Newbie: Considering switch to 100 ser. from 11' FJC. Have a few ?s

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ElDude

10 Year
Joined
Apr 15, 2015
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Hi all, I currently have a 11' TTSE FJ Cruiser and have had my eye on some 100 series, but could use some help making a better decision.

In my search I've come across a few LX 470s and I know they have the AHC, which is something I would plan to change for a conventional lift. Does anyone that has had theirs removed remember how much it cost them?

Also which years have the locking rear diff?

I'm shopping for something most likely between a 98' and 04'. I'd like the cost to be sub 20k as paying off the loan sooner is one of my main motivations.

Thanks
 
ElDude, welcome.

If I were you, I'd go the 100 series FAQ section here...everything you need + tons more is there. It's the third thread down on the main page of this forum.

Not sure of the cost of removing AHC, but you'll find archives on the ongoing arguments re: leaving it alone or dumping it there. If you diy, removing the AHC is probably less :banana::banana:'s than installing new torsion bars and rear coils, and then having the steering re-aligned.

My LX does just fine off road with AHC...but I didn't buy the truck to do rock crawling or run the Rubicon. ;)

hth

Steve
 
According to Slee's FAQ it reads that in 2000, "Rear Differential Locker was no longer available as an option". Does this mean the diff lock was no longer available or does it mean that it became standard?
 
ElDude said:
According to Slee's FAQ it reads that in 2000, "Rear Differential Locker was no longer available as an option". Does this mean the diff lock was no longer available or does it mean that it became standard?
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No longer available. Toyota released their A-TRAC (electronic traction control) as standard equipment in 2000 and discontinued the "E-Locker".
 
Before you jump to conclusions on AHC, I'd encourage you to learn about it, and perhaps even experience it for yourself.

Ask yourself, if you had nice fancy high end coilovers, would you jump at getting rid of them for a basic spring/shock. Especially if these said units were validated and tested for 100k+ miles, many many of which easily last into 200k+ miles and is validated by the most rigorous of OEM's. Something which most aftermarket units can only dream of and barely last 30k miles, unless they old school dinosaur technology like OME's.

BTW, AHC is way beyond what anything the aftermarket can do since it's a full blown dynamic system. It gets a bad rap from those that don't know how to mod it or take advantage of it.

Good luck!
 
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It gets a bad rap from all of the issues that have occurred to these folks over the years, not because they don't know how to mod or use it. The reason people tear it out is because it's a weak failure point.
 
I haven't ruled out keeping it if that option is there. I would want to modify the truck for a more overland geared use. I've already read of people having issues with bumpers and sliders weighing too much to run at anything but the low setting.

I was mostly concerned at what I'd be looking at cost wise should I decide or need to do something with the system. Some people have switched to OME set ups and noted that they were pleased. I would run the AHC system until it had issues though.
 
Ok, so about two years ago I switched from my FJC to an '06 100 Series. Needed more room.

Mine has 165k miles and the AHC system still works fine. Handled off road no problemo. I've modified it to give about a 2" lift full time. Load it up with 5 200+ guys and it goes to low mode, but I am sure springs would do the same. AHC overload can be fixed with by cranking the torsion bars and spring spacers in the rear. If needed you can change out the t-bars and rear springs.

Keep in mind that the newer ones don't have a rear locker and the older ones with the locker don't have ATRAC. The ATRAC in the FJC is a newer and better system as well.
 
You might want to consider finding one that doesn't have factory Navigation integrated with climate control and audio, at this time those are basically impossible too upgrade .
 
revoked said:
Load it up with 5 200+ guys and it goes to low mode, but I am sure springs would do the same.
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Bingo!

It's normal for springs, even one that is dynamically sprung like AHC system, to compress with load. I find if funny that people consider this a failure of the system.

AHC is constant height until a threshold, at which point it acts like a normal suspension and will compress. Though it can easily be augmented to carry more load when correctly done.
 
ElDude,
Keep in mind, many loaners do not offer loans for vehicles over 10 years old. Mine was just over 10 years when I purchased and the deal almost flopped. Luckily the dealer was able to find me a loan after about 3 hours of searching.
Just something to keep in mind. Might want to look around for your own loan source before you go shopping. That way, no surprises.
 
ElDude said:
I haven't ruled out keeping it if that option is there. I would want to modify the truck for a more overland geared use. I've already read of people having issues with bumpers and sliders weighing too much to run at anything but the low setting.

I was mostly concerned at what I'd be looking at cost wise should I decide or need to do something with the system. Some people have switched to OME set ups and noted that they were pleased. I would run the AHC system until it had issues though.
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If you add weight, you have to modify the suspension, whether you have ahc or not. It just takes a bit more thought to do it correctly with the ahc.
If you replace suspension parts with stronger conventional after market parts, it doesn't matter what was there before, conventional or ahc. You will anyhow have to rip out the old parts and put in new, only that if you have ahc, there are a few more parts that you could choose to remove as well. DIY - and that's taken care of.
 
Also realize that if you're looking for a truck with an elocker it will NOT have AHC. Only 98-99 Toy. 100's came with the elocker. Gotta decide what you want and go from there. If you're at all considering removing AHC, I'd just start with a Land Cruiser, maybe that's just me as I'm sure others value the added niceties of the LX.
 
It costs nothing to remove the ahc if you know how to work a ratchet and a wrench.. Hacksaw blade to help in removal of the hardlines.
 
duggy said:
It gets a bad rap from all of the issues that have occurred to these folks over the years, not because they don't know how to mod or use it. The reason people tear it out is because it's a weak failure point.
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Nothing weak about it...it lasts at least as long as any typical suspension system does. The reason people tear it out is because it is insanely expensive when things fail (as any wear item does).

It amazes me people think a simple hydraulic system designed and built by one of the most quality focused OEMs is "weak"...

117,000 miles, and more significantly, 14 years on mine...still works just fine. I've had many a car with struts fail to do that...I've had many a car with springs/shocks fail to do that.

Pros and cons to any system...go with whatever gives you the most pros for your situation.
 
Bubba68CS said:
Nothing weak about it...it lasts at least as long as any typical suspension system does. The reason people tear it out is because it is insanely expensive when things fail (as any wear item does).

It amazes me people think a simple hydraulic system designed and built by one of the most quality focused OEMs is "weak"...

117,000 miles, and more significantly, 14 years on mine...still works just fine. I've had many a car with struts fail to do that...I've had many a car with springs/shocks fail to do that.

Pros and cons to any system...go with whatever gives you the most pros for your situation.
Click to expand...

Nailed it. When mine bites the dust I will go OME.
 
I recently had my AHC completely removed by a shop that has lots of experience doing it. It took them 3 hours.

If the right LX (or LC with AHC) comes along jump on it. In the scope of a 100 purchase and build its negligible.
 
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