I recently purchased a GX470 (no KDSS) and notice that the ride around town is great but when I get the vehicle on the freeways here is Southern California, somtime the ride becomes very jittery, especially on poorly paved freeways. Lexus has already replaced one out of round tire and balanced the tires. Am I expecting to much from this vehicle?? My previous Lexus was a 2000 RX300. These two vehicles are very different so I am trying to get used to the ride, but I expected it to be a bit better.

On the bottoming out issue, I find that going up driveway aprons, over speed bumbs and other dips in the road, the rear suspension feels like it totally compresses and thus "bottoms out" unless I go very slowly. It reminds me of an overloaded car with may to much weight in the rear. Is anyone else experiencing this?? This happens with no load or a full load.

Thanks in advance for any comments or suggestions...

 

My 04 GX is buttery smooth even with the control always set on sport. Never have any shakes on the highway. The bottoming out feel can be less if you set it to comfort or soft setting when driving at slow speeds around town, this will let the shock dampner go up higher. Sport setting can be rough over bumps.

 

I agree with Tony, I have not had any problems. I keep mine on Comfort or one notch to the right in Sport. If it's windy, I will keep it more on Sport, at highway speeds the wind tends to move the GX around a bit and Sport mode helps keep this to a minimum. I have been on one road that has a washboard surface in one area that will make it feel like the rear suspension is "jumping" a bit, but this has only happeded on this one part of the road at speeds over 25 MPH so it is something with the road and the way the computer controls the suspension. When it happened it was set to comfort. Keep in mind the RX drives much more like a car and the GX drives like a luxury truck. It does take some time to get used to it. I came from driving a sport car with a very stiff suspension to the GX and I am still getting used to it after 3 months. I keep finding myself wanting to take corners too fast. My wife says I drive more like an "old woman" now! Sometimes you just can't win!

 

Is air suspension standard on the GX?

 

The GX comes standard with rear air suspension with auto leveling. It also has something called AVS. Per the Lexus web site:
Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS):


AVS is a computer-controlled system that continuously adjusts shock-absorber damping rates to help provide appropriate ride comfort and handling precision. Sensors monitor wheel speed, engine rpm, steering-wheel movement, brake application and vertical body motion to determine the ideal damping rate for each shock. The driver also has a console switch to select among four damping-firmness programs, from Sport to Comfort.

I believe the LX 470 has full air suspension, not just the rear.

 

Thanks for the replies. The freeways here in Southern Orange County and San Diego are a bit rough so I think this is one of the problem. Do either of you have KDSS on your GX's???

Thanks...

 

No, I do not have KDSS.