What happens when the AHC fails on an LX470?

[Import Driver]

Difference being that those Mercedes systems are 100% air, so there's no mechanical assist when the air bags fail. The LX isn't quite as bad.

Not living (or purchasing a car that ever spent time) anywhere east of the Mississippi.

If you're in the east where it's humid and they salt the roads you're pretty well toast. I'm sure fluid film and the like help, but you're still going to have areas that the salty moisture hang out and eat the lines over time.

Your experiment there is basically what the Strut masters kit attempts to do. And it's arguably unsafe. Certainly not acceptable, IMO. I'm surprised they haven't been sued for offering such a poor product.

The physics dictate you need different front springs without AHC. Can't get around that. The rate with and without AHC is very, very different.

Excellent info and much appreciated. I had read somewhere on mud that you could run OEM torsion bars. Sounds like it's a huge "no" across the board. That's really exactly what I wanted to know.

 

[jLB]

Excellent info and much appreciated. I had read somewhere on mud that you could run OEM torsion bars. Sounds like it's a huge "no" across the board. That's really exactly what I wanted to know.

(OE non-AHC are fine)

 

[jLB]

"Interesting" is not the right word. That is a word which may have a positive connotation, which is completely wrong in this case.

Unless you consider what I understand to be a Chinese curse, “May you live in interesting times!”.

My only personal experience with the StrutMaster kit, and their re-use of the AHC torsion bars, on a vehicle that has had AHC removed, was on a friend’s LX 470, and it was an absolute handful, on city streets. It was bad enough, that I donated parts from my personal stash, to prevent my friend from killing himself.

 

[NeedaLX]

Not living (or purchasing a car that ever spent time) anywhere east of the Mississippi.

If you're in the east where it's humid and they salt the roads you're pretty well toast. I'm sure fluid film and the like help, but you're still going to have areas that the salty moisture hang out and eat the lines over time.

Well, I'm starting with a California car at least

In all honesty it pains me to have to subject such a clean vehicle to road salt.... but it is what it is

I guess anything that is replaceable on the vehicle should be the least of my rust concerns

 

[Import Driver]

Unless you consider what I understand to be a Chinese curse, “May you live in interesting times!”.

My only personal experience with the StrutMaster kit, and their re-use of the AHC torsion bars, on a vehicle that has had AHC removed, was on a friend’s LX 470, and it was an absolute handful, on city streets. It was bad enough, that I donated parts from my personal stash, to prevent my friend from killing himself.

Excellent info. Not what I found in other threads so I'm grateful you shared it.

And... Sorry for highjacking the thread.

 

[hippchip]

Unless you consider what I understand to be a Chinese curse, “May you live in interesting times!”.

My only personal experience with the StrutMaster kit, and their re-use of the AHC torsion bars, on a vehicle that has had AHC removed, was on a friend’s LX 470, and it was an absolute handful, on city streets. It was bad enough, that I donated parts from my personal stash, to prevent my friend from killing himself.

Can you tell what parts did you donate and where would you suggest I look to obtain? I did the strutmaster conversion 50k miles ago and while my off roading has been drives on the beach, I haven’t had much problems until lately and it seems the shocks have worn out and I can feel every bump. Rear is much worse than front. I have replaced all the front bushings, upper and lower control arms, tie rods and ball joints. But I want it to drive as normal as possible.

 

[jLB]

Can you tell what parts did you donate and where would you suggest I look to obtain? I did the strutmaster conversion 50k miles ago and while my off roading has been drives on the beach, I haven’t had much problems until lately and it seems the shocks have worn out and I can feel every bump. Rear is much worse than front. I have replaced all the front bushings, upper and lower control arms, tie rods and ball joints. But I want it to drive as normal as possible.

Just a selection of parts that I had stored in my garage, a set of OE non-AHC torsion bars, a pair of OME 865 coil springs, and a set of OE shocks.

Having (3) 100 series, in the driveway, I tend to be able to justify more “extra parts” than most.

 

[hippchip]

So do you think all the strutmasters parts are junk? Is the biggest item of need the torsion bars? Did the 100’s come with non ACH coil springs and struts or do you need to get from a Land Cruiser?

 

[jLB]

So do you think all the strutmasters parts are junk? Is the biggest item of need the torsion bars? Did the 100’s come with non ACH coil springs and struts or do you need to get from a Land Cruiser?

Their biggest issue is trying to re-use the AHC torsion bars, after removal of AHC.

In the US market, all LX470s had AHC, some 100 series (optional on 2006 & 2007 models), but most 98-07 Land Cruisers did not have AHC.