Dec 12, 2014, 03:48 PM
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changing front shock absorber on GX470
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 31
Likes: 4
From: AL
Could easily be a wheel speed sensor (ABS sensor). Hopefully the cable itself isn't damaged but wouldn't be too hard to imagine. If you pull the code off of techstream it'll tell you what's up. I accidentally cut my front left wheel speed sensor when switching out the shocks. Had to repair it (quicker and less $ than ordering the part online) which was not bad. No issues almost 10k miles later.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 46
Likes: 3
From: LA
I had a guy do the installation for me. Should he have left the sensor that was on top of the old shocks attached to the wire? We disconnected that from the wire and left it on top of the old shocks after they were taken out.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 31
Likes: 4
From: AL
The wire attached to the struts is for the adjustable ride .. you leave it disconnected if replacing with non-adjustable struts. That won't cause lights to come on the dash. It will cause a code in techstream saying they're disconnected but not a big deal. With the front struts you have to wire tie the wires that attached to the struts somewhere out of the way for safe keeping. With the rears it's a non-issue (rears have a wire that goes into a frame mounted plug so nothing to wire tie).
Long story short you have an issue other than adjustable ride wire. My guess is wheel speed sensor was disturbed or damaged. This can happen when the caliper is not hung up properly and stress was put on the sensor/wire.
Long story short you have an issue other than adjustable ride wire. My guess is wheel speed sensor was disturbed or damaged. This can happen when the caliper is not hung up properly and stress was put on the sensor/wire.
10th Gear
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: FL
Botton Stuck
Bottom
After I got all the bolts out it still wont come off. It is compressing down and the bottom mount wont come out..even with a hammer. Do I need to compress the coil spring with a tool?
After I got all the bolts out it still wont come off. It is compressing down and the bottom mount wont come out..even with a hammer. Do I need to compress the coil spring with a tool?
Last edited by Butcherpen; Jul 26, 2017 at 11:45 AM.
You may need to lightly pry the bottom of the front shock so it would pop out. Some people have the top mount stuck on the top too. It is not clear what your problem is, can you tell which part is already free? You should be able to see a gap off the top mount when you pry the control arm down.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: CA
Yeah I went back out there today after letting it soak all night, it still did not want to come off =(
I got a crow bar wedged at an angle between the top plate and the mount, and got the biggest hammer I had and went to town on it ( i tried same last night but with alot less force).
well on the 5th large hit the shock just fell down, so it was just dirt and grime holding it in place which is seriously the strongest I have ever encountered.
so thanks for the suggestion guys, it turned out to be a simple problem that needed a bigger hammer, or as I call it "suspension adjustment tool"
I got a crow bar wedged at an angle between the top plate and the mount, and got the biggest hammer I had and went to town on it ( i tried same last night but with alot less force).
well on the 5th large hit the shock just fell down, so it was just dirt and grime holding it in place which is seriously the strongest I have ever encountered.
so thanks for the suggestion guys, it turned out to be a simple problem that needed a bigger hammer, or as I call it "suspension adjustment tool"
Rookie
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 39
Likes: 1
From: OH
It's my first time working on my 2005 GX470 to change the front shock absorber. Have some questions on how to correctly and safely change it. Would appreciate your advice on the following:
1) To remove the strut assembly, do I need to remove the sway/stabilizer bar?
2) I have already removed the lower strut bolt, but got stuck on the top part. Should I remove the absorber control actuator and its bracket first (by removing the two nuts at label #3 in the attached photo)? It's not easy to get to these nut and seems like it's round. What tool to use for removing #3? There are two #3s, how to remove the on in the back?
3) how to disconnect #4? Or I can leave it connected?
4) should I loosen nut #2 to help remove the strut or the actuator? Is this the one that is holding the spring in position and loosen it without using the spring compressor is dangerous?
5) Also, it's hard to reach the third nut in the back (labeled as 1 with dashed arrow). So have to remove the bracket first?
Thanks for your help.
1) To remove the strut assembly, do I need to remove the sway/stabilizer bar?
2) I have already removed the lower strut bolt, but got stuck on the top part. Should I remove the absorber control actuator and its bracket first (by removing the two nuts at label #3 in the attached photo)? It's not easy to get to these nut and seems like it's round. What tool to use for removing #3? There are two #3s, how to remove the on in the back?
3) how to disconnect #4? Or I can leave it connected?
4) should I loosen nut #2 to help remove the strut or the actuator? Is this the one that is holding the spring in position and loosen it without using the spring compressor is dangerous?
5) Also, it's hard to reach the third nut in the back (labeled as 1 with dashed arrow). So have to remove the bracket first?
Thanks for your help.
Rookie
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 39
Likes: 1
From: OH
Great PDF, thank you! It sez it's repair manual at the end, but no publisher/author. Do you remember?
Pit Crew
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 110
Likes: 50
From: NV
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Driver School Candidate
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: TX
Bracket
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 968
Likes: 137
From: NY
Last edited by Lexus4321; Jul 26, 2021 at 12:41 PM.
Pit Crew
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 110
Likes: 50
From: NV
1st Gear
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Washington
This thread is really helpful -- thanks all!
QQ: I'm replacing the front shocks with new OEM units -- do I need to index the adjusters before removing and installing the new ones? E.g. I don't want to create a situation in which the in-vehicle **** is set to "sport" but the shocks are on "comfort" when I install.
Any advice would be appreciated!
ETA -- ah never mind. I think I figured it out
QQ: I'm replacing the front shocks with new OEM units -- do I need to index the adjusters before removing and installing the new ones? E.g. I don't want to create a situation in which the in-vehicle **** is set to "sport" but the shocks are on "comfort" when I install.
Any advice would be appreciated!
ETA -- ah never mind. I think I figured it out
Last edited by quick6; May 20, 2024 at 10:02 PM.
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RyanV
SC - 1st Gen (1992-2000)
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Dec 31, 2009 07:25 PM
