Air suspension comfort vs normal vs sport
01-17-18, 10:48 AM
#46
Pole Position
Haha, I'm sold! We'll have to work on my wife.
I'm up getting the windows tinted. This place is way back in the country, and I had a bunch of country roads to get here and I do feel the difference in Sport + in the twisties. I do believe everything is fine.
I gotta say, I love the air suspension.
I'm up getting the windows tinted. This place is way back in the country, and I had a bunch of country roads to get here and I do feel the difference in Sport + in the twisties. I do believe everything is fine.
I gotta say, I love the air suspension.
01-17-18, 10:49 AM
#47
Pole Position
01-17-18, 10:52 AM
#48
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
01-17-18, 12:43 PM
#49
Probably not many of the older guys style to mod but I'm telling you... From my A8, my LS430, to a Subaru Outback and other vehicles, the best upgrade for the money is the rear sway bar and bushings. Often cheap, easy to swap out and the improved tracking, reduction in sway under windy conditions, cornering, just overall body motion is notably reduced. Believe me for the better. Best upgrade for the money.
01-17-18, 01:16 PM
#50
Racer
Probably not many of the older guys style to mod but I'm telling you... From my A8, my LS430, to a Subaru Outback and other vehicles, the best upgrade for the money is the rear sway bar and bushings. Often cheap, easy to swap out and the improved tracking, reduction in sway under windy conditions, cornering, just overall body motion is notably reduced. Believe me for the better. Best upgrade for the money.
01-17-18, 02:14 PM
#51
On my 430, like the 460, you can get sport package bar and bushings from Sewell or who you like. It would be ideal if it was a bit thicker but from stock to sports or f sport is an improvement. After 100k miles I would replace the front sway bushings. Very easy to do and cheap. What I did on my 430 with air.
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FatherTo1 (01-17-18)
01-17-18, 02:27 PM
#52
Racer
On my 430, like the 460, you can get sport package bar and bushings from Sewell or who you like. It would be ideal if it was a bit thicker but from stock to sports or f sport is an improvement. After 100k miles I would replace the front sway bushings. Very easy to do and cheap. What I did on my 430 with air.
On my 430, like the 460, you can get sport package bar and bushings from Sewell or who you like. It would be ideal if it was a bit thicker but from stock to sports or f sport is an improvement. After 100k miles I would replace the front sway bushings. Very easy to do and cheap. What I did on my 430 with air.
Last edited by FatherTo1; 01-17-18 at 02:32 PM.
01-17-18, 04:00 PM
#53
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Well, it is a 4,700 lb luxury sedan lol
01-17-18, 05:17 PM
#54
Yes, the sport package includes thicker front and rear sway bars / bushing. On the 430 I believe the upper and lower arms also had harder bushings not sure if this continued to the 460 as the design changed. The bars are an easy swap. The rear is where to upgrade. Helps eliminate some of the boat like sway that the LS is known for without sacrificing comfort. Particularly with the air suspension. With the A8 it's similar. Swap to the S8 bars.
Last edited by Lexuslsguy; 01-17-18 at 05:24 PM.
01-17-18, 06:15 PM
#55
Lexus Test Driver
If anything, I would say you were learning the car's behavior and getting used to its manners 
I can definitely see how many of the mechanical components in the air suspension in Steve's brand new car are going thru a lot of flexing cycles and getting broken in. That could contribute to his potential lack of difference between the various settings. But this should not affect any aspect of the electrical system within the air module or the software that dictates the drive settings.
I can definitely see how many of the mechanical components in the air suspension in Steve's brand new car are going thru a lot of flexing cycles and getting broken in. That could contribute to his potential lack of difference between the various settings. But this should not affect any aspect of the electrical system within the air module or the software that dictates the drive settings.
These cars have a “learning” phase during the first 1000 or so miles. It’s in the owners manual, or it was in mine.
It states that the ECU will learn and adapt to your driving behavior or something to that effect.
My idle speed intermittently exhibited strange behaviors during the first 1000 miles, but it faded away shortly thereafter. Same with the transmission. It wasn’t overt but I noticed the changes. The air control module is the ECU for the air suspension and I wouldn’t doubt it’s part of the overall ECU learn mode.
It states that the ECU will learn and adapt to your driving behavior or something to that effect.
My idle speed intermittently exhibited strange behaviors during the first 1000 miles, but it faded away shortly thereafter. Same with the transmission. It wasn’t overt but I noticed the changes. The air control module is the ECU for the air suspension and I wouldn’t doubt it’s part of the overall ECU learn mode.
01-18-18, 08:27 AM
#56
Lexus Test Driver
Now, now...it's only about 4,400 for the LWB non-hybrid one.
:-)
Then again, add a full tank of fuel and 20 lbs. of 'crap' we probably all have in the glove box/console/trunk, and yeah, you're up to about 4,550. I'm sure few of us males weigh 150 lbs. or less. I know I haven't weighed that since 1985.
:-)
Then again, add a full tank of fuel and 20 lbs. of 'crap' we probably all have in the glove box/console/trunk, and yeah, you're up to about 4,550. I'm sure few of us males weigh 150 lbs. or less. I know I haven't weighed that since 1985.
01-18-18, 08:29 AM
#57
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Looked it up, I was thinking AWD 
01-18-18, 11:50 AM
#58
Lexus Test Driver
FatherTo1, I came this close to putting an anti-roll bar on the rear of our 1999 Fleetwood Bounder 39Z, which is a diesel-pusher motorcoach on a Freightliner chassis.
The only thing which held me back was I'd just dropped $800 on four Koni dampers and the bar was about a grand.
Kinda wish I'd done it, 'cause that beast has some body roll!
The only thing which held me back was I'd just dropped $800 on four Koni dampers and the bar was about a grand.
Kinda wish I'd done it, 'cause that beast has some body roll!
01-22-18, 03:12 PM
#59
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Just to update everybody on this, I had the new Pirellis mounted today...and I am very confident my issues were in fact because of the tires. The car rides much better now, impacts are much more muted, and on the highway in comfort I feel that float now, and I feel it go away in normal and tighten up more in Sport.
Pretty incredible the difference tires make.
Pretty incredible the difference tires make.
01-22-18, 05:31 PM
#60
Just to update everybody on this, I had the new Pirellis mounted today...and I am very confident my issues were in fact because of the tires. The car rides much better now, impacts are much more muted, and on the highway in comfort I feel that float now, and I feel it go away in normal and tighten up more in Sport.
Pretty incredible the difference tires make.
Pretty incredible the difference tires make.
Based on your and others' experience, the Pirellis ride beautifully, and thus, they should make the ride better. What puzzles me is this...
My 460L would float in 'Comfort' during the short period I had Michelin Pilot Sport Plus A/S tires, which I would not rate as either smooth riding OR a good tire for the LS (at least in that vintage, circa 2011). Separately, my 600 also floats - this time on Falken summer tires that the selling dealership (being cheap...) put on. These tires are stiff (and will be replaced with the Pirellis come Spring, but I digress). The OE Bridgestones are mediocre in multiple ways, but I still recall them riding better than the Pilot Sports and Falkens, so while I can't argue against what you are actually feeling, I am still at a bit of a loss.
Now, I do seem to recall you could ultimately feel some of the float with the OE tires (and the Pirellis are just making it better), or did I misread?
Last edited by caha14; 01-22-18 at 05:35 PM.