There is a membrane that is filled with nitrogen that provides dampening. It degrades over time and no longer provides dampening
LX570 AHC Globe/Accumulator Replacement (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter NKP Garage
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There is a membrane that is filled with nitrogen that provides dampening. It degrades over time and no longer provides dampening
nwfl4runner
GOLD Star
That’s what I was gathering from the diagram, wonder if you cut one of your old ones up it would reveal anything about the overall state.
Difference that noticeable? Cause I’m tempted to pull that trigger just to see - at 134k myself
I don’t have anything to cut them or would gladly do this experiment.
Ride was night and day improved in my case. It’s been riding pretty roughly for a while now and I had talked myself into it being the 3-ply sidewall on my STT Pro tires. When I installed a bullbar the whole truck started to feel unsettled and bouncy. Eventually it clicked that it wasn’t my tires.
Everything feels as it was when I got the truck 3 years ago, even with the weight I’ve added. AHC is magic in that way.
bloc
SILVER Star
Even a simple hack saw would chop that thing in two. Bench vise useful for holding it during cutting.. I’m also curious what the inside looks like.
My ride was improved post change, but not night and day. I think 15 to 20%. It may be a previous owner had them done at some point. there is a lot of maintenance history on my truck, not all of it very exact on what was done.
still worth $700 for sure.
the nitrogen creeps past the seal over time, not necessarily mileage, so if you’re an 08 to 11 build date, probably your time has come.
still worth $700 for sure.
the nitrogen creeps past the seal over time, not necessarily mileage, so if you’re an 08 to 11 build date, probably your time has come.
TN LX570
SILVER Star
Now I’m wondering about my leveling valve. Damn it.
@baktasht - Great tech write up and video! This kinda knowledge sharing is what makes me so happy to be part of this community!
I think a lot of people stray from the LX because they hear the stories of expensive AHC repairs that the dealer would need to be required to help with.
So glad to see that blingy “L” on the grill shouldn’t scare us from getting our hands dirty just like we would on any cruiser.
I would not think twice about doing any work on my 60, so why not get familiar with newer versions now before they are old.
- Thread starter
- #110
For sure. The AHC system is great when it works and is fairly simple to maintain. I played the AHC on my previous LX470 to lift it, improve the ride, etc... And on this LX570 I have just done preventative maintenance to upkeep it. Overall the ride quality and adjustability is unbeatable. Also, if you're one that tows anything around occasionally the AHC system makes a world of difference.
And if you've ever worked on the Mercedes hydraulic suspension systems, you have probably noticed that there are a lot of similarities.
thank you grinchy, i used a 200cc syringe and it worked great to fill up the tank to within the min and max
my long-time mechanic declined to service my AHC. I ended up bringing it to my local lexus dealership in Utah, they charged me less than $200 for the AHC bleed service. I watched the tech do the service, in very similar fashion to the document shared on this forum, only with the benefit of a lift. The improvement in ride quality is dramatic and well worth the time or money.
Did the dealer bleed all 5 or only 4 accumulators?
They said 5
I watched this video and don’t even plan to own an LX570
but sure found it very helpful and would feel more comfortable owning one having this new found knowledge. Great video! I can’t believe the dealership would charge so much to do this job. Also , equally impressed he did this work without using ramps or lift. I would have to use my skinny nephew to get under there otherwise 
- Thread starter
- #116
Haha...I watched this video and don’t even plan to own an LX570
glad you enjoyed it!! It's not too bad of a job. Since the wheels don't come off it's very doable without a lift for sure.
Anyone that has done the accumulator replacement. I may be following along wrong. But @grinchy's photo of the placement of the rubber o-ring seems to be different than the placement in the initial video. Or possibly he added a second o-ring to go above the metal seal. I ordered the Ebay accumulators from jdm-imports. My accumulators look exactly like the ones in the original video, as far as where the o-ring is installed below the metal lip. Is that correct, or should we be ordering and installing the ones that @grinchy posted? When i looked at the part diagram on PartsOUQ, it appears the o-ring that grinchy bought/installed is supposed to be part of the kit that comes with the accumulator (along with a 3rd ring/seal of some sort). PartOUQ does not even sell the o-ring separately, although US parts houses do sell the o-ring separately.
My accumulators had an o ring provided.
The backup ring is not an o ring, it's a hard plastic material meant to retain the o ring forward in the joint, my assumption is to make sure the o ring stays in the correct postion for a better seal.
Not sure what you mean on the 3rd seal?
The backup ring is not an o ring, it's a hard plastic material meant to retain the o ring forward in the joint, my assumption is to make sure the o ring stays in the correct postion for a better seal.
Not sure what you mean on the 3rd seal?
| 49156B RING, SUSPENSION CONTROL BACK UP, NO.1 LH | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 49156A RING, SUSPENSION CONTROL BACK UP, NO.1 RH | |||
| 4915660030 | 1 | 11.2007 - 04.2009 | URJ201 |
| 4915660030 | 1 | 11.2007 - 04.2009 | URJ201 |
Sorry, I misspoke about a 3rd seal. I should have said 2nd seal when i was making a poor reference to the backup washer (3rd part of the diagram was what I was thinking, but the 1st part is the globe itself). When I get home I guess I'll move the o-ring out of the way to verify there is a backup washer installed.
I guess I'm having trouble understanding your pictures in Post 11. Does the 2nd or 3rd picture represent the correct installed position? Did your globes not come with the backup washer? Below is the screen shot from the video, it looks like your 2nd picture and I thought is how my globes came. I assume the backup washer is the part that is visible in your 3rd picture below the o-ring that is at the end of the threads. Did you move the o-ring back over the metal groove to sit on top of the backup washer?
All the parts diagrams suggest you get both the o-ring (90301-19015) and the backup washer (49156-60030) when you order the accumulator globe (49151-60020). (listing part numbers for my own reference here, not trying to be an ass or anything)
I guess I'm having trouble understanding your pictures in Post 11. Does the 2nd or 3rd picture represent the correct installed position? Did your globes not come with the backup washer? Below is the screen shot from the video, it looks like your 2nd picture and I thought is how my globes came. I assume the backup washer is the part that is visible in your 3rd picture below the o-ring that is at the end of the threads. Did you move the o-ring back over the metal groove to sit on top of the backup washer?
All the parts diagrams suggest you get both the o-ring (90301-19015) and the backup washer (49156-60030) when you order the accumulator globe (49151-60020). (listing part numbers for my own reference here, not trying to be an ass or anything)
My new accumlators did not come with backup washers. I had to procure and install. I assume this is how they all will come, but I've only every seen my set.
The order is threads, o ring, back up washer, then the body of accumulator (the globe).
If you have a backup washer pre-installed, you will see it after the o ring. It's a split washer so you can see the split.
I rolled the o ring up on the thread, twisted on the backup washer, and then rolled the o ring back down. Further you'll need to press the o ring back into the much narrower slot now available.
The order is threads, o ring, back up washer, then the body of accumulator (the globe).
If you have a backup washer pre-installed, you will see it after the o ring. It's a split washer so you can see the split.
I rolled the o ring up on the thread, twisted on the backup washer, and then rolled the o ring back down. Further you'll need to press the o ring back into the much narrower slot now available.
