War against potholes (1 Viewer)

[dbrown672]

Hello everyone - I am a former owner of a 2009 GX470. My old ride had about 130k miles on it, totally stock, and quite a bouncy ride. I never did any modifications with it and instead of trying to freshen up the suspension, I decided to sell it and buy a luxury sedan to get a more plush ride. Well, over the past 4 years, I have been chasing suspension noises and rattles in my cars trying to get the suspension tight and quiet. I am sick of it! I am thinking about moving back to a Toyota/Lexus SUV again.

I have also moved to a state that has horrendous roads and potholes that could be considered craters. My mission now is to find a used vehicle that can stand up to these horrible roads and not bounce me all over the place while rattling through the cabin. This has lead me back to the GX. I liked the luxury feel of the Lexus, but what I don't know is if I am going to spend an arm and a leg trying to get the suspension tight enough to be plush over bumps and not make a ton of noise. I was advised from a local shop that they could put an OME 2" lift on it and that would really help the suspension out. I was also thinking of putting some smaller rims and bigger tires on it.

My question for everyone here is, has anyone successfully taken a used 2005-2009 GX470 with 100k+ miles and transformed it into a smooth/plush riding street machine? My goal is to be able to drive down the road at 45mph and not really feel the bumps on the road. I know this forum is geared toward off-roading, but some might say the roads in my state are just that! haha Thank you

 

[NJGX]

If I were in your shoes, I would be looking at a nice condition LX470 with 100% functioning AHC suspension. The LX is just as solid as the GX (probably more so), and the hydraulic suspension will be more plush than pretty much any other aftermarket shock/coil spring combo that you can get on a GX. Even with modified suspension on mine, it is not as smooth as AHC on road in my experience.

If you are set on a GX, there are a few things that you can do that will smooth out the roads you drive:

• First is to make sure the rear air springs are in good shape and holding air. Leaking bags/lines or a failing compressor will have the truck riding on the rear bump stops (very bouncy). Air springs are naturally very progressive, so a static rate coil spring replacement would be a downgrade in terms of smoothness.

• You can also upgrade the bump stops on all four corners to something more compliant for when you bottom out on the bigger bumps. The factory rears are not terrible, but the fronts are like hockey pucks with not much give at all when they contact the LCA. There are plenty of aftermarket options in the bump stop department, and virtually all of them will be a huge step up over stock.

• Generally speaking, an off the shelf lift kit will not improve on road comfort over stock. New OEM front coilovers will at least allow you to keep the adjustable valving feature. You can absolutely get some higher end 3-way adjustable offroad shocks, but you will have to make manual adjustments with the dials/knobs on the bodies to get it right for your needs. Don't forget to get the proper spring rates for the front and back as well or you could be bottoming out on every bump (under sprung), or feel like you're in a HD pickup with no load (over sprung). Quality offroad shocks are good at taking big hits, not overheating/fading, allowing for more articulation, and are generally more reliable (unless you opt for a race shock that needs to be rebuilt every year or two).

• The smallest wheel you will fit is going to be a 17 inch. You can up the tire size to about 32" (265/70r17, 255/75r17, etc..) if you want a little more sidewall before you potentially run into clearance issues with some plastic. A P or SL rated tire is going to be lighter and handle the road much better than a heavier LT tire designed for offroad use.

• The last thing you can do that might help comfort is to remove the front sway bar. Having the front driver and passenger sides be truly independent from one another makes a huge difference. Otherwise a bump/pothole on the passenger side only will have the sway bar trying to push the drivers side suspension up/down too. You will have more body roll on turns. It will feel less stable. It will be a little smoother if that is the goal. You can always try it out temporarily, then reinstall if the ride is too unstable or unpredictable.

 

[Rednexus]

My GX with Ironman Foam Cell Pros and DuroBumps progressive bump stops handles very, very well on roads with potholes (paved and unpaved). The vehicle remains very controlled (due to the shocks) and is not at all jarring (due to the progressive bump stocks). I'd say that kind of road surface is where the Foam Cell Pros really shine.

FYI I have P-rated 265/70R17 tires. E and C rated tires will usually ride harsher.

 

[dbrown672]

Hello everyone - I am a former owner of a 2009 GX470. My old ride had about 130k miles on it, totally stock, and quite a bouncy ride. I never did any modifications with it and instead of trying to freshen up the suspension, I decided to sell it and buy a luxury sedan to get a more plush ride. Well, over the past 4 years, I have been chasing suspension noises and rattles in my cars trying to get the suspension tight and quiet. I am sick of it! I am thinking about moving back to a Toyota/Lexus SUV again.

I have also moved to a state that has horrendous roads and potholes that could be considered craters. My mission now is to find a used vehicle that can stand up to these horrible roads and not bounce me all over the place while rattling through the cabin. This has lead me back to the GX. I liked the luxury feel of the Lexus, but what I don't know is if I am going to spend an arm and a leg trying to get the suspension tight enough to be plush over bumps and not make a ton of noise. I was advised from a local shop that they could put an OME 2" lift on it and that would really help the suspension out. I was also thinking of putting some smaller rims and bigger tires on it.

My question for everyone here is, has anyone successfully taken a used 2005-2009 GX470 with 100k+ miles and transformed it into a smooth/plush riding street machine? My goal is to be able to drive down the road at 45mph and not really feel the bumps on the road. I know this forum is geared toward off-roading, but some might say the roads in my state are just that! haha Thank you

Thank you for all this information. I am definitely not against the LX. It looks like they cost a bit more, but I may not have to modify it to get the ride I am looking for. I will have to go test drive one.

If I were in your shoes, I would be looking at a nice condition LX470 with 100% functioning AHC suspension. The LX is just as solid as the GX (probably more so), and the hydraulic suspension will be more plush than pretty much any other aftermarket shock/coil spring combo. Even with modified suspension on mine, it is not as smooth as AHC on road in my experience.

If you are set on a GX, there are a few things that you can do that will smooth out the roads you drive:

• First is to make sure the rear air springs are in good shape and holding air. Leaking bags/lines or a failing compressor will have the truck riding on the rear bump stops (very bouncy). Air springs are naturally very progressive, so a static rate coil spring replacement would be a downgrade in terms of smoothness.

• You can also upgrade the bump stops on all four corners to something more compliant for when you bottom out on the bigger bumps. The factory rears are not terrible, but the fronts are like hockey pucks with not much give at all when they contact the LCA. There are plenty of aftermarket options in the bump stop department, and virtually all of them will be a huge step up over stock.

• Generally speaking, an off the shelf lift kit will not improve on road comfort over stock. New OEM front coilovers will at least allow you to keep the adjustable valving feature. You can absolutely get some higher end 3-way adjustable offroad shocks, but you will have to make manual adjustments with the dials/knobs on the bodies to get it right for your needs. Don't forget to get the proper spring rates for the front and back as well or you could be bottoming out on every bump (under sprung), or feel like you're in a HD pickup with no load (over sprung). Quality offroad shocks are good at taking big hits, not overheating/fading, allowing for more articulation, and are generally more reliable (unless you opt for a race shock that needs to be rebuilt every year or two).

• The smallest wheel you will fit is going to be a 17 inch. You can up the tire size to about 32" (265/70r17, 255/75r17, etc..) if you want a little more sidewall before you potentially run into clearance issues with some plastic. A P or SL rated tire is going to be lighter and handle the road much better than a heavier LT tire designed for offroad use.

• The last thing you can do that might help comfort is to remove the front sway bar. Having the front driver and passenger sides be truly independent from one another makes a huge difference. Otherwise a bump/pothole on the passenger side only will have the sway bar trying to push the drivers side suspension up/down too. You will have more body roll on turns. It will feel less stable. It will be a little smoother if that is the goal. You can always try it out temporarily, then reinstall if the ride is too unstable or unpredictable.

Thank you for all this information. I am definitely not against the LX. It looks like they cost a bit more, but I may not have to modify it to get the ride I am looking for. I will have to go test drive one.

 

[greenscobie86]

My 2 cents is, make sure the airbags/shocks/struts/springs are in good shape, and tires... tires are pretty big on the comfort level in my experience with these trucks. I am on stock suspensions(with fresh rear air bags) and LOVE my stock size Michelin Defenders, absolutely great ride. I am sure it can be improved even further with refreshed shocks/struts.

I am from NYC, which has terrible roads as some of you know, and I have been absolutely spoiled by the suspension compliance/ride quality of my GXs. The only car that surpassed its ride comfort was a 2001 Mercedes Benz S500(airmatic) that I briefly owned a few years ago.

 

[Jstawgn]

A crossover with long suspension travel and tall profile tires seems better fit for your use. Body on frame on city pothole are not the best solution.

If your luxury sedan is European, they are known to have firm sporty handling.

 

[Banandalorian]

The best off the shelf solution is going to be something like a late model, higher end, non AMG Mercedes SUV or sedan with air springs and the smallest rims they offer. An LX or GX with well functioning stock suspension or an adjustable/custom high end setup can be very comfortable on road but no amount of money is going to completely cover up the body on frame construction.

If you want to start with an older, higher mileage 470 I would first make sure all the bushings and body mounts are in good shape. Any replacements should be OEM/OEM style rubber bushings as those are the quiet, comfortable option. Replace the stock bumpstops, especially the fronts, with a "progressive" bump stop as that goes a long way to smooth out big bumps using all the available travel. If your only goal is on road comfort, the stock suspension is really quite good as long as everything is in good shape. A basic lift isn't going to help on road comfort so I would only go down that rabbit hole if you want to go all in with high end adjustable/custom kits.

My 2017 has Dobinsons MRAs, Perry Parts progressive bumpstops, an inch more tire, and various goodies for the KDSS swaybars and I find it extremely comfortable on road after getting the shocks dialed in.

 

[Devils Paw 80]

I'd be surprised if there's any rig that can hit a huge pothole at 45 mph without you noticing it.

 

[Banandalorian]

I'd be surprised if there's any rig that can hit a huge pothole at 45 mph without you noticing it.

That's the other thing: My definition of "hitting a pothole at 45 and not noticing it" means the car remains comfortable, stable, and properly dampened but if OP actually means he doesn't actually want to feel anything then a Baja truck might be the answer.

 

[WTB09GX470]

What type of suspension would be closest to a baja truck? And is it available for the GX470?

Been trying to figure out the same question as op for a few weeks...so any help is really appreciated.

I live in Los Angeles and want to buy something that will absorb the terrible road conditions, that I dont have to worry about when parked in the city.

 

[Hiluxforever]

Closest to Baja would be a heavy duty long travel setup. Great for racing, horrible for commuting.

I have a gx460 !,# I just got my 5100s installed, and got a set of Revo3 lt285/70R17 on fj cruiser steelies

It rides amazingly well for E load range tires and night and day difference from my MTRs.

If you want some thing more capable then stock and also softer riding, for pennies compared to a long travel setup, I highly recommend my route as an intermediate step.

Des Moines has horrible streets and it really soaks them up with the digressive valving yet aren't so over dampened that they are jarring. The first 500 miles will be a little stiff but they slowly break in. Also, you can run the revo 3 LT tire at 35 psi and it has great ride quality for am LT tire.


I have done some mild wheeling with it and so far it's performance is equal to my MTRs, but I only do mild stuff, I do have skids ( ARB ) and use them, but just on washed out dirt roads.

Also, from what I have read it's easier to fit a 285/70, with the right factory offset wheels (not the trd pro wheels with more poke). If you must have poke, then down size accordingly to fit the wider scrub radius.

I also specifically wanted to retain rubber bushings for both lack of maintenance requirements and how much better they are for NVH and ride quality as they absorb some of the jounce.