School me air bag delete on stock GX470 (2 Viewers)

[centerisl]

My 2006 GX470 is completely stock and now at 225k miles with 265/65-R17 AT tires. I tow a small boat occasionally, have roof bars and racks and attachments, mostly take the dog to the dog park (using a rear-seat hammock - current dog doesn't like the back). I love the vehicle and have recently done 3 separate 4WD trips in the Cle Elum (WABDR section 3, Table Mountain) area where where we purchased some property - I air down to 18" with Staun deflators and then air up with a couple of portables inflators and a Jackery. I thought I was doing great until...

...I met up with a friend with a new Bronco Badlands. He said "nobody uses air suspension off-road".

(Sidenote: I'm getting a Rivian R1S soon - locked configuration Friday - but I suspect it will primarily be my wife's car...there's a thread on the Rivian forum where someone suffered an air suspension failure on the WABDR and it was bad news...and I don't really want to f-up something that's going to cost that much money. Back to my thread...)

So yeah...I knew there were some threads about GX470 air bag / sensor failures. And shocks wear out. And...I've got almost a quarter million miles on this suspension and haven't replaced a damned thing. Am I living on borrowed time?

That started me thinking I'd get a Rubicon...or a Badlands/Sasquatch...but I really want Toyota/Lexus reliability so I think I'm going to wait for the next-gen 4Runner.

And now I'm at the point where I'd like to do some mild upgrades / modifications to my GX470 so that I can feel more secure on those 4WD trails. Other data points: I prefer a spare that in the stock location, I'm OK with the stock wheels (though I need to get them refurbished), and while I can take it to a specialist for install of any off-road gear I prefer Lexus dealership for service and don't have any extra time to muck with this so it has to be truly straightforward.

So...I've groveled the threads here and see that Icon and Dobinsons are generally recommended, folks like progressive springs, and apparently some folks like air bags...perhaps Firestone over stock.

What is the current recommendation?

 

[Rednexus]

At your mileage and age, I am surprised the airbags have not started leaking yet. Also, unless your shocks have already been replaced, they are probably also worn out or even blown out. So there would be a lot of benefit in an aftermarket lift kit that includes better shocks and a rear coil spring conversion, both for on-road handling and off-road capability. I went with an Ironman Foam Cell Pro kit for my GX when the airbags started leaking at 150K. I thought I liked the airbags before that, but really don't miss them at all, even when towing (I use a weight distribution hitch instead). You can get extended airbags for a GX (from Airbag man in AU), but they are more expensive than coils and have more potential failure points. IMO, coils are a much simpler and more reliable solution than airbags.

 

[HomersCanyonero]

My 2006 GX470 is completely stock and now at 225k miles with 265/65-R17 AT tires. I tow a small boat occasionally, have roof bars and racks and attachments, mostly take the dog to the dog park (using a rear-seat hammock - current dog doesn't like the back). I love the vehicle and have recently done 3 separate 4WD trips in the Cle Elum (WABDR section 3, Table Mountain) area where where we purchased some property - I air down to 18" with Staun deflators and then air up with a couple of portables inflators and a Jackery. I thought I was doing great until...

...I met up with a friend with a new Bronco Badlands. He said "nobody uses air suspension off-road".

(Sidenote: I'm getting a Rivian R1S soon - locked configuration Friday - but I suspect it will primarily be my wife's car...there's a thread on the Rivian forum where someone suffered an air suspension failure on the WABDR and it was bad news...and I don't really want to f-up something that's going to cost that much money. Back to my thread...)

So yeah...I knew there were some threads about GX470 air bag / sensor failures. And shocks wear out. And...I've got almost a quarter million miles on this suspension and haven't replaced a damned thing. Am I living on borrowed time?

That started me thinking I'd get a Rubicon...or a Badlands/Sasquatch...but I really want Toyota/Lexus reliability so I think I'm going to wait for the next-gen 4Runner.

And now I'm at the point where I'd like to do some mild upgrades / modifications to my GX470 so that I can feel more secure on those 4WD trails. Other data points: I prefer a spare that in the stock location, I'm OK with the stock wheels (though I need to get them refurbished), and while I can take it to a specialist for install of any off-road gear I prefer Lexus dealership for service and don't have any extra time to muck with this so it has to be truly straightforward.

So...I've groveled the threads here and see that Icon and Dobinsons are generally recommended, folks like progressive springs, and apparently some folks like air bags...perhaps Firestone over stock.

What is the current recommendation?

I kept my airbags for like 3 years before converting to progressive rear coils. I didn’t have any issues off-roading with the stock refreshed and tricked air bags.

I carry a 255/75R17 (32.1”x10”) on an FJC steelie wheel as my spare in spare location. It’s only about 1/2” shorter than my 285/70R17s (32.7”x11.5”) and maybe less because my 285s are half worn and the spare is full thread. Also, narrow enough not to hang too low.

Check out this video if you want to overland with airbags. He’s got nice OME BP51s all around with refreshed new air bags

 

[centerisl]

I thought I liked the airbags before that, but really don't miss them at all, even when towing (I use a weight distribution hitch instead).

Thank you for your response. The tongue weight of my small boat is probably 100 lbs, but I looked up weight distribution hitch and and see how that would help for heavier loads. I can probably let go of auto leveling. For a previous dog it was important that I used L height at the rear so she could jump out, but with the rear seat hammock we're using now that's not as important. And of course I use H when going slow in some off road situations which a lift would obviate.

 

[centerisl]

I kept my airbags for like 3 years before converting to progressive rear coils. I didn’t have any issues off-roading with the stock refreshed and tricked air bags.

I carry a 255/75R17 (32.1”x10”) on an FJC steelie wheel as my spare in spare location. It’s only about 1/2” shorter than my 285/70R17s (32.7”x11.5”) and maybe less because my 285s are half worn and the spare is full thread. Also, narrow enough not to hang too low.

Check out this video if you want to overland with airbags. He’s got nice OME BP51s all around with refreshed new air bags

Thanks for the pointer to that video - I had not seen that. His build is a lot more involved than what I'm contemplating but it was great to hear the reasoning behind his decisions. And of course a lot of projects start small and accelerate down the rabbit hole.

A couple points I liked from that video: the ability to hang a 33" wheel on the rear door without a separate swing-away, and what he called "Timbren Jounces" - bump stops so you can still drive without rubbing if you have an air bag failure.

I'm really having a hard time with the idea of eliminating the air suspension - there's something OCD about me that would hate having that switch on the console that did nothing!

 

[centerisl]

I carry a 255/75R17 (32.1”x10”) on an FJC steelie wheel as my spare in spare location. It’s only about 1/2” shorter than my 285/70R17s (32.7”x11.5”) and maybe less because my 285s are half worn and the spare is full thread. Also, narrow enough not to hang too low.

I like the idea of a slightly smaller tire in the spare location - but if you have to change tires then you're going to be carrying the take off on the roof or in the cabin.

One other thing about that video - you can see he remounted the license plate holder - and I'm thinking the rearview cameras as well. These are the kind of gotchas that I'm trying to think through ahead of time because I don't have the time to deal with a cascading set of fixes like he did.

 

[HomersCanyonero]

I was thinking a deflated shredded 285/70R17 should fit in the spare location but that’s the gamble I’m taking….otherwise it goes inside or roof rack as you said. I do have 4 stock roof rack crossbars to hold the tire up there in case of an emergency.

Timbren rear bumpstops (jounces) work even with coils in the rear. Make the hard events soft.

But Scott Brady did a nice clean build on his GX470

Anyways, just wanted to highlight the fact that some people do overland with lifted and fresh rear air bags

 

[Rednexus]

Thank you for your response. The tongue weight of my small boat is probably 100 lbs, but I looked up weight distribution hitch and and see how that would help for heavier loads. I can probably let go of auto leveling. For a previous dog it was important that I used L height at the rear so she could jump out, but with the rear seat hammock we're using now that's not as important. And of course I use H when going slow in some off road situations which a lift would obviate.

For a 100-lb tongue weight you really don't need a WDH hitch. I also tow a small utility trailer with a ~100-lb tongue weight and it drives/pulls just fine without the WDH hooked up (and the GX still has some positive rake). My camper has a 500-lb tongue weight, at which point the WDH is absolutely necessary.

If you might tow something heavier in the future, you will need the full OEM hitch (that ties into the frame rails) to run a WDH, if you don't already have one. The smaller pintle hitch that just attaches to the rear frame crossmember is not really rated for WDH.

 

[Stonefoot72]

I share your OCD in regards to the switchgear problem, hence the pocket replacement on eBay. This one is LC but I found one for a GX...I'm 99% certain it's the same bit for both.

I wanted to keep the airbags as long as I could, but it's not just malfunctions and leaks you have to consider. I over-flexed the rear and dislodged the airbag base dowel from the lower perch. The base promptly got mangled between the axle and panhard bar, discharging all air pressure on both sides rapidly. I was able to limp out on the factory bump stops. That was an uncomfortable, tooth rattling sh#$show (but no tire rub, FYI). I promptly ripped the bags and compressor out, threw some junkyard 4runner springs under there and headed back to Texas nose high, but comfortable again. 2 hours of work in a hotel parking lot, but I carry tools.

I ordered ICON progressives and installed them at home with homemade lower perches using neoprene caster wheels from Lowes (can't remember the diameter), although the springs WILL seat on the 470 axle without them or a store bought conversion kit. Ask me how I know! Lol. I wanted them more secured to prevent the same problem I had with the airbag when wheeling

.

 

[centerisl]

I share your OCD in regards to the switchgear problem, hence the pocket replacement on eBay. This one is LC but I found one for a GX...I'm 99% certain it's the same bit for both.

...I ordered ICON progressives and installed them at home with homemade lower perches using neoprene caster wheels from Lowes (can't remember the diameter), although the springs WILL seat on the 470 axle without them or a store bought conversion kit.

That pocket looks like it would fit but...dang...that might hold a pack of gum!

I am likely headed towards progressive coilovers and deleting the air bags. But I also need to find a local shop that can do it soup to nuts - like I said, I just don't have the time to play around with a solution.

 

[Rednexus]

I also removed the airbag controls, and replaced them with switches for my torque converter lockup switch and e-lockers (the latter of which are not installed yet ). I used a $30 eBay bezel that has worked really well. GX's are kind of short on space for switches when you start adding off-road toys; removing the airbag controls allows room for up to 4 switches if you use CH4X4 double-switches.

Regarding a shop, installing lifts on these is pretty easy due to the overall simplicity of the system. Most good tire/alignment shops that also do suspension work (struts, etc) can handle the lifts. You may also have 4x4 or even Toyota-specific shops in your area who could do the work.

 

[centerisl]

Thank you everyone for your suggestions - Mule Expedition Outfitters Overland Vehicle Specialists - https://dasmule.com/ is about 10 miles from my home and they sell and install ARB/OME and Dobinsons - they are recommending Dobinsons with new UCAs. I'm also thinking the ARB skid plates. We went out and visited them yesterday afternoon and liked what we saw.

 

[rommelrommel]

I am one of the weirdos that went to some effort to keep the airbags, I made steel spacers that match my 2" lift to keep the airbag at the stock pressure. They also have a hole for the locating pin and a set screw that really locks the base in. I put in new continental bags when one of mine started to leak, and tricked the sensors of course.

 

[centerisl]

I am one of the weirdos that went to some effort to keep the airbags, I made steel spacers that match my 2" lift to keep the airbag at the stock pressure. They also have a hole for the locating pin and a set screw that really locks the base in. I put in new continental bags when one of mine started to leak, and tricked the sensors of course.

How are you making use of the airbags after your modifications? And...would you do it again?

 

[rommelrommel]

How are you making use of the airbags after your modifications? And...would you do it again?

Mainly just enjoying the ride, but the extra clearance over rear drag obstacles is nice on high, and not having rear end squat when it’s loaded down is nice. Also can drop it to let go of the utility trailer and such. I would absolutely go this way again, a bit cheaper and all around better for a mild lift and moderate off roading imo.

 

[willche]

Have a '22 GX Lux, pulled our all the suspension parts including the airbags with ICON's. The ICON 2” lift rear coil springs is sagging the rear when I'm loaded for a trip. Anyone tried fitting either an Airbagman or Airlft in the ICON springs to level the rear? I'm constantly getting highbeamed on the road.

 

[captainva]

I think the firestone bags that you want a 4108 but perhaps others can chime in on what they used. I know that several people have done this in the 470 but not sure about a 22 460. Its probably the same process and I bet you still need trick the level sensors with washers so that your new lifted height is perceived as the normal height

 

[Rednexus]

It's probably easier to either 1) get some higher-rate rear springs (I am surprised you are sagging that much, I load my GX up all the time with cargo and get maybe 1" of sag) or 2) put some helper airbags for a lifted application inside the coils. For the helper airbags you'd just pump them up when you have an actual trip and then deflate them afterwards. I will probably do this mod with my 470 for provide some additional rear stiffness when towing our camper, although I have not found it necessary when carrying a heavy payload of people/cargo inside the GX.

 

[willche]

Any difference between the Firestone and Airlift bags? One thing I do miss before removing the rear OEM air suspension is the auto-leveling. Here's a pic of the rear