Rear Suspension Rough

[teamcurtis]

Ive recently replaced both airbags with factory parts and the rear shocks with LuftMeister shocks.
On the road the rear feels fine and normal. Self leveling works, ride height works, no lights on.
But when i hit a bigger bump the rear is SUPER stiff almost like its bottoming out (maybe it is)

Any thoughts? tips? things to check?

 

[zzyzx85]

How are your bump stops?

 

[Ignignot]

I ran the luftmeisters for 2 months and they were AWFUL. you definitely get what you pay for with these.

 

[Hornd]

How are your bump stops?

The Rubber Rusted off the Bracket as Shown.
New were about $100 from Ebay delivered and Came with New Bolts.

 

[teamcurtis]

My bumpstops could defn be replaced, but the bottoming out is like pulling into my driveway when the rear tires hit.... at 5 mph. Shouldnt be bottoming out at all!

 

[white_lx]

Check your ride height. Like you said, you shouldn't really bottom out at all especially at lower speeds.

One of your height sensors could be failing. The vehicle will take the average of both readings (L&R) and adjust the height accordingly. There will be no dash light when this happens. Are you able to read out the height sensors with a scan tool or Techstream?

 

[teamcurtis]

Check your ride height. Like you said, you shouldn't really bottom out at all especially at lower speeds.

One of your height sensors could be failing. The vehicle will take the average of both readings (L&R) and adjust the height accordingly. There will be no dash light when this happens. Are you able to read out the height sensors with a scan tool or Techstream?

Thanks for the tip... im guessing i can youtube my way thru it, unless you want to give me run down

 

[Hornd]

To be Honest - I'd Look to Delete the Airbag System. It was nice when New, but It has Airbags which Eventually Leak, Sensors that Fall off or Fail and a Compressor that is $$$ to Replace. Coil Springs are $90 and Shocks solve all that.
You pull a Fuse under Hood to Turn Dash Light Off. They even make a Console Cubby to replace the Switch $20.
Never Look Back.

Post in thread 'Another Rear Suspension Thread'

Mar 6, 2026

Front - Bilsteins 5100 - $131 each + KYB Coil Spring Holder $54 for Pair
Rear - Bilstein 5100 - $95 each plus Moog Coil Springs 81045 $90 per Pair.
Total Cost $594 + Shipping & Tax - Use the 5% RockAuto Discount Code

Added the AirLift Bags in Rear Coil Springs - $150 - See Pics Attached - 1000 Pounds of Added Capacity - Add Air to Prevent Squatting while Towing

This combination is Labor Intensive (If you DIY 1 Day for Front - 1 day for Rear), but it's Cheap and as Durable as it Gets.

No Suspension Airbag Sensors, Compressor, or Shock Adjustments to Fail - Same Setup...

• Hornd

 

[M3GX]

They even make a Console Cubby to replace the Switch $20.

Just did that yesterday. $25 for OEM off Amazon

Toyota Genuine Parts - Cover, Console Box H (58839-60040)
Amazon.com: Toyota Genuine Parts - Cover, Console Box H (58839-60040) : Automotive - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FG836Z6?ref=cm_sw_r_cso_sms_apan_dp_W1VNPXNQ23AXXXQAP3NN&ref_=cm_sw_r_cso_sms_apan_dp_W1VNPXNQ23AXXXQAP3NN&social_share=cm_sw_r_cso_sms_apan_dp_W1VNPXNQ23AXXXQAP3NN

 

[Hornd]

Next Step:

Just did that yesterday. $25 for OEM off Amazon

Toyota Genuine Parts - Cover, Console Box H (58839-60040)
Amazon.com: Toyota Genuine Parts - Cover, Console Box H (58839-60040) : Automotive - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FG836Z6?ref=cm_sw_r_cso_sms_apan_dp_W1VNPXNQ23AXXXQAP3NN&ref_=cm_sw_r_cso_sms_apan_dp_W1VNPXNQ23AXXXQAP3NN&social_share=cm_sw_r_cso_sms_apan_dp_W1VNPXNQ23AXXXQAP3NN

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[OG Zuninja]

Some trucks end up getting the VSA/TRAC lights to come on indefinitely if the TEMS fuse is pulled from the interior panel. Mine was one of them. I searched high and low over the last year and I found that no amount of ZPC would correct it. Either live with the flashing OFF light for the air suspension or do the "electrical tape mod" and cover it up. I went with the latter.

 

[Ignignot]

Counter arguement here. Replacing the rear air springs was actually pretty simple to do myself. Replacing the air lines was also pretty simple and replacing the air compressor was pretty simple. I was able to renew the whole rear air system (bags,lines,compressor) in about 2 hours with $600 in rock auto parts. The self leveling system is NICE when you are towing.

This $7 toolset made disconnecting the air lines a breeze

 

[teamcurtis]

also, while i appreciate the solutions everyone is doing to their own trucks, the topic for this thread is specifically WITH the airbag suspension set up.

 

[M3GX]

also, while i appreciate the solutions everyone is doing to their own trucks, the topic for this thread is specifically WITH the airbag suspension set up.

Set airbags to max ride height, check rear height/bags
Set airbags to min ride height, check rear height/bags

If not at expected height, check height sensors on the rear upper control arms. The tiny nut may have come loose and the bags are being incorrectly filled.

 

[IM2L8]

Just to toss this out there.
There could be a communication issue between your Lexus AVS system and the Luft Meister "Magnetic" fluid in the shocks.
When the AVS is feeding information to your new Luft Meister shocks there is a very large multi-point communication system between the GX and how it is talking to the shocks, requesting them to react to the given road dynamic. When going over a bump the tiny partials line up instantly in the fluid and cause the shocks to "stiffen up". When you are "cruising down the road" the magnetic fluid is not being influenced much by the GX AVS when not needed, the shocks work more or less like a regular shocks should, with proper valving of course. This all happens in milliseconds every second. So it could be that there is a "language" problem between the Lexus AVS and the Luft Meister magnetorheological fluid that just might not work for your GX and your driving style.