LX570 AHC height modifications (lift it!)

[vwynn]

Is it required for extended brake lines for the rear when doing the rear sensor lift?

 

[Nothinghead]

Is it required for extended brake lines for the rear when doing the rear sensor lift?

No, not if you don't change the shock mounts out. The rear down travel is limited by the stroke of the rear shocks. You CAN adjust the lower mounting of the shocks with a product from E&E Off-road who is a vendor on the forums (@turbo8) to get more travel. You also have to extend brake lines, breather hose and bump stops in order to not damage anything. Coil spring spacers are also suggested to take preload off of the AHC shocks and back to the coils.

 

[TeCKis300]

Is it required for extended brake lines for the rear when doing the rear sensor lift?

Negative. Sensor lift doesn't increase the extents of travel, it only changes the neutral point / ride height.

If you get a long travel E&E shock bracket for the rear, that would require extended lines as the rear axle can droop an additional ~1.25". Highly recommended.

 

[vwynn]

Thanks guys. I actually received my E&E bracket last year and my NST body lift should be coming in soon. Only need the front shock spacer now but im dreading the need to bleed the AHC since I already did a full bleed and AHC fluid isn't cheap lol.

 

[Nothinghead]

Thanks guys. I actually received my E&E bracket last year and my NST body lift should be coming in soon. Only need the front shock spacer now but im dreading the need to bleed the AHC since I already did a full bleed and AHC fluid isn't cheap lol.

Since you've already done a full exchange, the bleed after these mods won't take very much fluid.

 

[neh20711]

Stock LX should see front hub to fender ~19" (see quoted reference below).

You know I'm a die hard proponent of AHC. For both its height but perhaps more importantly the active damping. Taking that apart more and you know this, selectable drive modes and damping aggressiveness is one thing. But it's the active part that's money. Ford advertises Live Valve in its Raptors, circa 2019. The AVS part of AHC is essentially remote damper Live Vavle and we've had it 10 years earlier. It's more sophisticated than Live Valve as it's not only per corner, but it's cross linking and can control front to rear axle damping. That's voodoo level capabilities. Long way to say the breadth of body control, for both ride quality, and aggressive driving is incomparable by other simple shock based dampers.

I bring up Raptors because I wheel with a buddy that's gone through 3 Raptors. One with top shelf Kings. He was going to do the same immediately once he got his new Raptor but I told him to give Live Valve a chance - to leave its goodness and just add a simple spacer lift for clearance. After come wheeling time, he now understands the Kings don't come close. Don't get me wrong, Kings are great in its element running 80mph over the desert, but it's always a bit off for day to day, towing, or anything else because it's statically setup.

There's another local LX guy I trade notes with. He's built buggies and races them with top shelf race suspensions. He's seen and experience tons of stuff. For his off-road/overlanding rig, he equally praises just how good AHC is and has invested the time to build AHC long travel. AHC on steroids is an incredible thing.

Few more notes. The BL will do wonders for aesthetic height. I would also recommend to change the upper body mount bushings that are under compression as that'll bring back some height too while you're in there. If you haven't done the height offset tool via techstream, that can squeak a bit more sensor lift.

You might also seriously consider 37s. No better "suspension" than more sidewall. And it's real lift for everything including the rear axle, if you're needing more clearance.

I'm on 37s now, and I'm so glad AHC can squat. My car is so friggen tall that ergonomics suck trying to car camp on 37s. It towers over everything. I've got so much clearance now that sidehills is where I really want improvement so again, glad AHC can go to normal height for those off-camber situations.

Only you know your use case best and I'll just leave these as food for thought.

Hi, do you know the part number for the replacement body mount bushings? Will be installing the NST BL and want to know what to replace while I’m there.

 

[Alex C]

It's there a front spring we can use to reduce ahc pressure. I've read swapping 80/100 series spring in the rear. Not really looking to lift. Just so ahc is happy and functional for the long run.

 

[CanadianRockyCruiser]

It's there a front spring we can use to reduce ahc pressure. I've read swapping 80/100 series spring in the rear. Not really looking to lift. Just so ahc is happy and functional for the long run

I think those springs are probably too stiff. There are spacers that can help with extra load. One might consider some of the king spring options, but I think it might be some expensive trial and error to dial them in.

I know that on the 100 series with AHC the King KTRS 79 were a good choice for extra weight. Not sure how they would feel on a 200 with AHC.