Builds The Story of Blue (5 Viewers)
- Thread starter ClassyJalopy
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- build thread lx470
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I got my AHC dialed in too, even with heavy ass KO2s she still rides like an S class benz
Likewise, I am very happy with AHC and even more happy with the ride comfort of TEMS – in my case riding on KTRS-79 rear springs plus additional support from Firestone Coilrite airbags if/when required and with BFG KO2 “E” rated tyres running at 40psi on the highway, lower off highway. Yes -- it is a little firmer than stock when empty but not unacceptable and it is a great ride when loaded for touring. Yes – it takes a while to learn how these systems work (IH8MUD and FSM are the keys) but once learned and basic maintenance and replacements of ‘wear items’ continue (meaning AHC Fluid, ‘globes’, Height Control Sensors, rear springs, monitoring of pressures etc) then it is no big deal to stay on top of AHC/TEMS and reliability is assured. The systems on LC100/LX470 were designed in the early/mid 1990’s. They are more simple than the ‘next generation’ of AHC/AVS on LX570 but even today they are still better than most other adaptive systems when kept in specification and are way better than conventional suspensions.
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- #264
You are full of surprises
. It is amazing how quickly you are able to source parts. I think mine will take another 2 weeks to show up!
For those interested, see attachments for similarities and differences between AHC/TEMS on LC100/LX470 and AHC/AVS on LX570.
My AHC worked flawlessly. All modes cycled perfectly, drove like new. Reason I removed it was it sucked offroad. Went into Low mode every time we loaded it and of course it always happened in the middle of nowhere. I also got a ride in two other 07 LXs with “dialed” AHC and they all rode the same as mine. Mine only had 116k miles when removed. Honestly I think it drives even better now with the Icon stage 4 Slinky setup. It’s firmer since I installed basically all new suspension, rears arms are Trail Tailor, front upper control arms are Blackhawk, front lowers are new OEM Lexus. Every bushing is brand new. My brother drove my truck several times since we scrapped AHC. His customer still has the two 07 LXs I mentioned and he always comments how much better mine rides now without AHC. I also test drove an 04 LX this winter and it rode comparable to mine when it had AHC. It’s good but I’m not seeing S Class ride quality like mentioned above. It’s a B on F truck after all. It will never ride like an S class or Lexus LS (which is my daily and spoiled every other car for me in the ride quality department). Actually now that I think about it, I’ve driven a few S63s. All customer cars and to be honest, they ride super harsh. Maybe a base model S550 drives nice and smooth but the 63s are extremely firm and jarring.
- Thread starter
- #267
Comparison to S class might be an exaggeration, but honestly I was blown away by the AHC ride quality. I recently drove a brand new Cadillac Escalade with the new independent rear and I also own a newish BMW X5 and have had a BMW in the garage for a long time. AHC rode better than all of them.
As for reliability, I think there are ways to address that too. If I am not mistaken @kreiten is rocking AHC on Rubicon where even modified 80 series broke down last year! Wight is probably AHC's enemy and I certainly am carrying a lot of it but hopefully I can dial in the AHC with upgraded springs.
Now as for the high dollar upgrade your truck is riding on, I am sure it is as smooth or perhaps even better than AHC. But you probably have spent $3k plus on the components alone and have the advantage of having a shop and expertise to piece it all together. I think given enough money and will you can achieve anything but a stock system being able to deliver the quality of ride that AHC delivers is still pretty amazing!
yngmrostrvile
GOLD Star
He is also having to get out to make adjustments.
Maybe when more weight is added like @ClassyJalopy stated Ill change my mind. I have kings and I love the ride though. I love being able to turn the switch to soften the ride on hwy or turn again to stiffen when driving mtn roads. Only getting out to fill with gas or pee.
Maybe when more weight is added like @ClassyJalopy stated Ill change my mind. I have kings and I love the ride though. I love being able to turn the switch to soften the ride on hwy or turn again to stiffen when driving mtn roads. Only getting out to fill with gas or pee.
I just left them on setting 4 (out of 10) just the way they came. Never touched them. I have no interest seeing how they would ride on a stiffer or softer setting. Why change it if it ain’t broke. I might stiffen the rear when I’m towing our boat but the rear barely squats fully loaded as is on the heavy springs.
When you say it was poor off-road was it not firm enough? Harsh? Both? Every time I read this sort of account on the system, I just can't help but think something was broken. Based on my experience with my armored up 06, it's just butter. All the time. Never failed to stay in H, never felt rough, never felt too soft.
If it's going into L, then it's well outside spec. You should be able to rag on it allllll day in H. I had a blast through Idaho near the Teton's last year. On that leg I kept it in comfort mode in N and just tore up the dirt roads for two back to back ~60-90 minutes stints. Maintained 20-40 where I'd normally be doing 10-25 to keep my wife from going insane from the rough roads.
The Lexus/Toyota manual is a bit erroneous on some accounts in that I think it's a mistake to "tune" the system with an empty car and a full tank of gas. You should "tune" the springs to yield correct pressures when it's full loaded with gear (but not humans). If it's going into low, that means a component has failed (sensor/pump/accumulator/wiring) has failed our it's mis-adjusted for weight. Either case will yield poor reliability and poor ride quality.
I'd love to find an AHC with poor ride quality and see:
A) how poorly it rides and
B) how quickly I can find the faults to correct it
If you ever make it out to Denver, come by the ADGU shop and you can drive my 06 and see if it's an anomaly in your AHC experiences or if we've got different butt dyno calibrations.
It never rode rough. It just went into low anytime we had a fully loaded vehicle which was ridiculous. I mean it’s supposed to be a big SUV that can fit a few adults and all your gear? Wasn’t the case for us. The only time it ever rode rough was a few years back in CO. Was driving on the highway, everything normal and all of a sudden just started riding like s***. Popped the hood and almost all the hydraulic fluid was missing in the reservoir. No visible leaks anywhere. That’s when I gave up on that system. Just wasn’t worth it for me.When you say it was poor off-road was it not firm enough? Harsh? Both? Every time I read this sort of account on the system, I just can't help but think something was broken. Based on my experience with my armored up 06, it's just butter. All the time. Never failed to stay in H, never felt rough, never felt too soft.
If it's going into L, then it's well outside spec. You should be able to rag on it allllll day in H. I had a blast through Idaho near the Teton's last year. On that leg I kept it in comfort mode in N and just tore up the dirt roads for two back to back ~60-90 minutes stints. Maintained 20-40 where I'd normally be doing 10-25 to keep my wife from going insane from the rough roads.
The Lexus/Toyota manual is a bit erroneous on some accounts in that I think it's a mistake to "tune" the system with an empty car and a full tank of gas. You should "tune" the springs to yield correct pressures when it's full loaded with gear (but not humans). If it's going into low, that means a component has failed (sensor/pump/accumulator/wiring) has failed our it's mis-adjusted for weight. Either case will yield poor reliability and poor ride quality.
I'd love to find an AHC with poor ride quality and see:
A) how poorly it rides and
B) how quickly I can find the faults to correct it
If you ever make it out to Denver, come by the ADGU shop and you can drive my 06 and see if it's an anomaly in your AHC experiences or if we've got different butt dyno calibrations.
I had a few containers of the AHC fluid on hand. Topped it off and it was normal. There def was not leaks anywhere. Still to this day wonder where all that fluid just disappeared that day. I put a few more thousand miles on the car and it never did it again but that one time was scary enough for me to pull it all out.
Fair enough, thanks for the background. Were neutral pressures ever checked?
yah i might have exaggerated a wee bit with the S class comparison lol. My truck does ride nice though, change all the bushings, get the AHC neutral pressure in spec, and adjust the TB/shim the rear springs accordingly. Reason why S550 are smoother is because they are tuned different, and most of them have smaller wheels with thicker tires. The S63 are AMG tuned for better handling so they ride a little rougher.
Hmm... I like that a little too much. Where'd you get it?!
Ha! It looks great! Nice color combination. Got it going on there buddy.
- Thread starter
- #279
1998-2007 Lexus LX 470 Front Bug Shield Hood Deflector 1 Pc Smoke
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Nah man. Decision was made to go conventional at that point. Never looked back.
