Rear end bottoming out.....
#1
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Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Florida
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Ok, my 470 has 185k and I'm getting no codes from my control systems. I live in Florida and when we either go on I-4 or over speed bumps or groups of holes / very rough road whear the suspension has to see some mild action the compressor kick on and can't keep up and then shuts off leaving it stuck in the N position and the kiddos are bouncing like ping pong ***** in the back. I have done a leak down test and nothing found. I reset the system and off we go like a magic carpet ride until we hit roads where is gets bumpy and the compressor can't keep up.
I have read a bunch of stuff about sensors and so on... truck is level and after a reset I get my ability to adjust the ride height again.
so in my engineering mind I'm thinking it's a worn out compressor?
any other advice please advise.
Thnx.
I have read a bunch of stuff about sensors and so on... truck is level and after a reset I get my ability to adjust the ride height again.
so in my engineering mind I'm thinking it's a worn out compressor?
any other advice please advise.
Thnx.
#2
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If your reading all the posts here, you must know that the air bags are made of rubber, inflate, deflate every day, over and over for 185 k....they dry and crack and leak....
#3
Pole Position
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The compressor pumps up the bags to ride height (as dictated by the rear sensors) when you 1st start the truck, or if you add load to it at some point while running, and that's it. If it's having to run again while the truck is in motion and the load hasn't changed, the air is getting out of the bags.
Air suspension parts are expensive, and you never know when the next expensive component will go. Rear spring conversions are comparatively cheap, and should last the rest of the vehicle's life. You have a decision to make.
Air suspension parts are expensive, and you never know when the next expensive component will go. Rear spring conversions are comparatively cheap, and should last the rest of the vehicle's life. You have a decision to make.
#5
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just because you have no visible lights on doesn’t mean it has no codes. My truck threw a compressor exhaust solenoid code for over a year before it gave up the ghost, but had no warning lights or noticeable issues. You’ll need a code reader that can read chassis and/or body codes.
#6
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Ok, my 470 has 185k and I'm getting no codes from my control systems. I live in Florida and when we either go on I-4 or over speed bumps or groups of holes / very rough road whear the suspension has to see some mild action the compressor kick on and can't keep up and then shuts off leaving it stuck in the N position and the kiddos are bouncing like ping pong ***** in the back. I have done a leak down test and nothing found. I reset the system and off we go like a magic carpet ride until we hit roads where is gets bumpy and the compressor can't keep up.
I have read a bunch of stuff about sensors and so on... truck is level and after a reset I get my ability to adjust the ride height again.
so in my engineering mind I'm thinking it's a worn out compressor?
any other advice please advise.
Thnx.
I have read a bunch of stuff about sensors and so on... truck is level and after a reset I get my ability to adjust the ride height again.
so in my engineering mind I'm thinking it's a worn out compressor?
any other advice please advise.
Thnx.
If ur air springs are bad, U can get replacement air springs on Amazon, Napa and Advanced. I just DIY replaced the right hand side on Sunday, and will replace the left hand bag this weekend. I bought Airnott air springs form Advanced Autoparts and NAPA, and they were $182+tax each. I chose Airnott because my research made me believe that they might be better quality than the Chinese ones you see online for $80. Just replacing the right hand Side my ride quality returned to normal and truck stopped bottoming out. I expect it to improve even more when I replace the left bag which I saw leaking air as well.
No need to remove the rear tires to replace the bags. Remove the spare tire and jack up the frame to get access to the bags. REMEMBER TO TURN OFF THE AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM BEFORE GETTING DOWN THERE! And take all other safety precautions. They are easy to replace except for figuring out how to remove and replace a tiny clip that holds bags to frame.
Good luck! And find another thread with many posts on this. It’s out there somewhere and not too far cauSe I posted in it last week.
Good luck
UPDATE: here is link thread on this issue
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gx-...-on-gx470.html
Last edited by oardila99; 03-15-18 at 01:51 AM.
#7
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (1)
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Another thing to consider is that the suspension travel on the rear is very short, relatively speaking. Take a look at how little travel you have between the rear bump stops and the axle; it's very minimal, and IMO, something that Toyota should have done a little differently on the GX platform.
From your description, I'm not at all sure there is anything wrong with your air system. You may just be hitting bumps that are severe enough that the suspension travel needs to be more than the very few inches that are available at normal ride height.
Also, have your rear shocks ever been replaced?
From your description, I'm not at all sure there is anything wrong with your air system. You may just be hitting bumps that are severe enough that the suspension travel needs to be more than the very few inches that are available at normal ride height.
Also, have your rear shocks ever been replaced?
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#8
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Another thing to consider is that the suspension travel on the rear is very short. From your description, I'm not at all sure there is anything wrong with your air system. You may just be hitting bumps that are severe enough that the suspension travel needs to be more than the very few inches that are available at normal ride height.
Also, have your rear shocks ever been replaced?
Also, have your rear shocks ever been replaced?
1. "Another thing to consider is that the suspension travel on the rear is very short" - it's not too short. Its adequte and if this starts happening to a 2005 truck that means that its a new problem that developed.
2. "I'm not at all sure that there is anything wrong with your air system" - wrong. If truck starts to bottom out when parked, it's leaking air from rear suspension.
3. "You may just be hitting bumps that are severe enough that the suspension travel needs to be more" - come on man.. really? the man knows his car, and he knows ride is unsusually rough over small bumps. I own a GX myself, and for bumps to be severe enough to to hit the end of travel of the suspension... the truck would come apart first. it just doesn't happen.
4. "have your rear shocks ever been replaced?" - they have nothing to do with truck bottoming out.
So man, its most likely the air springs. Just need to get down there and spray some soapy water on the whole system while cycling and finding the holes. The air springs are easy to replace. I just did mine 2 weeks ago. See other thread on this.
Last edited by oardila99; 03-19-18 at 02:09 PM.
#9
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Don’t even bother wasting time looking for the leak...it’s there, it’s always there...rubber air bags, going up and down on every ride dry out and crack...if you keep letting it go you will burn out the compressor from over use....believe me...I know...lol.
#11
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I hear my air pump come on sometimes , like today , stopped at store and walking by the rear I heard the pump , engine still on .
Is there a reason it would come on at that time ?
New air bags less than 2 years a go by previous owner , too
Is there a reason it would come on at that time ?
New air bags less than 2 years a go by previous owner , too
#12
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when you park and get out of the truck, you should here compress running briefly to adjust the height....you just got out...so it might be releasing air.
#13
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (1)
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1. "Another thing to consider is that the suspension travel on the rear is very short" - it's not too short. Its adequte and if this starts happening to a 2005 truck that means that its a new problem that developed.
![](https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clublexus.com-vbulletin/2000x1124/gx_with_springs_22f24d40fc8f150a632aa608998c0c5f65a724ba.jpg)
Here's the suspension travel between the axle housing and the bump stop on the above vehicle:
![](https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clublexus.com-vbulletin/2000x1124/gx_bump_stop_57fcffe680fb204bb32b914c06fe5ad360cddd27.jpg)
The clearance is 40.5mm, aka 1.6" of suspension travel. That might be plenty to you, but it's what I call "very short," and will absolutely cause what the OP was describing when going on speed bumps or very rough road.
2. "I'm not at all sure that there is anything wrong with your air system" - wrong. If truck starts to bottom out when parked, it's leaking air from rear suspension.
3. "You may just be hitting bumps that are severe enough that the suspension travel needs to be more" - come on man.. really? the man knows his car, and he knows ride is unsusually rough over small bumps. I own a GX myself, and for bumps to be severe enough to to hit the end of travel of the suspension... the truck would come apart first. it just doesn't happen.
4. "have your rear shocks ever been replaced?" - they have nothing to do with truck bottoming out.
So man, its most likely the air springs. Just need to get down there and spray some soapy water on the whole system while cycling and finding the holes.
Last edited by I6turbo; 03-25-18 at 06:44 PM.
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