Builds Zzyzx85's 2007 GX470
- Thread starter zzyzx85
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- #22
nice! i just saw that DK released the "maintenance-free" UCAs. Really tempted between those and JBA, which are still less expensive.
I'll definitely keep an eye out for sales in the coming weeks.
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- #25
1st oil change at 155xxx miles.
whoever installed the last oil filter. It definitely wasn't hand-tightened on. I'm glad I found the filter pliers and even those were having a hard time loosening it.
I will have to wait until Sunday to get the grease gun at my parent's place so I can lube the prop shaft and joints. I'll probably do a power steering fluid flush as well.
whoever installed the last oil filter. It definitely wasn't hand-tightened on. I'm glad I found the filter pliers and even those were having a hard time loosening it.I will have to wait until Sunday to get the grease gun at my parent's place so I can lube the prop shaft and joints. I'll probably do a power steering fluid flush as well.
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Is there a reason why you're using Aux port instead of bluetooth for audio? I bought the same Carpodgo for my iPhone few days ago after seeing your post and online reviews and been trying to connect my car speakers through bluetooth without any success. My phone connects with Carplay but the sound is coming from the device instead of car speakers. This shouldn't be that difficult because all online help videos seem to indicate this setup is super easy with all cars.
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- #27
The Bluetooth in 470s is for phone calls only, not media audio.
Oh wow. No wonder I couldn't make it work. I'll use the aux port as well.
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- #29
Greased the driveshafts this weekend. I saw signs the u-joints were previous greased but the slip yokes seemed to be kind of dry. I put about 10 pump into the slip yokes and about 5 into the u-joints.
While I was down there, I relocated the AC condensation drain. Probably not the greatest spot so I'll move it later.
After greasing it, I noticed a new clunk sound/groan when I apply the brakes. Did I put too much in the slip yokes or was it so dry that new grease is making noise inside of it? I guess I'll pop off the zerk fitting this weekend to see if any comes out.
Other news, passenger side outer CV joint is starting to sling grease. It looks like it's coming from the small end of the boot.
While I was down there, I relocated the AC condensation drain. Probably not the greatest spot so I'll move it later.
After greasing it, I noticed a new clunk sound/groan when I apply the brakes. Did I put too much in the slip yokes or was it so dry that new grease is making noise inside of it? I guess I'll pop off the zerk fitting this weekend to see if any comes out.
Other news, passenger side outer CV joint is starting to sling grease. It looks like it's coming from the small end of the boot.
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- #30
9/21-22/2024: 156k miles - Suspension overhaul
I tackled overhauling the suspension...all of it. Front and rear. Upper and lower.
First up, why I needed to change them out:
(The bump stops on both sides were like this)
I didn't get photos of the rear shocks but one of them was easily compressed by hand and the other one required a little more effort to compress but still easy to compress by hand.
To be continued. I'll get more photos of the finished install when I get home from work today.
I tackled overhauling the suspension...all of it. Front and rear. Upper and lower.
First up, why I needed to change them out:
(The bump stops on both sides were like this)
I didn't get photos of the rear shocks but one of them was easily compressed by hand and the other one required a little more effort to compress but still easy to compress by hand.
To be continued. I'll get more photos of the finished install when I get home from work today.
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Yours looks quite a bit worse than mine did at 145K when I lifted it! Regardless, mine was far from mint, and it shows the pitfalls of just throwing a lift kit on one of these rigs while replacing nothing else - at 15-21 years old - and rolling with it. The rest of the suspension is likely shot due to natural degradation of rubber bushings over time.
You'll love the way it drives now!
You'll love the way it drives now!
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- #32
Yeah, the dry and hot CA climate does not treat rubber parts kindly.
A few in-process photos:
Bilstein 5100, Icon rear coil conversion, Icon 2" lift rear springs (52700), and Energy Suspension spring isolators. The Icon conversion kit is nice but the bolt was too long and interfering with the axle housing. I had to trim about 1/8" off the end of it to get it to fit.
Where I left off at the end of the first day:
Given my rear bump stop situation, are Perry Parts bump stops still the ones to get?
A few in-process photos:
Bilstein 5100, Icon rear coil conversion, Icon 2" lift rear springs (52700), and Energy Suspension spring isolators. The Icon conversion kit is nice but the bolt was too long and interfering with the axle housing. I had to trim about 1/8" off the end of it to get it to fit.
Where I left off at the end of the first day:
Given my rear bump stop situation, are Perry Parts bump stops still the ones to get?
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- #33
Day 2:
I might have splurged a little on the Labor Day sales
I had to take the driver side front wheel off to unbend the dust shield from making contact with the brake rotor. I must have bent it when I was jacking up the arm during the install. That was a lovely surprise to hear when I test drove it lol.
I ran out of light today so I'll get photos of the rear suspension another time.
I might have splurged a little on the Labor Day sales
I had to take the driver side front wheel off to unbend the dust shield from making contact with the brake rotor. I must have bent it when I was jacking up the arm during the install. That was a lovely surprise to hear when I test drove it lol.
I ran out of light today so I'll get photos of the rear suspension another time.
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- Thread starter
- #35
it's a bummer to cover up all the Bilstein 6112 goodness but the covers will help the dampers last longer. I'm surprised more people don't use them. I've been using them on my M3's coilover and they've last since 2019 without a rebuild.
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- #36
Snagged a few more photos of the suspension today
and went through this rite of passage
If I have time on my day off tomorrow, I'm going to check over the suspension to see if anything loosened up.
I'm happy with how it rides now. I do have about 100lbs of stuff in the back so that is probably helping lol. But it is so much more stable and smooth with actual working dampers.
and went through this rite of passage
If I have time on my day off tomorrow, I'm going to check over the suspension to see if anything loosened up.
I'm happy with how it rides now. I do have about 100lbs of stuff in the back so that is probably helping lol. But it is so much more stable and smooth with actual working dampers.
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Nice job doing all the maintenance and upgrades to suspension.
What’s your hub to fender measurements? I’m just wondering what your front and rear lift ended up being.
Also, what circlip are you in the front?
What’s your hub to fender measurements? I’m just wondering what your front and rear lift ended up being.
Also, what circlip are you in the front?
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- #38
Thanks! It was satisfying doing all the suspension maintenance. I do need to go back and check the rear links for any bushing preloading because my dad tightened them and lowered it down when I walked away to take care of something else.
Took a few measurements but note this taken while parked on a slightly angled parking lot:
FL: 21.25
FR: 21.88 (that GX lean lol)
RL: 22.63
RR: 22.75
Granted I do have all this in the back lol:
The 6112 are on the 5th groove, so it should be a 2" lift up front. Unfortunately I forgot to measure the right height up front before I took it all apart.
In an earlier post, I mentioned I noticed a noise after I greased the drivetrain. After the upgrade/refresh, the noise is now gone. Hmmm.
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For reference, these are my guesstimates of the original suspension on a GX470 when new. It’s based on research I did over 7 years ago
Factory oem suspension from center of hub up to bottom lip of fender guesstimates:
FD - 20.25"
FP - 20.25"
RD - 21"
RP - 21”
Factory oem suspension from center of hub up to bottom lip of fender guesstimates:
FD - 20.25"
FP - 20.25"
RD - 21"
RP - 21”
I used to have 6112s with the standard 600 lbf/in coils. It was on the 2nd grove from the top.
I was getting about 2.25” of lift on my GX470. Here’s old measurements before switching to HD 700 lbf/in coils on new 6112s
Mine hub to fender:
FD = 22.50” 3/22/19
FP = 22.75” 3/22/19
Just giving you ideas. The ideal lift on a GX470 is about 2.25” in the front and 2” in the rear.
You don’t want to lift the front more than 2.25” if you want to preserve downtravel articulation for medium off-roading.
I’ve since removed my front sway bar and rrpalced the rear sway bar with a heavy duty 24mm Nolathane sway bar.
This change in sway bars gives me the best flex at a very low cost. And it’s great for up to medium hard trails that require flexing.
I was getting about 2.25” of lift on my GX470. Here’s old measurements before switching to HD 700 lbf/in coils on new 6112s
Mine hub to fender:
FD = 22.50” 3/22/19
FP = 22.75” 3/22/19
Just giving you ideas. The ideal lift on a GX470 is about 2.25” in the front and 2” in the rear.
You don’t want to lift the front more than 2.25” if you want to preserve downtravel articulation for medium off-roading.
I’ve since removed my front sway bar and rrpalced the rear sway bar with a heavy duty 24mm Nolathane sway bar.
This change in sway bars gives me the best flex at a very low cost. And it’s great for up to medium hard trails that require flexing.
