Same issue here. Just acquired a 2011 GX460 Base with 121K on it. I put new front and rear shocks + new front shock/strut mounts on it. I noticed a slight lean on the passenger side (lower on passenger side) prior to doing the work. I thought maybe the new suspension would fix it (the suspension definitely needed to be done). I still have the lean after putting the new suspension on it. I reused the original springs, but now I'm thinking that was a bad call..

Does anyone have a definitive answer about this issue? Is it for sure the KDSS system? Or is it the front coil springs that need replacing? It has this slight lean when diving and when parked. Has anyone had luck with the Lexus dealer fixing this out of warranty? I bought the car privately from an older gentleman, so I didn't get it through the dealership or anything..

Any input would be appreciated! Thanks!

 

I just got a 2012 and a couple days after I brought it home I noticed it leaning heavy on the passenger side. I did research on the kdss and these forums, but nothing conclusive.
I'm taking it to the toyota dealership today for fluid change and will ask them to check it out. I will report back with their response.
A guy on youtube fixed his land cruiser lean with a piece of wood so I'm going to try that before I spend any money. Just curious about toyota's solution or recommendation since I know this is a very common problem. Who wants to bet they try to sell me a new suspension 😋

Update: It's at Toyota now but in the meantime I registered on lexusdrivers.com which gave me access to detailed service records. At the top of the page I found this:

93180 MILES06/2020Service: NON WARRANTABLE OPERATION CODEDescription: NON WARRANTABLE OPERATION CODE ~|~CUSTOMER STATES THE KDSS LIGHT IS ON AFTER A FEW MINUETS OF DRIVING, PLEASE CHECK AND ADVISE. ~|~TECH TEST DROVE VEHICLE AND FOUND THE KDSS LIGHT TO COME ON AFTER DRIVING. TECH SCANNED VEHICLE AND FOUND CODE FOR LOW PRESSURE IN SYSTEM. TECH INSPECTED THE KDSS SYSTEM AND FOUND ALL 4 LINES ARE LEAKING AND THE PUMP NEEDS REPLACED AS WELL. ~|~TECH REPLACED ALL 4 KDSS LINES, REPLACED THE KDSS PUMP AND BLED AND REPLACED FLUID. TECH TEST DROVE VEHICLE AND FOUND LIGHTS TO REMAIN OFF AND NO CODES IN SYSTEM. -LEXUS TO COVER COST OF THE PUMP AS 1 TIME GOODWILL.

 

Can anyone that fixed the lean provide an update on the fix? Was chaining the coil spring the remedy? Did you pay for the fix ? If so, roughly how much was the cost?

I have a 2014 with a lean to the passenger side.

 

Hello all,
Toronto newbie here.
My 2011 GX is tilting down at left rear side, I suspect its a blown air bag. The compressor still lifts the right side.

So, being a bad boy, I tow a heavy trailer (+8000 lbs) a few times a year, from renovation to renovation.
The question is, do I buy both replacement air bags from China (finding the best ones I can) or do I switch to springs and shocks?
How would springs and shocks affect handling?
Is it necessary to switch the front as well?
The KDSS dash light is always on.
I do intend to do some light 4x4 as well.

Many thanks,

Sans Peur

 

Are you sure it isn’t KDSS lean?

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gx-...kdss-lean.html

 

Drivers side lean is an issue with all Lexus / Toyota body-on-frame (truck based) vehicles. You should be able to determine if the air bag is leaking, so assuming that is the case ...

Air Bags are essentially springs ... so yes, you could just replace the airbags with conventional springs ... but given your towing history, the air bag system's ability to automatically adjust the rear ride height to compensate for tongue weight is a great feature.

If you went with conventional springs, you would need to go with a higher spring rate to minimize rear-end-sag when towing ... but then live with a harsh(er) ride when not towing ... or if you were to go with the standard spring rate, you could install air bags (approximately $125 for Firestone or Air-Lift) that go inside the springs so you can manually adjust the air bag pressure based on towing tongue weight.

Given your circumstance ... IMHO repairing the existing setup is the best approach given you have the best of all worlds.

The front suspension uses conventional springs ... so has nothing to do with your consideration, unless you have AVS shocks and plan to change out the shock absorbers.

 

I found this answer.
Pretty simple.
Anyone try it yet?

https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/201...n-fix.1147101/

Sans Peur

 

I am fairly sure the gate control solenoid would be open when vehicle is off allowing pressure to both bags at the same time. It only operationally closes. I would think one bag leak would cause entire rear deflation and sag.

RAHC technical overview document
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/att...on_control.pdf

 

Did you view the video yet please?

 

I've seen that video. It is listed in the KDSS thread I posted on #2. One of those things that works for some and not for others. Official TSB from Lexus was a different front right spring IIRC.

There are also spacers as well as driving around in the direction of lean in an empty parking lot at a "safe speed".

 

I swapped out air for coils on my GX470 with great success and the ride stayed basically the same. I have a write up somewhere. I just substituted 4Runner limited rear coils, rubber stops and added clamps to bottom of the coil to attach to the bottom perch, which probably isn’t needed because it was compressed pretty good to get the springs in.

 

Any reports on the Treaty Oak system? I leveled my 2017 GX via Bilstein 5100s and have since noticed about an inch of lean. I'm wondering if the front spacer would solve this.

One other question. When it’s true KDSS lean, is it both front and back? I notice it only on the rear.

 

I just got our 2nd Lexus 3 months ago, a new GX 460 Platinum. We also are a very happy owner of an 2017 RX350. My first 3 months with the GX is great, very good ride and the quality feel is excellent. But there are 2 things that I noticed, that are a bit concerning to me. I will raise these with the dealership at its first service interval, but I would like to know first the experience and thoughts of the fellow GX owners here.

1/ The front suspension height between left and right is about 1" different, The driver side (left) is about 35", the passenger side front is 34". I measured from the road, middle of the wheel until the lower start of the fender. Road was even. The height difference is enough for me to notice in the vehicle that right side sits a bit lower. This prompted me to measure the height. Is this normal, or should / can this be fixed?

2/ The rear air suspension delivers a very smooth ride, except it seems to have difficulties with speed humps. I have plenty of speed humps going out of my compound, done it for years, so I know each one inside out. During the same trip, every speed hump somehow is unpredictable on how to car rear suspension handles it. Sometimes it its butter smooth, with a very soft landing after dropping from the hump on the road; another identical hump during the same trip, the car drops with a hard and sudden stop in the back, without any seemingly suspension travel. All are taken with identical slow speed, and the same speed hump can deliver both different results. When the landing is hard, its really hard, meaning like you sit in a cart without any suspension. Why is it sometimes very comfortable and composed, and the other time completely the opposite? Is this normal? Speed humps are at approx. 50 meters intervals. Speed never goes higher between the humps about 20 miles p/h. The speed taking the hump is extremely slow.

Ps: Ride height is set on "normal", suspension set on comfort. On sport or medium setting, same experience.

Thanks in advance!

 

Typical KDSS lean, it happens on the KDSS equipped 4runners also. You can open the kdss valves to equalize it. It's so minor most people don't notice it.

 

Thanks for the information. I will discuss this with the dealer. I had a 2016 LC with KDSS before, and that one sat perfectly level. My expectation is that a new car should at least sit level....