Is Air Suspension Really This Unreliable?
08-04-18, 05:38 AM
#1
Racer
Thread Starter
Is Air Suspension Really This Unreliable?
Just ran the service history on a low mileage '04 LS 430 Ultra Luxury. In less than the first 30,000 miles, the right front air strut was replaced 3 times, the left front once, and the air compressor failed ($3200 to replace compressor). Is this at all typical or just someone's bad luck?
08-04-18, 06:04 AM
#2
Just ran the service history on a low mileage '04 LS 430 Ultra Luxury. In less than the first 30,000 miles, the right front air strut was replaced 3 times, the left front once, and the air compressor failed ($3200 to replace compressor). Is this at all typical or just someone's bad luck?
08-06-18, 01:41 PM
#4
Advanced
when I bought the 01 UL, the PO's service records showed the two rear shock were replaced at 80k miles and the right front shock was replaced at 108k miles.
Shocks part only C$ 2200,-- each plus labor
I replaced the whole system with Bilstein coilovers, lifetime warranty
Shocks part only C$ 2200,-- each plus labor
I replaced the whole system with Bilstein coilovers, lifetime warranty
08-08-18, 11:07 PM
#5
Instructor
Not typical at all - sounds like incredibly bad luck or the shock absorbers did not actually need to be replaced (Lexus released diagrams on TSB SU001-06 on October 24, 2006 to show the differences between acceptable and unacceptable oil seepage). Techs not familiar with this TSB could have replaced the shocks prematurely. Also could have been improper diagnosis, e.g. they did not catch a leak in the air line, maybe the line to the right front strut was bad, causing the compressor to run excessively, and causing them to think the strut was bad instead of the line/fitting/connector.
I'm the second owner of my '02 UL, 159,000km, 16 years of Canadian winters on salted roads, same air suspension components that were installed at the factory, except for 2 rear height sensors (89407-50060 and 89408-50060), which were damaged after someone rear-ended me and were replaced as part of the collision repair.
There are many air suspension threads on these forums and I've read most of them, so I can tell you that at least 58 people on these forums have reported failed air shocks, average failure at 78000 miles, 2004 is the most common year, but several in 2002 and 2005, and only one 2006 with a failure that I've seen (at least 18 reports did not include model year, failure year, or mileage). The rear right shock is the most common one to fail. However, there are surely tens of thousands of 2001-2006 UL package LS430s, and maybe a dozen members here have reported high mileage (180-300K) with no problems at all.
I would say buy a UL if the UL features makes the car more enjoyable to you every time you drive it. I find value in the double-paned glass, rear coolbox, rear AC, rear UV air purifier and the giant air filter for it, rear reclining seats, rear window curtains, auto-lowering suspension at 100km/h to achieve 0.25 Cd, ability to raise the suspension for off-roading/rough-roading, and the electronic auto-adjusting spring rate of the shocks (where spring rates auto-adjust within a 5-step increment called Normal or a 5-step increment called Sport, depending on which setting you choose). Just be prepared to shell out $500-1200 per shock if they truly need replacement and you value the air ride features. Otherwise, wait until 1 shock dies, then replace all 4 with the factory non-UL suspension components, which costs almost the same as replacing 1 air shock, and the ride quality will be exactly the same as a non-UL LS430. Or you can get aftermarket non-air components for even cheaper, but your ride quality won't be exactly as Lexus designed.
I'm the second owner of my '02 UL, 159,000km, 16 years of Canadian winters on salted roads, same air suspension components that were installed at the factory, except for 2 rear height sensors (89407-50060 and 89408-50060), which were damaged after someone rear-ended me and were replaced as part of the collision repair.
There are many air suspension threads on these forums and I've read most of them, so I can tell you that at least 58 people on these forums have reported failed air shocks, average failure at 78000 miles, 2004 is the most common year, but several in 2002 and 2005, and only one 2006 with a failure that I've seen (at least 18 reports did not include model year, failure year, or mileage). The rear right shock is the most common one to fail. However, there are surely tens of thousands of 2001-2006 UL package LS430s, and maybe a dozen members here have reported high mileage (180-300K) with no problems at all.
I would say buy a UL if the UL features makes the car more enjoyable to you every time you drive it. I find value in the double-paned glass, rear coolbox, rear AC, rear UV air purifier and the giant air filter for it, rear reclining seats, rear window curtains, auto-lowering suspension at 100km/h to achieve 0.25 Cd, ability to raise the suspension for off-roading/rough-roading, and the electronic auto-adjusting spring rate of the shocks (where spring rates auto-adjust within a 5-step increment called Normal or a 5-step increment called Sport, depending on which setting you choose). Just be prepared to shell out $500-1200 per shock if they truly need replacement and you value the air ride features. Otherwise, wait until 1 shock dies, then replace all 4 with the factory non-UL suspension components, which costs almost the same as replacing 1 air shock, and the ride quality will be exactly the same as a non-UL LS430. Or you can get aftermarket non-air components for even cheaper, but your ride quality won't be exactly as Lexus designed.
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