bayareapts

wassup everyone i'm new to this forum. the problem i have is with my air suspension. i know my air suspension is bad coz it's sitting so damn low. i was told air bags will cost me lots of money. i need suggestions, i was wondering if you can put a non-airbag suspension on the car. if it's possible to put a non-airbag suspension, pls. let me know also if you have any for sale. thanks, mel.

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

www.strutmasters.com

denverdog

yes, you can convert to a standard suspension. I never had to do it, but i know it can be done. the air suspension is one of the most expensive, and least "worth it" luxury items on the car. yes, it drives a LITTLE smoother, but not that much. with what you save you can do a lot to the car, like upgrade the sound system, or re-skin the seats, or upgrade the wheels. or get that damn power steering pump replaced.

richonenz

I like my air suspension , especially as I have an aftermarket height controller .
Personally I think the air suspension cost needs to be put in perspective as it works out to be quite cheap !!
After all the units are 15 years old and until they start leaking they work exactly the same as when they were new , show me any gas/oil strut that lasts that long !!
There's a mob in the States doing reconditioned LS air bag struts for $360.00 front and about the same for the rear and they have a life time warranty on them , so landed in Aus about $500.00 a corner for a shock thats is better than anything else and will last about 15 years , it doesn't get much better than that .
Before anybody gets on there high horse about the " better " comment I was referring to general use not someone who wants it slammed to the ground and trying to make it handle like a Rex !! LOL
From what I understand good quality coilovers are about $500.00 a corner anyway and there's no way they will perform at there best for 15 years !!
When I was running my rotary I needed to rebuild my shocks at lest every 2 years to keep them at there best , so that makes the air system very cheap in comparison .

iteachit

Rich...I am on my 4th LS 3 1st gens and 1 4th gen. My 96 LS had the air suspension albiet with a bad height adjusting sensor (which although set me back $380 - was an easy self-fix), has got to be the most comfortable and composed ride in the world - yes not for weaving in and out of the cones! I have driven many cars in my day, but nothing can compare to an LS sedan with an air suspension - set on sport. Don't forget, I say this becuase of all the pro's of the car and you know what I'm talking about. Yes I realize it not the fastest, flatest cornering, blah blah blah, but when you consider everything that is in one package, LEXUS can not be beat - at least for the 1st through 3rd generation. I have driven a preowned 2005 LS430 w/the Ultra package as well. Very nice ride but - too early to tell as I fear corporate Lexus is beginning to cut corners. Has anyone looked at all the TSB's the newer models are accumulating compared to the 90-2000 models?

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

just to clarify, a 96 is a 2nd gen car, the 89-94 is the UCF10/11 (1st gen), 95-00 is the UCF20/21, and etcetera.

Caoboy

iTrader: (2)

question. if you have the stock luxury air ride suspension on your car, can you just hook up an aftermarket controller, so when you want to 'hard park' you can slam the car on the ground basically? or would you need to upgrade your bags/struts to do that. im not talking about driving around slammed, just slammed when you are parked. i did some searching but no definite answer.
-steve

jmblimo

iTrader: (1)

I like mine too. I enjoy the car dropping down to the low setting around 80mph. I will try to keep mine going as long as possible.