can be ordered directly from Japan for 500-600 and take an hour to change out in your driveway (they literally just thread off and on to the frame mounted valve bodies), maybe 2-3 hours if you still have your ahc guards in place. Throw in 5l of AHC fluid at $100...and you can do this whole job in an afternoon for 1-1.1k. Or find an indy shop to do it for a lot less than 7k. If you are okay with doing a "full rear suspension" rebuild in your garage, that is more difficult that the 7k worth of work you just outlined.

Edit: Added links

 

[Madtiger]

I'm not sure if I understand what you are saying here, but it sounds like you are paying 2k to replace the front shocks and then 5k to replace the globes?

The front shocks aren't any different than any other Toyota IFS, other than disconnecting the hydraulic line and then reconnecting when done. The shocks are 400-500 per pair. The globes can be ordered directly from Japan for 500-600 and take an hour to change out in your driveway (they literally just thread off and on to the frame mounted valve bodies), maybe 2-3 hours if you still have your ahc guards in place. Throw in 5l of AHC fluid at $100...and you can do this whole job in an afternoon for 1-1.1k. Or find an indy shop to do it for a lot less than 7k. If you are okay with doing a "full rear suspension" rebuild in your garage, that is more difficult that the 7k worth of work you just outlined.

There in lies the rub. AHC is amazing for someone who works with their hands and knows their way around the vehicle. But that someone is not your typical Lexus owner.

Even Lexus dealerships are scared to touch it. Forget Indy shops. So owners are stuck. Dealers wait until it goes bad and then screw the customer into several thousand dollar job(s). At least the above dealer did not propose a $30k job to replace the whole system...so above is a bargain!

 

[AnyMal]

I'm not sure if I understand what you are saying here, but it sounds like you are paying 2k to replace the front shocks and then 5k to replace the globes?

The front shocks aren't any different than any other Toyota IFS, other than disconnecting the hydraulic line and then reconnecting when done. The shocks are 400-500 per pair. The globes can be ordered directly from Japan for 500-600 and take an hour to change out in your driveway (they literally just thread off and on to the frame mounted valve bodies), maybe 2-3 hours if you still have your ahc guards in place. Throw in 5l of AHC fluid at $100...and you can do this whole job in an afternoon for 1-1.1k. Or find an indy shop to do it for a lot less than 7k. If you are okay with doing a "full rear suspension" rebuild in your garage, that is more difficult that the 7k worth of work you just outlined.

Edit: Added links

Hey dude. You aight?
And yes, it sounds like hes getting the I dont want to touch it quote.

There in lies the rub. AHC is amazing for someone who works with their hands and knows their way around the vehicle. But that someone is not your typical Lexus owner.

Even Lexus dealerships are scared to touch it. Forget Indy shops. So owners are stuck. Dealers wait until it goes bad and then screw the customer into several thousand dollar job(s). At least the above dealer did not propose a $30k job to replace the whole system...so above is a bargain!

Correct, I have yet to find anyone that even knows what it is or what it does. Nevermind work on it.

I think im actually the leading AHC specialist in Texas at this point. LOL

 

[nwfl4runner]

I'm biting the bullet and keeping my rig, so gonna get my FR shock replaced (and the driver side which isn't problematic) this month. ~2K for service. I got a dealer quote for a 4 globe valve replace at 5K, and given this forum and a recent complete rear suspension rebuild thread... figure I can do that part myself. It was tempting to look into going conventional, but for my purposes, it's a wash. I hate hydraulics, but wiring harness and engine swap? that's a nap and a beer hah.

If you're going to rebuild the rear suspension, I can promise you the globe and front shocks will be a walk in the park in comparison. The hydraulics on this are messy, and simple.

 

[AnyMal]

If you're going to rebuild the rear suspension, I can promise you the globe and front shocks will be a walk in the park in comparison. The hydraulics on this are messy, and simple.

Basically a second brake system past the valve box and ECU.

 

[dragontea]

Hi, just had my 2009 lx570 throw up all the AHC fluid from the hole at the bottom. Not the large, middle hole with the hex key but the smaller one to the side. Seems that ruat and metal buildup was touching the aluminum and corroded the smaller hole and now it's a direct stream out when I refill the fluid. Any idea what this hole is for and if I can just plug it up? Thanks in advance. Pictures attached.

 

[TeCKis300]

Hi, just had my 2009 lx570 throw up all the AHC fluid from the hole at the bottom. Not the large, middle hole with the hex key but the smaller one to the side. Seems that ruat and metal buildup was touching the aluminum and corroded the smaller hole and now it's a direct stream out when I refill the fluid. Any idea what this hole is for and if I can just plug it up? Thanks in advance. Pictures attached.

View attachment 3244941
View attachment 3244942

I can't make out what that hole is for. Is it just a plug for a check valve or filter? Maybe this PDF can help?

 

[dragontea]

I can't make out what that hole is for. Is it just a plug for a check valve or filter? Maybe this PDF can help?

Thanks for this! Amazingly detailed document!

I didn't see it labelled in the documents however.

I suggest anyone in the rust belt areas to double check and make sure no rust debris has accumulated under this motor as it will eat away the aluminum like my did.

 

[dragontea]

Thanks for this! Amazingly detailed document!

I didn't see it labelled in the documents however.

I suggest anyone in the rust belt areas to double check and make sure no rust debris has accumulated under this motor as it will eat away the aluminum like my did.

 

[AnyMal]

View attachment 3245026

Thats the pee pee hole. Did you startle it? JK sorry about the leak man.

That entire are is so tight I need 1000 lum torch just to read my fluid level...
I usually spray everything out when doing my undercarriage washes through the wheel well access port or the rear flat liner square cutout.
Im really not sure why its located there in the 200.
Theres a perfect spot for it under the front pass side hood cowl. And we never got dual batteries or anything else on any LX globally as far as im aware.

 

[dragontea]

Thats the pee pee hole. Did you startle it? JK sorry about the leak man.

That entire are is so tight I need 1000 lum torch just to read my fluid level...
I usually spray everything out when doing my undercarriage washes through the wheel well access port or the rear flat liner square cutout.
Im really not sure why its located there in the 200.
Theres a perfect spot for it under the front pass side hood cowl. And we never got dual batteries or anything else on any LX globally as far as im aware.

Haha probably saw my face and it got scared and leaked. Is it possible to tap it and put a screw in it? Wasn't sure if it is a vavle or just a plugged up hole.

 

[AnyMal]

Haha probably saw my face and it got scared and leaked. Is it possible to tap it and put a screw in it? Wasn't sure if it is a vavle or just a plugged up hole.

Is it threaded? I can look into it later because im curious now. It may be some gauge connection?
I honestly have no clue.

 

[dragontea]

Is it threaded? I can look into it later because im curious now. It may be some gauge connection?
I honestly have no clue.

It's so corroded that whatever was there is gone now. Just a tube going up.