Lexus LS460 Air Suspension Conversion to Coilover
#16
KYB struts shipped from Strutmasters.
Yes. In these photos the diamond shaped logo from KYB is covered by the Strutmasters Sticker. You can see in a second photo "made in Japan", which is where the KYB struts are made.
Of course, the KYB is the strut only. The Spring and Strut Mount are from unknown origins.
I spoke with a Strutmasters sales person prior to ordering the assembled struts. They said the struts can be either KYB, Monroe, Bilstein, or another quality brand. I ended up receiving KYB.
See diamond logo under Strutmasters sticker.
See "Made in Japan" on sticker.
Of course, the KYB is the strut only. The Spring and Strut Mount are from unknown origins.
I spoke with a Strutmasters sales person prior to ordering the assembled struts. They said the struts can be either KYB, Monroe, Bilstein, or another quality brand. I ended up receiving KYB.
See diamond logo under Strutmasters sticker.
See "Made in Japan" on sticker.
The following users liked this post:
Barberlife (02-18-20)
#17
Yes. In these photos the diamond shaped logo from KYB is covered by the Strutmasters Sticker. You can see in a second photo "made in Japan", which is where the KYB struts are made.
Of course, the KYB is the strut only. The Spring and Strut Mount are from unknown origins.
I spoke with a Strutmasters sales person prior to ordering the assembled struts. They said the struts can be either KYB, Monroe, Bilstein, or another quality brand. I ended up receiving KYB.
See diamond logo under Strutmasters sticker.
See "Made in Japan" on sticker.
Of course, the KYB is the strut only. The Spring and Strut Mount are from unknown origins.
I spoke with a Strutmasters sales person prior to ordering the assembled struts. They said the struts can be either KYB, Monroe, Bilstein, or another quality brand. I ended up receiving KYB.
See diamond logo under Strutmasters sticker.
See "Made in Japan" on sticker.
Ive watched a view videos from strutmasters. On the videos it looked like they were using Eibach springs.
I’m not to far from NC where strutmasters is located. I’m actually going to a shop owned by them (Strut Daddy’s) to have them install the kit.
How is the ride since your install?
#18
Ride Height and Quality Immediately after install
The Ride quality is difficult for me to compare to air ride. I rarely switch the air ride from normal to sport or comfortable. I would use Height High to make sure I cleared all rails at the car wash and if I drove the car onto my home ramps to look under the car.
If I was to guess, I would say the ride quality(feel) is somewhere between normal to sport(stiff).
I measured the top of each wheel well from the ground up, using the center of the wheel as my centerline.
Front= 28.75"
Rear= 29"
I will measure again after 1,000 miles. I also plan to loosen the control arm nuts and bolts at that time to allow the bushings to relax and be tightened at new ride height. Everything I read on aftermarket control arms says the bushing fail after 3,000 miles. I believe the main reason is the control arm bolts are tightened with the car raised, and control arms all the way down. Then, the wheels are put on, car lowered with rubber bushing immediately being twisted. I have 6,000 miles on my MEvotech lower control arms(all four), and no problem. I put control arms at normal ride height before tightening all bolts connected to control arms.
Now, with the new struts, and a potential "setteling down" I will loosen, and re-tightened all bolts again. Just as a precaution.
If I was to guess, I would say the ride quality(feel) is somewhere between normal to sport(stiff).
I measured the top of each wheel well from the ground up, using the center of the wheel as my centerline.
Front= 28.75"
Rear= 29"
I will measure again after 1,000 miles. I also plan to loosen the control arm nuts and bolts at that time to allow the bushings to relax and be tightened at new ride height. Everything I read on aftermarket control arms says the bushing fail after 3,000 miles. I believe the main reason is the control arm bolts are tightened with the car raised, and control arms all the way down. Then, the wheels are put on, car lowered with rubber bushing immediately being twisted. I have 6,000 miles on my MEvotech lower control arms(all four), and no problem. I put control arms at normal ride height before tightening all bolts connected to control arms.
Now, with the new struts, and a potential "setteling down" I will loosen, and re-tightened all bolts again. Just as a precaution.
#20
I've been looking for an LS with the Lux package and found a 2009 locally that was converted.
1st- Its air ride dash light stays on constantly so how do we make the dash light go off and stay off on the LS cars?
2nd- While reading online I read the Lexus SUV's lights stays off vs the LS light will stay on when things are simply unplugged so what makes these act in the opposite manor?
Thanks.
1st- Its air ride dash light stays on constantly so how do we make the dash light go off and stay off on the LS cars?
2nd- While reading online I read the Lexus SUV's lights stays off vs the LS light will stay on when things are simply unplugged so what makes these act in the opposite manor?
Thanks.
#21
Just saw your post, I just bought an 08 ls460l with executive seating only 80K miles from east coast and the shocks are DONE!
Where in Cali do you live? I live by Fresno...
How are the shocks? how do they feel? Would love any help to upgrade these if you can tell me any experience could help.
I also have a 2010 ls460 base non air and it drives super smooth compared to air suspension.
Thanks for your help...
Derreck
Where in Cali do you live? I live by Fresno...
How are the shocks? how do they feel? Would love any help to upgrade these if you can tell me any experience could help.
I also have a 2010 ls460 base non air and it drives super smooth compared to air suspension.
Thanks for your help...
Derreck
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fahs (01-19-22)
#22
Strutmasters
Hey, I see it’s been almost 5 years since you did this conversion, I’m getting it done today on my all wheel drive model, how did it end up going? Do you still have the car and are the struts still alright? If sold were they working good before selling them.
#23
Strutmasters
Hey, I see it’s been almost 8 years since you did this conversion, I’m getting it done today on my all wheel drive model, how did it end up going? Do you still have the car and are the struts still alright? If sold were they working good before selling them.
#24
I will throw my 2 cents in....
After all the headaches and begging people on here on different thread to help me with my '08 460L air suspension and everyone telling me just to convert it, I started looking around on Ebay for parts. I came across a set of OEM used struts loaded already with springs for $450 negotiated it to $350 with shipping. I figured since with my other LS which has 225K miles on it had the originals until I recently swapped out struts kept springs about 10K miles ago, these OEM set from a car with only 80K would be fine to test the waters. Been sitting in my garage for a couple months then last week one of my air struts gave out and I said HELL NO I am done with this. The front was easy to do because I already replaced one air strut. Since you have to take out the upper control arms I decided it was also time to replace those. The rears were hard to do but after figuring it out by trial and error I got it all put back together this morning. I would say I really enjoy the ride more now then the air ride. I don't know if something was wrong with air suspension but on surface streets it was so stiff then would loosen up when you got on the freeway and sped up.
now the car is solid all the time, it's not stiff on surface streets. LOVE THE RIDE I so prefer it. I am so glad I did it. if you have any questions let me know.
After all the headaches and begging people on here on different thread to help me with my '08 460L air suspension and everyone telling me just to convert it, I started looking around on Ebay for parts. I came across a set of OEM used struts loaded already with springs for $450 negotiated it to $350 with shipping. I figured since with my other LS which has 225K miles on it had the originals until I recently swapped out struts kept springs about 10K miles ago, these OEM set from a car with only 80K would be fine to test the waters. Been sitting in my garage for a couple months then last week one of my air struts gave out and I said HELL NO I am done with this. The front was easy to do because I already replaced one air strut. Since you have to take out the upper control arms I decided it was also time to replace those. The rears were hard to do but after figuring it out by trial and error I got it all put back together this morning. I would say I really enjoy the ride more now then the air ride. I don't know if something was wrong with air suspension but on surface streets it was so stiff then would loosen up when you got on the freeway and sped up.
now the car is solid all the time, it's not stiff on surface streets. LOVE THE RIDE I so prefer it. I am so glad I did it. if you have any questions let me know.
#25
Anybody have an answer how to get the warning lights off the dash? I unplugged the compressor and now have a flashing warning light on the dash. I've been searching this forum and the interwebs as a whole for about an hour.
I swapped out the fronts about 6 months ago. Left the compressor hooked up and controlling the rears. Worked great, but the rears are rusting through and I had already ordered the coil struts. Swapped out the rears yesterday. Not a terrible job. No need to pull the sway bar or upper control arms as seen on the youtubes. I like the ride just fine. I really like not having air ride problems. I bought the car with bad front struts and tried the Chinese ones. They quite clearly mean used OEM when they say new. They lasted about 6 months. The ride was a bit better with air, but not worth the problems.
I swapped out the fronts about 6 months ago. Left the compressor hooked up and controlling the rears. Worked great, but the rears are rusting through and I had already ordered the coil struts. Swapped out the rears yesterday. Not a terrible job. No need to pull the sway bar or upper control arms as seen on the youtubes. I like the ride just fine. I really like not having air ride problems. I bought the car with bad front struts and tried the Chinese ones. They quite clearly mean used OEM when they say new. They lasted about 6 months. The ride was a bit better with air, but not worth the problems.
Last edited by gumbyls; 11-11-22 at 07:52 AM.
#27
really KYB?
[QUOTE=gjnegrete;10735917]
Strutmasters installed all around, converted from air suspension.
I completed the conversion from air suspension to coil-over struts. I received the complete strut assembly from Strutmasters in about a week. I am in California, I believe Strutmasters are on the East coast. The shocks(struts) were KYB. The ride is fine. Nothing noticeable either good or bad in my opinion. The ride height seemed like it was higher. But, I looked at a photo from when I purchased [/Qhi
hi,how you are sure that you got KYB from strutmasters?
you still drive this car?
Strutmasters installed all around, converted from air suspension.
I completed the conversion from air suspension to coil-over struts. I received the complete strut assembly from Strutmasters in about a week. I am in California, I believe Strutmasters are on the East coast. The shocks(struts) were KYB. The ride is fine. Nothing noticeable either good or bad in my opinion. The ride height seemed like it was higher. But, I looked at a photo from when I purchased [/Qhi
hi,how you are sure that you got KYB from strutmasters?
you still drive this car?
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lsappsoc
LS - 4th Gen (2007-2017)
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10-27-23 07:09 AM