LX570 AHC height modifications (lift it!) (44 Viewers)

[cruiseroutfit]

New member here. Recently picked up at 2013 LX570 and I'm are looking to do the AHC sensor lift. I've done a ton of research on this system so far and I keep going back and forth on whether to actually do the lift or not. LX will definitely get some good use off-road, but it's primary function will be to serve as the "family car" for weekend camping trips and what not.

Looking to do a mild sensor lift along with rear spring spacers only to keep AHC pressures within reason. Will likely max out the front sensors and do a partial sensor adjustment in the rear to keep rake in the .5" range. Was initially going to install the OEM front strut spacers, but have decided against this since we purchased an extended warranty with the car and want to be able to easily reverse any and all modifications in a single afternoon if need be. Among other reasons, we'd ideally like to keep the suspension closer to stockish for our 10,000 mile cross-country trip we have planned in August.

So my questions are:
- Has anyone installed a REAR only spacer in excess of the 10mm OEM Toyota Spacer (P/N: 48373-60010)? If so, do you have a link of part number? I fear the 10mm may not be enough with a rack/RTT/Fridge/gear/3 passengers/no 3rd row.
- If I'm understanding how this system works, we are looking to lower AHC pressure specifically output from the pump, so is it safe to say that regardless of where the spacers are being placed (front or rear), total pressure will for the most part, be equally reduced with a rear spacer alone? (Example: My thought process here was to add 10mm front and 10mm rear spacers to reduce AHC pressure by X amount. Can the same reduction of pressure, X, be achieved with a larger 30mm rear only spacer?) Obviously, not an exact ratio from front to rear and for arguments sakes, let's ignore the fact that front/rear spring rates will differ from this method.

Seems like this suspension platform has been a large learning curve for a lot of members on here. With all the variable that come into play, it seems like finding the perfect lift/spacer setup will only be found from trial and error. Hopefully I can add some insight down the line as well.

Yes, we use 15mm spacers regularly on the rear:

Cruiser Outfitters Part# SUS200R15 - SuperPro Rear Coil Spacer - 200/570 - 15mm (PAIR) - $77.50/pair

 

[RSblood]

Attempted doing the sensor lift last night. Maxed out both front and rear sensors and then used the Height Offset Utility to bring down the rear a tad to level everything out. Everything looks good and was as expected in NORMAL mode. However, on certain occasions when the LX is parked, it won't register HI mode on the dash, even after lifting itself up a ways. I'm not sure if it's not getting to it's expected end height, My measurements are showing a difference of 1.5inches from normal to Hi in the front and nearly 2.75 inches in the rear, kind of an odd difference. If the LX if actively moving, it will complete the cycle from normal to Hi with ease. It will even do it in park if the vehicle was previously moving. Even when it doesn't register HI mode on the dash, if I turn the LX off and then on again, it will then register that it's in HI mode. Not sure if anyone has experienced this before, but I will experiment with it more later on and may ultimately bring it back to it's stock position and use the HOU to level the front a bit.

For what it's worth, it has 15mm spacers installed in the rear, new shocks back there as well. Recent AHC flush with no issues, no current AHC error codes in TechStream.

Pre Lift Heights: (Measured from top of wheel to fender, measured in cm for easier/better resolution)
FR: 27cm
FL: 26.5cm
RR: 27.25cm
RL: 27.25cm

Post Lift Heights (after settling):
FR: 28.25cm delta=1.25cm or .5in
FL: 27.5cm delta=1 cm or .3937in
RR: 29cm delta=1.75cm or .68in
RL: 29cm delta=1.75cm or .68in

The biggest headache with all of this is getting repeatable measurements. I've noticed these numbers will fluctuate quite a bit between driving around and just from cycling through L-N-H on the suspension.

 

[tbisaacs]

My truck occasionally won't indicate high but it in high - even before sensor lift.

 

[radman]

However, on certain occasions when the LX is parked, it won't register HI mode on the dash, even after lifting itself up a ways.

This happens to me as well. Driving around will normally register the new height.
Also keep in mind that the measurement won’t always be accurate until you bounce the suspension or drive around the block.

 

[RSblood]

This happens to me as well. Driving around will normally register the new height.
Also keep in mind that the measurement won’t always be accurate until you bounce the suspension or drive around the block.

Thanks for the input guys, just needed some reassurance that I wasn’t over stressing the system and that is wasn’t registering it’s cycle end point. I feel the lift I have at the moment is way less aggressive than what I’ve seen on here. My method right now is as follows:

- Adjust height via sensor bracket or HOU (for fine increments/leveling).
- Drive down to the end of our rather bumpy road, AHC off/Normal position.
- park in same place in my garage to obtain measurements. Flattest surface with just hardly enough room height wise
- repeat

 

[borfoo3]

Thanks for the input guys, just needed some reassurance that I wasn’t over stressing the system and that is wasn’t registering it’s cycle end point. I feel the lift I have at the moment is way less aggressive than what I’ve seen on here. My method right now is as follows:

- Adjust height via sensor bracket or HOU (for fine increments/leveling).
- Drive down to the end of our rather bumpy road, AHC off/Normal position.
- park in same place in my garage to obtain measurements. Flattest surface with just hardly enough room height wise
- repeat

Any difference in ride quality or characteristics post lift?

 

[RSblood]

Any difference in ride quality or characteristics post lift?

Minimal difference. Maybe slightly stiffer? The E load midtires make it tough to tell. The raised COG is hardly noticeable. Probably the most noticeable thing is the decreased caster angle with the alignment. Don’t have any pre lift numbers, but after an alignment it was at 2.3 which is just hardly out of spec it looks like. Easier to maneuver at lower speeds but less stable at higher speeds.

All this being said, an aggressive tire is going to be significantly more noticeable than any lift you’ll do.

As far as the ride stiffness, I haven’t owned the LX long enough to see how the AHC responds to heavy loads. I can only imagine everything will soften out a bit under a load like any other suspension? We’ll def be adding some weight to this thing for our trips.

 

[burnthestatus]

Hello, I've read through all 22 pages re the sensor lift. I just did the sensor lift with a 2021, and had a good outcome, but I'm not sure if I need to add any fluid to the reservoir. Does anyone know if you need to add any AHC fluid after the sensor lift on the newer LX570 and if so, how much? I notice all of the markings on the reservoir, but I don't know where it should be.

 

[TeCKis300]

Minimal difference. Maybe slightly stiffer? The E load midtires make it tough to tell. The raised COG is hardly noticeable. Probably the most noticeable thing is the decreased caster angle with the alignment. Don’t have any pre lift numbers, but after an alignment it was at 2.3 which is just hardly out of spec it looks like. Easier to maneuver at lower speeds but less stable at higher speeds.

All this being said, an aggressive tire is going to be significantly more noticeable than any lift you’ll do.

As far as the ride stiffness, I haven’t owned the LX long enough to see how the AHC responds to heavy loads. I can only imagine everything will soften out a bit under a load like any other suspension? We’ll def be adding some weight to this thing for our trips.

I did a 1" sensor lift in the front. Alignment had showed caster at a low 2.2 with the lift, but they were able to bring it in spec to 2.9 with the stock adjusters. Spec for my '09 was 2.6-4.1.

Regarding how AHC responds to heavy loads. I use my LX under very mixed usage. From unladen and almost stock weight to 2000lb payload when towing, 6 people, and gear. It's uncanny how AHC self adjusts just right for huge differences in payload. By nature, I think it's a progressive rate setup being partially supported by hydropneumatic globes. It's not much of a ride difference under load. For that alone, AHC earns its keep. Normal static suspensions can feel undersprung/oversprung with something like only 600lb changes in payload, and looking for different springs.

 

[Jakeonio]

I definitely think I went wrong somewhere. I wasn’t as scientific with my approach, and simply maxed out the sensors on all 4 sides while in high mode/AHC off and truck turned off. It doesn’t seem to have any change and in addition to no lift, at highway speeds when the LX lowers, it feels like the back almost lifts itself even more and then drops. I was debating getting on flat ground, setting back to the middle, driving around and retrying the whole procedure.

 

[MTKID]

I definitely think I went wrong somewhere. I wasn’t as scientific with my approach, and simply maxed out the sensors on all 4 sides while in high mode/AHC off and truck turned off. It doesn’t seem to have any change and in addition to no lift, at highway speeds when the LX lowers, it feels like the back almost lifts itself even more and then drops. I was debating getting on flat ground, setting back to the middle, driving around and retrying the whole procedure.

just for reference, I feel like my rear shocks stiffen and then drop when I reach 65 also. I always thought that was normal.

 

[Jakeonio]

just for reference, I feel like my rear shocks stiffen and then drop when I reach 65 also. I always thought that was normal.

That gives me some relief!

 

[grinchy]

normal - lowers lift for high speed cruising

 

[supercarrera]

just for reference, I feel like my rear shocks stiffen and then drop when I reach 65 also. I always thought that was normal.

The nose drops first and then the rear.

 

[Jakeonio]

The nose drops first and then the rear.

That’s why it feels that way. I just didn’t notice before I had the 35’s and lift. It makes much more sense that it’s so apparent now. Thanks guys!

 

[grinchy]

I never feel the nose drop on highway, but the rear is always noticed.
Sadly it doesn’t happen much for me, local free ways are 60 posted and with my 10% gear inflation 5 mph over 65mph cruise reads 59 on the Speedo.

 

[radman]

 

[RHIN0]

I'm toying around with mine a bit. Actually relocating the connection rod up 1in tapped into my billet uca. I used a 1/4 in hiem hoint. Essentially by lifting connection point (or with stock arms simply adjust the hiem that much shorter than stock connection rod) you move the range of motion in the AHC. Thus ride hight can be moved above allowable parameters. Of course at this point uca and diff drop should be necessities. Down side of this is that ride hight is now that much closer to full droop (what we call pogoing). The solution is moving the shock mounts up and or add strut spacers. This moves the shocks range of motion to be centered with ride hight which in turn corrects excessive AHC pressure. Now to do the same in the rear!!!!

 

[grinchy]

I'm toying around with mine a bit. Actually relocating the connection rod up 1in tapped into my billet uca. I used a 1/4 in hiem hoint. Essentially by lifting connection point (or with stock arms simply adjust the hiem that much shorter than stock connection rod) you move the range of motion in the AHC. Thus ride hight can be moved above allowable parameters. Of course at this point uca and diff drop should be necessities. Down side of this is that ride hight is now that much closer to full droop (what we call pogoing). The solution is moving the shock mounts up and or add strut spacers. This moves the shocks range of motion to be centered with ride hight which in turn corrects excessive AHC pressure. Now to do the same in the rear!!!!

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Raising the bar here @1UZJ80N60

 

[RHIN0]

Raising the bar here @1UZJ80N60

Raising the bar more than you think


Been following mud for over 12 years now.... its my time to contribute... seeing all these guys doing junkyard tundra swaps made me know it was possible. So here it is!!!

Thread 'Long travel LX570' Long travel LX570 - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/long-travel-lx570.1253112/