Ls 430 Rear Body Height

Matrixabc · June 25, 2008

Hi,

I have just noticed that the rear height of the wheel arch compared to the tyre appears to be low when parked at work on a flat car park, as soon as i start the engine it goes back up to the normal position,

Question:- should the suspension drop at all, in around 8 hours? I cant tell at home because the car is parked with one wheel on a pavement.

Haylands · June 26, 2008

Hi

Mine does not settle at all even after several days of sitting still.... Might be a small leak somewhere, get it checked a.s.a.p. or you run the risk of the compressor working overtime and failing...

Good luck, let us know what happens

Pete

Matrixabc · June 27, 2008

I have spoken to Lexus, they say they have rarely replaced the air spring/air bag, they think it is more likely to be a height sensor, I did some tests and noticed that the rear drivers side goes up and down 20mm lower than all the other corners, but drops another 25mm after 4 hours, I assume the other rear side drops to, it will have to do further checks, I want to take the sensors off and test them,

has any one taken them apart?

I'm not convinced a height sensor could cause an air leak? the only common part appears to be the high control valve it is fed by one pipe from the front height valve then feeds independently to both air springs, but from the manual it looks like there is only one vent solenoid?

how much does the height sensors cost, I have been told around £150.00?

Haylands · June 27, 2008

Hi

Maybe this is because you park it at home with one wheel on the pavement, has the car learnt that when parked like that it is level so adapts when you park it elsewhere, this is just a random thought..... how does the system know what is level???

Can't help with removing/testing the height sensors I'm afraid.

Good Luck

Pete

Matrixabc · June 28, 2008

Well, did some further investigation and the air bad is leaking, just one tiny hole, you could not hear it leaking , I had to put some sopy water on to find it.

The Lexus guy I talked to said in six years he had only ever replaced one. looks like mine will be the second :tsktsk:

any one found another source for these air struts, I have seen the sites in USA but they only list the LS400. I am also going to try a a breakers yard, any one know any body breaking a LS430?

I guess the next thing will be that they have to replace them as a pair

Alex.

Haylands · June 28, 2008

Well, did some further investigation and the air bad is leaking, just one tiny hole, you could not hear it leaking , I had to put some sopy water on to find it.
The Lexus guy I talked to said in six years he had only ever replaced one. looks like mine will be the second :tsktsk:

any one found another source for these air struts, I have seen the sites in USA but they only list the LS400. I am also going to try a a breakers yard, any one know any body breaking a LS430?

I guess the next thing will be that they have to replace them as a pair

Alex.

Alex

Replace as a pair..... you'll be lucky you have to replace all four and the compressor..... only joking, I looked a while ago for anyone breaking a 430 and came up blank in the UK, there are quite a few on eBay.com (USA) but air suspension was an option there so you may be restricted but worth a look.

If you do find someone breaking a RHD one please let me know

Thanks and good luck

Pete

Matrixabc · July 1, 2008

well, after quite a few phone calls these are the prices I got

Lexus Swindon - £573.68
Lexus Tunbridge wells - £573.68
Lexus Bristol - £573.68
Toyota Glos - £573.68
CheapToyotaParts.co.uk - £419.00 delivered

I checked with a few specialist company's and on the Arnott web site in USA, no one makes replacements, nearly £600.00 for one strut..OUCH. But I have no choice so I have ordered it and will fit it at the weekend.

if your looking for a air strut for a LS400 then try here http://www.arnottindustries.com/part_LEXUS...yid7_pid47.html

And if you want a custom air suspension Ray( really nice bloke and very helpful) will make you a pair for the same prices as one from Lexus, but you loose the electronic control, he also can supply suspension compressors for around £130.00 where they are normally around £450.00 http://www.rayvernhydraulics.com/products/

from all the people I talked to it does look like the air suspension is a quality product and it is very rare for them to fail, I must just have bad luck.

Matrixabc · July 7, 2008

UPDATE!

Fitted the new strut my self, on Saturday, all working fine, I am glad I don't have to drive my wife's 980cc Micra to work any more

it took longer to get the rear seat out and lift the parcel shelf to get the top of the strut, than to change the strut assembly. and you need a SST tool to get the air line out of the strut, I managed to make one myself, otherwise I would not have been able to replace the strut.

I was surprised how thin the air bag is, cain't be more that 2-3 mm thick. also took the height sensor apart, it just has two carbon strips and a wiper, that read form 400 to 3.4k ohms in opposite directions, would probably cost under a tenner to make your self! and they charge £150 each.