replacing AHC globes/accumulators (1 Viewer)

[jumptrader]

Are y'all also replacing the springs? If not, how would you recommend evaluating if your springs need replacement too?

Ideally I'd be able to give the globes and springs (if doing the springs) to the shop at the same time. If safe to assume springs needs replacement on a vehicle with 170,000+ miles.. I might just go ahead and do it.

 

[suprarx7nut]

Are y'all also replacing the springs? If not, how would you recommend evaluating if your springs need replacement too?

Ideally I'd be able to give the globes and springs (if doing the springs) to the shop at the same time. If safe to assume springs needs replacement on a vehicle with 170,000+ miles.. I might just go ahead and do it.

You need to check pressures. Techstream or another fancy handheld is the common approach, but there is a manual pressure check method with the right analog gauge. Most shops, even Lexus dealers, will struggle to correctly check pressures. It's not a hard task, but it is difficult to find someone willing and able to do it correctly.

Front torsion bars get adjusted, rear springs get replaced or have spacers added.

 

[Joshuak172]

You need to check pressures. Techstream or another fancy handheld is the common approach, but there is a manual pressure check method with the right analog gauge. Most shops, even Lexus dealers, will struggle to correctly check pressures. It's not a hard task, but it is difficult to find someone willing and able to do it correctly.

Front torsion bars get adjusted, rear springs get replaced or have spacers added.

Well, I got the new globes put on and the ride feels marginally improved although I still have some harshness on bumps and a hum hum hum vibration at higher speeds. At least these globes were a great purchase, time to move on to rear control arms as there isn’t much left I havent replaced. Thanks again!

 

[suprarx7nut]

Well, I got the new globes put on and the ride feels marginally improved although I still have some harshness on bumps and a hum hum hum vibration at higher speeds. At least these globes were a great purchase, time to move on to rear control arms as there isn’t much left I havent replaced. Thanks again!

I have some similar characteristics I'm going to start diving into as well. Even road seams across both tires seem to be harsher than they should be. I know my bushings are bad on all the rear arms, so I was planning on starting there. If you note an improvement on any one task, let us know what it turns out to be!

 

[Joshuak172]

I have some similar characteristics I'm going to start diving into as well. Even road seams across both tires seem to be harsher than they should be. I know my bushings are bad on all the rear arms, so I was planning on starting there. If you note an improvement on any one task, let us know what it turns out to be!

Will do. Kind of annoying since I have replaced almost entire front end at this point minus the knuckles, also front and rear drive shafts. Will check the rear bushings out today And update.

 

[tjb]

Bushings made a huge difference on the front, I haven’t done much of the back.

After swapping out the globes, I *thought* the ride was smoother, but it quickly gets hard to judge. Roads are all different, you get used to the way the new ones feel, it’s hard to tell whether the ride is worse or you are just paying ridiculous attention to it! What I still do notice is the handling when cornering. The car really grabs and holds onto the road. It’s what I first noticed when I got the truck even though it was just at or over minimum spec on the graduations test. It’s great now.

 

[flintknapper]

Will do. Kind of annoying since I have replaced almost entire front end at this point minus the knuckles, also front and rear drive shafts. Will check the rear bushings out today And update.

IF you are getting road noise/harshness transferred through body.....something that is often overlooked... are the bushings/cushions on the shocks themselves. Also check your body mounts to be sure they are tight.

 

[Joshuak172]

IF you are getting road noise/harshness transferred through body.....something that is often overlooked... are the bushings/cushions on the shocks themselves. Also check your body mounts to be sure they are tight.

Rgr, will check these out.

 

[jumptrader]

IF you are getting road noise/harshness transferred through body.....something that is often overlooked... are the bushings/cushions on the shocks themselves. Also check your body mounts to be sure they are tight.

Ahh good point. Is this done via visual inspection?

 

[flintknapper]

Ahh good point. Is this done via visual inspection?

Shocks yes, body mounts....just try to tighten them.

 

[Joshuak172]

Shocks yes, body mounts....just try to tighten them.

Well I can now confidently say the globes didn’t change anything. My pressures are in spec although I haven’t removed the temp sensor when checking. I am still feeling every single bump in the road. The actuator is the only thing I couldn’t bleed because of fear of stripping the bleeder but I can’t imagine that’s causing this. I have some bushings on the rear end I could tackle but once again I can’t believe they are causing the rough ride. Thoughts?

 

[suprarx7nut]

The actuator is the only thing I couldn’t bleed because of fear of stripping the bleeder but I can’t imagine that’s causing this.

Explain this a little more. The actuators are the 4 finned things the globes mount to. Were you unable to bleed any of them? I would expect that to be a significant problem because you'd have air in the system.

 

[flintknapper]

Explain this a little more. The actuators are the 4 finned things the globes mount to. Were you unable to bleed any of them? I would expect that to be a significant problem because you'd have air in the system.

'Accumulator' I'm sure he meant.

 

[Joshuak172]

Explain this a little more. The actuators are the 4 finned things the globes mount to. Were you unable to bleed any of them? I would expect that to be a significant problem because you'd have air in the system.

Sorry, I meant accumulator.

 

[suprarx7nut]

Sorry, I meant accumulator.

Ok, cool. That shouldn't matter.

Does it feel firmer as you change the comfort dial? That would indicate the actuators are doing something.

Have you tried the 16 step damper test? That's one AHC maintenance item I haven't tackled yet, but I think that will help prove out basic shock function.

 

[Joshuak172]

Ok, cool. That shouldn't matter.

Does it feel firmer as you change the comfort dial? That would indicate the actuators are doing something.

Have you tried the 16 step damper test? That's one AHC maintenance item I haven't tackled yet, but I think that will help prove out basic shock function.

I’m going to go slow and deliberate through the cross level and height/pressure adjustments tomorrow and then tackle the 16 step test. The comfort dial does have some effect, it gets more intolerable. I saw a few somewhat similar threads talking about how all the small bumps seems to translate into the cabin but the larger bumps seem to be dampened better, that’s what mine feels like. The road chatter/vibration at 65 keeps the rear view mirror constant moving ever so slightly.

 

[Joshuak172]

Ok, cool. That shouldn't matter.

Does it feel firmer as you change the comfort dial? That would indicate the actuators are doing something.

Have you tried the 16 step damper test? That's one AHC maintenance item I haven't tackled yet, but I think that will help prove out basic shock function.

I just rechecked my pressures and despite changing out the rear springs I am still getting rear pressures of 8ish. Could this be causing my rough ride?

 

[suprarx7nut]

I just rechecked my pressures and despite changing out the rear springs I am still getting rear pressures of 8ish. Could this be causing my rough ride?

Perhaps a little, but I doubt it. I would triple check bushings and such. If it's soaking up the big bumps, bit you get vibrations and harshness on little bumps bushings make a lot of sense to me.

8 Mpa is pretty high for pressure though. Pending your load and future plans, you probably need spring spacers or King springs or something. You could also lower ride height with the rear sensor if there's any chance your rear is lifted above the OEM spec.

 

[LXKevin]

Perhaps a little, but I doubt it. I would triple check bushings and such. If it's soaking up the big bumps, bit you get vibrations and harshness on little bumps bushings make a lot of sense to me.

8 Mpa is pretty high for pressure though. Pending your load and future plans, you probably need spring spacers or King springs or something. You could also lower ride height with the rear sensor if there's any chance your rear is lifted above the OEM spec.

Uh mr. ahc gatekeeper 8.0 ish rear pressure and not bleeding an accumulator after globe replacement should not be the cause of rough ride? This is terrible counsel you should fire yourself from ahc gatekeeping duty asap.

 

[suprarx7nut]

Uh mr. ahc gatekeeper 8.0 ish rear pressure and not bleeding an accumulator after globe replacement should not be the cause of rough ride? This is terrible counsel you should fire yourself from ahc gatekeeping duty asap.

Not sure if you're kidding or not, but I don't think 8.0 with temp sensor disconnected would yield significant harshness. I can say that from a theoretical standpoint and first hand experience. Provided no change to height sensors, the system spring rate is roughly the same whether you get it from the AHC hydraulics or the mechanical springs.

My car was 7.9 with sensor disconnected when I bought it. Ride quality was still great. I would argue ride quality is degraded now that I'm below pressure spec.

Regarding bleeding, he didn't bleed the height accumulator. That's fine. The manual calls for bleeding of the 4 actuators. He did bleed (so I've been led to understand) all 4 actuators. The chances of air getting trapped in the height accumulator when that bleeder was left alone seems very low. Therefore, bleeding of height accumulator seems like a low risk - even the correct approach if you believe the formal manual. I would bleed the accumulator, but by no means does it seem to be required.

I best be getting back to that gate now...