LX570 AHC Globe/Accumulator Replacement (6 Viewers)

[Willie G]

That’s a solid write up. I thought you wanted to use a 6 point socket to start with if you were concerned about rounding the nut. Is this not correct? Either way, good pull on going to standard to get that last bit of tightness.

Edit: apparently there’s new sockets that use weird rounded protrusions to grab the faces of the nut. Looks like my old school thoughts are in need of updating?

I used a 13/16" 6 point and my torque wrench set at 110lbs/ft for the removal - just to see how tight the originals were.

Other than that, get 'er done!

If you want to do an oil change or rotate your tires while you're under there, fine. It's kind of a stand-alone project.

 

[GroggyGarage]

Did this with a friend recently. I read every single post prior to the project, and it went fairly smoothly. I don’t think I have anything significant to add to the thread that hasn’t been said already.

My ride was sooooooo bouncy before. After the replacement, I could swear they stealthily fixed all the roads around me haha. Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who contributed!!!

 

[NKP Garage]

Did this with a friend recently. I read every single post prior to the project, and it went fairly smoothly. I don’t think I have anything significant to add to the thread that hasn’t been said already.

My ride was sooooooo bouncy before. After the replacement, I could swear they stealthily fixed all the roads around me haha. Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who contributed!!!

Nice work!!

 

[bloc]

I finally got a chance to do this job, helping a friend with his 2013. Approx 140k miles. Globes had been on their radar for some time but I rode in their rig for the first time in a while and immediately noticed.. something wasn't right. So they ordered the globes and fluid and we did the job a couple days ago.

I see a lot of people initially posting an improvement of maybe 15-20%.. in this case.. 200%. I read earlier in the thread there shouldn't be much fluid in them when pressure is bled, and my understanding of how all this worked makes sense. Then we pulled the first unit, and a lot of fluid came out. Like nearly the entire outside volume dumped into the fluid pan. Hrm.. So I look inside and there is a metal support washer inside, that appears to be clear across the globe, against the raised hex. I grab one of the new ones and the same washer is just below the inlet hole.

Here are the numbers.

New globe

Original globes.. the diaphragm is a full 2" further down than new

 

[bloc]

Now them losing some nitrogen makes sense, but this seemed excessive. The rig hasn't been abused.. was a DFW soccermom-mobile for about 110k miles, then my friend got it, we did a fluid exchange, and they haven't been hard on it at all. So I'm wondering.. mechanical failure?

So I cut one of them up...

The black powdery stuff is from the cutting wheel. Otherwise it just looks like an intact diaphragm that was designed to rest downward, which I'm sure it wasn't. If I push the rubber back up to position it retracts down again. I guess sitting with the weight of a LX on it without enough nitrogen below is a hard life.

I plan to finish cutting the retaining ring and pull the diaphragm to check for cracks or other mechanical issues.

I also have two more to investigate.. I'll drill holes in the base of each to see whether there is any stored nitrogen. And I'll probably cut up the good one too to see if it was on its way out.

Will post what I find.

 

[tbisaacs]

Always amazed at how thick the skin is on these things.

 

[bloc]

Always amazed at how thick the skin is on these things.

Hah.. yeah. My cutting disk wasn’t a fan.

 

[urinalcake]

Agree on the wall thickness of the high pressure vessel (globe), it’s THICK. I wonder what sort of pressures the hydraulic fluid subjects on the system, and what pressure the nitrogen starts at the factory.