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While checking out the 2022 IS page on lexus.com, I came across the info page for the various trims. Two things caught my eye:
It states that the rear brakes are 2-piston. If true, I never knew this! I always assumed they were floating single-piston brakes. Does this seem accurate?
The new "swing valve" dampers are only listed on the IS 300 and IS 300 AWD. Does this mean the 350 F Sport and 500 F Sport Performance get conventional dampers?
^^ I will let someone with more experience and knowledge chime in HOWEVER, I have already spotted some inaccurate information on the Canadian website with some it's content so it is possible that there could be some errors in these..
Models that have the Swing valve type strut/shock do not have AVS.
Hence why the 350 doesn't have the Swing valve, if it has AVS.
Also all models have an internal rebound spring in the strut/shock except the IS500.
So what does a swing valve do? No flipping clue.
Basically it's there to make the dampening better at low piston speed...so basically when the road surface is very smooth or has very smooth transitions...if that makes sense.
Models that have the Swing valve type strut/shock do not have AVS.
Hence why the 350 doesn't have the Swing valve, if it has AVS.
Also all models have an internal rebound spring in the strut/shock except the IS500.
Hmm, good to know, didn't realize that about the 500.
The base 350 in the US does not have AVS, by the way.
I always understood a swing valve type shock to be one that is more progressive in nature, not so much digressive. It isn't devoted to one or another, sort of like a hybrid. The low speed dampening rate is low, while the high speed dampening rate is also low with the mid speed dampening rate being the fastest. Apparently it has been in use since the 7th gen ES. I guess regular digressive dampers were a little too stiff for the general public to handle!
I always understood a swing valve type shock to be one that is more progressive in nature, not so much digressive. It isn't devoted to one or another, sort of like a hybrid. The low speed dampening rate is low, while the high speed dampening rate is also low with the mid speed dampening rate being the fastest. Apparently it has been in use since the 7th gen ES. I guess regular digressive dampers were a little too stiff for the general public to handle!
Don't get me wrong - the 350 F Sport is still on the firm side of comfy. I still feel a lot of the smaller imperfections in the road. However, the ride is less busy and a bit gentler than before. So I'm just glad we can have our cake and eat it, too with this suspension setup.
Having said that, I'm now intrigued by the AVS. I only experienced it on a brief test drive in a 2018 IS 350 AWD F Sport and don't seem to remember much of it.
Interesting to see in that chart that anything with an F Sport badge comes with "F Sport Tuned" suspension (whether adaptive or not). Wonder what the Canadian IS300 F Sport AWD comes with? Would seem a little strange if everything else in the range that has an F Sport badge got some type of special suspension tuning, but the IS300 F Sport didn't ... Hmm.
Interesting to see in that chart that anything with an F Sport badge comes with "F Sport Tuned" suspension (whether adaptive or not). Wonder what the Canadian IS300 F Sport AWD comes with? Would seem a little strange if everything else in the range that has an F Sport badge got some type of special suspension tuning, but the IS300 F Sport didn't ... Hmm.
I just looked through the Canadian website and wasn't able to find anything. I'd assume that, yes, the F Sport will have different suspension tuning.
I just looked through the Canadian website and wasn't able to find anything. I'd assume that, yes, the F Sport will have different suspension tuning.
Agreed. Hate how they're so cryptic about it. None of the documentation, nor the dealer said peep about it when I was buying the car.
Whatever is in there, it feels pretty damn good. Just wish the overall ride height was like 1/2" lower all around. The gap on the front fender can get pretty massive depending on where you've parked.
2021+ IS swing-valve dampers?
