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SWUtah

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Looking at replacing my LX470 AHC suspension with the standard Landcruiser suspension. Dealer discounted parts price around $1400.00 plus tax. Torsion bars, shocks and new springs and bump stops. I don't need to lift my LX but I looked at Slees site and for the medium duty OME suspension with the Slee diff drop is about $1100.00 plus tax, shipping??. Is the medium duty OME suspension that Slee sells with the diff drop as heavy duty and dependable as the OEM suspension i could buy from the Toyota dealership?

A benefit I would think buying from Slee would be that if the 4x4 shop here in Vegas doing my suspension conversion had any questions Slee would be available to answer their questions making things easier.

Also plan on using 4x4 parts in Vegas to do the install. Any opinions on them?
 
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$1400 seems expensive for parts. Aren't the OEM shocks really cheap like $50ea or less? Other than that you just need OEM torsion bars and coils, which people give away all the time. I've given away two sets of them. Next time some one near you installs a lift, ask for their stock springs.

To answer your question, the OME kit is more heavy duty than the OEM stuff. They're intended to carry 200lbs+ more than stock. Other options would be to go with Bilstein or Fox shocks for a cushier ride. I find the OME set up to be rather harsh compared to stock. With 5 LCs, I thought you were a MUD veteran. Is this the first one that's needed new suspension?
 
KlausVanWinkle said:
$1400 seems expensive for parts. Aren't the OEM shocks really cheap like $50ea or less? Other than that you just need OEM torsion bars and coils, which people give away all the time. I've given away two sets of them. Next time some one near you installs a lift, ask for their stock springs.

To answer your question, the OME kit is more heavy duty than the OEM stuff. They're intended to carry 200lbs+ more than stock. Other options would be to go with Bilstein or Fox shocks for a cushier ride. I find the OME set up to be rather harsh compared to stock. With 5 LCs, I thought you were a MUD veteran. Is this the first one that's needed new suspension?
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First one. I'm trying something new, instead of just buying another I am keeping and maintaining :)
 
I would think you could get LC takeoffs for free if you want stock. And then just buy stock or kyb shocks.

But, as I tend to ask everyone lately, what is your goal? Is your AHC failed and beyond repair? Why pull it off if you just want a stock ride? If I didn't want a medium duty lift I'd love the AHC option.
 
OregonLC said:
I would think you could get LC takeoffs for free if you want stock. And then just buy stock or kyb shocks.

But, as I tend to ask everyone lately, what is your goal? Is your AHC failed and beyond repair? Why pull it off if you just want a stock ride? If I didn't want a medium duty lift I'd love the AHC option.
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Frontend is starting on occasion to bounce at low speed over washboard roads and the suspension feels stiff even on the softest setting. Don't really want to continually throw $$$ at the AHC suspension. I understand that I could easily spend $1000 on a repair and one year latter have to spend another. I can do the Slee with install for about $2000 and I am good for years with new shocks costing a couple of hundred in 60-70k miles. I now have 119k miles on my perfectly maintained Las Vegas owned (no rust) LX. I drive about 12K miles a year and will sell it (per the wife) in about 5 years at 180k miles. So what would you do?
 
SWUtah said:
Looked in ads none available.
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It may be because everyone assumes no demand. I know I just chucked mine when I moved otherwise you could have had them free. Just watch for the next LC guy doing a lift and PM him.

Didn't realize from the original post your AHC was tired.
 
When I needed some, I posted on here and got 3 people offering me theirs. If you want the stock suspension feel I'd get the Toyota OEM torsion bars and coils. The OME's change the ride. Your shop shouldn't need any help installing it. The only thing tricky is getting the OEM Lexus shocks off since the valve for the AHC fluid makes using certain wrenches difficult.
 
Think I am leaning toward the Slee 1.5 lift with diff drop along with the Slee sliders. Since I am going to keep this rig for at least 5 years might as well build a urban warrior out of it. Your saying any good 4x4 tech should be able to do this with the instructions Christo provides on his site, plus I am sure Christo would walk them through any questions they might have. Guess I could just drive from Vegas to Golden and have Slee do the job just worried with the AHC acting funny, (if the AHC went out would it just get harder or would it start bouncing all over, which would not be safe).
 
I priced the OEM parts to do a conversion from AHC to standard OEM suspension, the parts are online are around $1,000 plus tax. If you can get a free or cheap set of used torsion bars and springs, you might be able to get out pretty cheap.

The break down:
-Torsion bars - $305/each
-Front Shocks - $33/each
-Rear Coils - $145/each
-Rear Shocks - $36 each

I will be doing this conversion at some point, my LX is getting a little stiff and moves about 7 marks in the AHC resevoir. I like the AHC and being able to drop the vehicle, especially when putting my kids in and taking them out, but don't see the point sinking money into the system. I will likely go ahead and get a lift and be done with it and will have to pay someone to install it. Post what you end up doing with yours or if you find a good resource for cheap OEM parts.
 
I just had mine swapped out. Other than the N light on the dash, you'd never know it was there. Once you've done the swap for OME, you're done. Permanently. Plus, it's a nice selling point when you hit your 5 year mark.
 
Moody said:
I just had mine swapped out. Other than the N light on the dash, you'd never know it was there. Once you've done the swap for OME, you're done. Permanently. Plus, it's a nice selling point when you hit your 5 year mark.
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That's what I'm thinking. Selling a Vegas LX with perfect records and no rust and the OME med duty 1.5 inch lift should be easy in a few years. Make another member a great rig.
 
Most of the AHC swap out job is shown here. What is not shown is the removal of the T-bars, they just re-indexed them which is not correct.

They left the rest of the AHC system installed and just plugged the hydraulic line. Personally, I'd remove the dead weight but that is optional. They also don't show how to disable the AHC dash lights and power.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5d36Qo0dPqE
 
hoser said:
Most of the AHC swap out job is shown here. What is not shown is the removal of the T-bars, they just re-indexed them which is not correct.

They left the rest of the AHC system installed and just plugged the hydraulic line. Personally, I'd remove the dead weight but that is optional. They also don't show how to disable the AHC dash lights and power.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5d36Qo0dPqE
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Thanks, going to contact Christo and drive from Vegas to Golden and have Slee off road do the job. I'm going to discuss with Christo if I should do the 1 1/2 or the 2 1/2 OME med. duty lift? I'm running 265/70/18's, just don't know if they will look funny with a 2 1/2" lift?
 
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