I pulled out of my driveway yesterday and immediately knew something was wrong. The car was like a "bucking bronco" on the slightest bumps. I couldn't go over 20 mph, and really didn't want to leave the area of my home. The car is new to me, so I'm still familiarizing myself with it's operation. Anyway, I noticed the air suspension was set to off. I may have inadvertently switched it to off while it was parked a day earlier. Turning the switch to on and selecting the high setting fixed the problem completely. My question is, is this normal operation, or does it mean my rear shocks need replacement? It's actually a very nice ride with the air suspension switched in the on position. Is this switch there to allow for loading, with the car lowered, and must it be switched on at all times while traveling? What makes me nervous is possibly being stranded away from home and have the system fail for whatever reason. I'm thinking there will be a convectional spring/shock conversion in the future for this car.
Question about air suspension on GX470 (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter Danny Troy
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
I only turned it off whenever I put the vehicle on a lift or changed the tires because you don't want the system trying to adjust when its not supporting its own weight. The system also reverts to the middle/normal ride height above 15mph.
Next time you start the vehicle listen for the air compressor turning on to inflate the bags or select high again and you should hear it kick on. If you ever hear the compressor running constantly or having to operate beyond startup or after loading the vehicle you might have a leak in one or both of your bags.
I converted my vehicle to a traditional spring and I'll admit I do miss the the air bags. The ride is not the same and I miss the ride leveling. I appreciate not having to worry about a bag failing but I wouldn't jump to the conclusion replacing them is the best option. If you are still on the stock shocks and struts I would 100% replace those first before deciding what to do with the air bags. Even if the vehicle rides ok trust me they are not after all these years. I was under the illusion everything was fine for too long. Don't be like me lol.
Next time you start the vehicle listen for the air compressor turning on to inflate the bags or select high again and you should hear it kick on. If you ever hear the compressor running constantly or having to operate beyond startup or after loading the vehicle you might have a leak in one or both of your bags.
I converted my vehicle to a traditional spring and I'll admit I do miss the the air bags. The ride is not the same and I miss the ride leveling. I appreciate not having to worry about a bag failing but I wouldn't jump to the conclusion replacing them is the best option. If you are still on the stock shocks and struts I would 100% replace those first before deciding what to do with the air bags. Even if the vehicle rides ok trust me they are not after all these years. I was under the illusion everything was fine for too long. Don't be like me lol.
Almost every GX with air suspension will have a tiny leak somewhere that the compressor has to run occasionally to top up the system. Leaving it off doesn’t allow this to happen.
Turning it off is only really for maintenance.
Turning it off is only really for maintenance.
- Thread starter
- #4
Thanks for the info. I will look into doing the front shocks. I looked at the Lexus history from day one, and only see a mention of checking the shocks. Nothing on replacing them. Seems like it would be a good idea to do front and back, considering the mileage.
I converted mine to coils when lifting and haven't looked back. A good aftermarket set of shocks will ride and handle drastically better than the worn out OEM shocks and air suspension on one of these. I also tow with mine and routinely load it up for camping trips without issue. I have the rig set to 1" of rake (higher in the back) and it more or less levels out with a few hundred pounds of gear in the back, or when using our weight distribution hitch while towing.
- Thread starter
- #6
Yes, I'll probably wind up doing both front and back. The one problem I'll likely have is getting rusted nuts/bolts off, since I'm in the rust belt and have a lot of surface rust. I'll wait a while and see how it runs as is. Luckily, this vehicle will only be used to tow my boat to and from the marina, which is literally around the corner from my home. I'll also use it if and when it snows, so I will put very few miles on it.
Yeah, as above.
The off prevents the compressor from running and you're supposed to turn it off when lifting the rear axle off the ground (onto stands or a hoist).
Your description sounds like you were running on he bump stops and may have a leak in one or both air springs. The rubber gets dry rot and eventually a weak spot pernitrates all the way through.
If one side has a hole the other side will work extra hard to hold it up but you'll probably be riding on the bump stops anyway... Sucks!
The off prevents the compressor from running and you're supposed to turn it off when lifting the rear axle off the ground (onto stands or a hoist).
Your description sounds like you were running on he bump stops and may have a leak in one or both air springs. The rubber gets dry rot and eventually a weak spot pernitrates all the way through.
If one side has a hole the other side will work extra hard to hold it up but you'll probably be riding on the bump stops anyway... Sucks!
Hello I have a 2007 GX 470 the air bag failed and I was able to nurse it home, so I tried to replace the air bags only, the shocks still seem good, the rig has 200K on full dealer service 2nd owner. I purchased Arnott bags and went through all the trials and tribulations doing the install. Once you repeat yourself after 5 times you get better at it BUT
So when I installed the passenger bag I was trying to twist the bottom lock piece into place and the bag got twisted.
So when I put the tires back on the air bags were making a lot of noise bad noise, so we stopped immediately and let the air out. I removed the bottom locking piece and now the air bag is hanging loose and fully extended.
Question:
How do I get the bag to collapse on itself like how the bag come out of the box? This way I do not risk twisting it again.
Thanks in advance
So when I installed the passenger bag I was trying to twist the bottom lock piece into place and the bag got twisted.
So when I put the tires back on the air bags were making a lot of noise bad noise, so we stopped immediately and let the air out. I removed the bottom locking piece and now the air bag is hanging loose and fully extended.
Question:
How do I get the bag to collapse on itself like how the bag come out of the box? This way I do not risk twisting it again.
Thanks in advance
Take off the air hose and push it back upon itself. It'll whoosh air out and invert back to a shorter profile to allow you to reinstall it.
I do hear you that it seems intimidating at first, but once you get the details it's pretty simple. Also similar with seating The bottom into the captive slot and rotating 90° such that the top pins will locate correctly in the upper spring Perch. Yes, it is fiddly in some Regards to have the air hoses go up through that hole, line up the pin while the bottom is fixed, but once you deflate it you should be able to get it to stretch out and everything will work out well.
I do hear you that it seems intimidating at first, but once you get the details it's pretty simple. Also similar with seating The bottom into the captive slot and rotating 90° such that the top pins will locate correctly in the upper spring Perch. Yes, it is fiddly in some Regards to have the air hoses go up through that hole, line up the pin while the bottom is fixed, but once you deflate it you should be able to get it to stretch out and everything will work out well.
Last edited:
Thanks Dranged, I can push it back in but it does not collapse upon itself, push out one way or another, so if it is crooked and it fill with air it makes really loud noises. I am thinking about using a vacuum to help it collapse so it will be similar to how it came in the box. I am getting to old to work on cars anymore and having it break down makes it twice as bad, I never want to bring a vehicle to a mechanic on a tow truck, it never ends well. I will try again. Not to many videos on the process mostly In a few Moments Later, and Magic.
@moondoggy
I hear you. Laying on my back isn'y the fun is used to be anymore.
It is a little fiddly, but locating the bottom and rotating such that the top air fitting and pin (for the clip) line up is key.
YOU DO NOT WANT THE BAG rotated then aired, it'll probably fail explosively!
a vacuumm is a good idea, but with nothing on the air fitting you should be able to manipulate it....
and the Arnott air fitting rotates so one design for either side whereas the stock bags are sided.
Eyball line up the top, then fit the bottom in rotating it appropriately , then stuff the air hose down through the upper perch air fitting side (inboard) and connect it to the Arnott, then feed the line back up through the hole lining up the top of the air spring. You can jack up the axle a little to push the empty air spring up intot the holes, then fit the clip, but you definitely want it lined up correctly w/o a twist before you fire up the compressor!!
Best!
I hear you. Laying on my back isn'y the fun is used to be anymore.
It is a little fiddly, but locating the bottom and rotating such that the top air fitting and pin (for the clip) line up is key.
YOU DO NOT WANT THE BAG rotated then aired, it'll probably fail explosively!
a vacuumm is a good idea, but with nothing on the air fitting you should be able to manipulate it....
and the Arnott air fitting rotates so one design for either side whereas the stock bags are sided.
Eyball line up the top, then fit the bottom in rotating it appropriately , then stuff the air hose down through the upper perch air fitting side (inboard) and connect it to the Arnott, then feed the line back up through the hole lining up the top of the air spring. You can jack up the axle a little to push the empty air spring up intot the holes, then fit the clip, but you definitely want it lined up correctly w/o a twist before you fire up the compressor!!
Best!
Last edited:
Thank you for the photo's
The top photo is similar to my bag now, fully extended.
The photo below, shows him in the factory setting, shrunk up on itself so to speak.
So a factory bag does not have the keyhole fitting, just round, so much easier and that would have eliminated my present issue,
Turn the bag to fit it, the bag is now crinkle, fill crinkly bag up with air and pow big trouble. Frustration that I do not need.
My bags are fitted correctly on top.
With a fully extended bag the only way to get it in is to lower the axle as. far as it can go, and the bag is still too long, so now you have to twist causing the issue that I am having.
I will use a small shop vac. Place the air hose in a round piece of wood, drill two hole, split the round piece of wood down the middle of one hole, place the air tube in the split hole, place finger over the second hole, use finger to regulate how much sucking goes on, shrinking the bag in a controllable fashion so to speak.
Thanks again I really appreciate the help.
The top photo is similar to my bag now, fully extended.
The photo below, shows him in the factory setting, shrunk up on itself so to speak.
So a factory bag does not have the keyhole fitting, just round, so much easier and that would have eliminated my present issue,
Turn the bag to fit it, the bag is now crinkle, fill crinkly bag up with air and pow big trouble. Frustration that I do not need.
My bags are fitted correctly on top.
With a fully extended bag the only way to get it in is to lower the axle as. far as it can go, and the bag is still too long, so now you have to twist causing the issue that I am having.
I will use a small shop vac. Place the air hose in a round piece of wood, drill two hole, split the round piece of wood down the middle of one hole, place the air tube in the split hole, place finger over the second hole, use finger to regulate how much sucking goes on, shrinking the bag in a controllable fashion so to speak.
Thanks again I really appreciate the help.
It should twist in the bottom to get the top aligned.
Again, try fitting the bottom first, then connect hose to air fitting and pass the air hose and fitting up through the hole and lift the axle to seat the top correctly.
The locking-in prevents the bag from unseating, esp. at full droop with an extended shock mounted.
but yeah, odd that stock doesn't come with that security considering that the hole in the lower perch has the provision for these wing.
All things being stock it shouldn't matter regarding unseating the air spring from the lower spring seat, BUT the bag CAN unseat which can be catastrophic!
With a little rounded lip at the bottom, the spring can still squish and extend as needed for positioning, FULLY extended thay're WAY to long to fit...
sock left, Arnott right.
Keep at it man, you'll get it!!
Here's a write-up from the GX FAQ: I replaced my airbags and heres my how to - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/i-replaced-my-airbags-and-heres-my-how-to.1010652/
Again, try fitting the bottom first, then connect hose to air fitting and pass the air hose and fitting up through the hole and lift the axle to seat the top correctly.
The locking-in prevents the bag from unseating, esp. at full droop with an extended shock mounted.
but yeah, odd that stock doesn't come with that security considering that the hole in the lower perch has the provision for these wing.
All things being stock it shouldn't matter regarding unseating the air spring from the lower spring seat, BUT the bag CAN unseat which can be catastrophic!
With a little rounded lip at the bottom, the spring can still squish and extend as needed for positioning, FULLY extended thay're WAY to long to fit...
sock left, Arnott right.
Keep at it man, you'll get it!!
Here's a write-up from the GX FAQ: I replaced my airbags and heres my how to - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/i-replaced-my-airbags-and-heres-my-how-to.1010652/
Last edited:
So I tried the vacuum trick to try to make the bag collapse upon itself. See the two photos above you can see the bags are collapsed on themselves, the problem in my is fully extended like the one I removed, the new one is on the car but it looks similar to this fully extended.
Yipes!
Yeah you'll have to push it up in as you vac out some air, maybe mount the bottom in a vise and push the top down over it as you suck out some air. Also maybe contact Arnott...
Yeah you'll have to push it up in as you vac out some air, maybe mount the bottom in a vise and push the top down over it as you suck out some air. Also maybe contact Arnott...
So I called Arnott and I sent them the pictures and ask for help, they simply told me to send it back to RockAuto and Arnott would cover it under warranty, so today I received the new air bag. Wish me luck, you know doing it 4 times it does get easier.
I will definetly have more question.
I will definetly have more question.
sweet! Don't pull it out! I recommend seating the lower perch then rotating to align top pins. Give that FAQ post a read too!!
HERE: I replaced my airbags and heres my how to - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/i-replaced-my-airbags-and-heres-my-how-to.1010652/
You've got this!!
HERE: I replaced my airbags and heres my how to - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/i-replaced-my-airbags-and-heres-my-how-to.1010652/
You've got this!!
