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Have removed the factory air suspension on my 2007 LS 460 after issues with the old struts, then issues with the 2 new front air struts only lasted about 1000kms, was over it.
Anyway, have replaced them with BC coilovers so hopefully, they will last a lot longer than the air, also peace of mind. Still in the process of getting the height right and the ride adjusted to my liking.
So far rides ok might not be as good as factory but will see how it goes.
Removing the Air struts did take some time over a couple of weekends, once I did the first front change out and worked out what I was doing the second one was quite easy, the rear struts were the same just took some working out, removing the rear seats was the most problematic to get good access to the top of the struts.
The lower seat had to be removed first, then the rear upright. after all of that, you may be able to do it without removing the seats by only removing the top cover but I didn't what to break or bend the cover, all good now.
Catt how many miles are on your vehicle and what type of issues were you having with the air struts...and did you happen to buy chinese remans? Coilovers definitely take the maintenance away...but they dont ride all that great. Cant say for the ls460 though. Good luck
Hi
113000klm but I think a lot more, bought the car online unseen so the price was ok at the time but spent monies working out issues. One of the original struts had gone ridged so lots of road handling issues, replaced with aftermarket air struts was fine for awhile but started to have same issues, sounds from the front end, ordered the coilovers and replaced found one of the struts had gone ridged again. Now in the process of getting a refund for the faulty struts.
Taking the car out today with 4 passengers for the first time so will see how it goes.
I was thinking about the electronic set up with the air struts, could the electronics stuff up the struts? if they are not working correctly.
Can you go into some more detail on changing the shocks, process, difficulties, what you learned that may make it easier next time and ride quality compared between the two.
Hi Guys
Not sure if I should reply to each other but here goes...Found the steering and direction much improved, no wandering around or jumping when the road became uneven.
Handled much better in the corners and gave me more confidence when going into and coming out, my wife gave me a dressing down when I got home after trying it out......loved it told me if I wanted to die drive the car by myself ha ha.
The car is a lot lower and looks more aggressive, the damper control has over 30 setting so started on full hard and so far the front is set at 10 from hard and the rear at 12 feels good. Not as smooth as air but for driving feel and control feels great, has more feel through the steering as is in a driving car. Being mechanical I feel safer.
I have plenty of pics and video if I need to post, thanks to google for most of the info I found on the web.
Front suspension no issues after the first one 2nd one twice as quick, I think I was on a high just to prove i could do it... My friend who is a mechanic said i could use his hoist but you can do it on a concrete flat surface with floor jacks.
The rear was ok just had to remove a few control arms as in control height, only just got them out with my foot holding down the disc to get more room above to remove from under the wall arch,used 2 jacks to get them out.
Anymore info just let me know and i will post.
Getting the rear seats out was the most stressful due to damaging them.
I love the Lexus.
I can agree with the driving improvements when swapping to coils from air.
In other words the car almost becomes as ‘sporty’ as GS. The downfall is the stock rear rim/tire width. When that is dealt with the LS tracks out of corners much better. The steering has become more precise but still not a good as the GS. Factory air dampens the ride much better but coilovers have much more connected mechanical feel which some can appreciate.
Not all of us on this forum are collecting pensions. Some of us want a car this size to do what a smaller car does.
I'm 37 years old LOL. No pension here, I just bought an LS because I wanted an LS.
I see no point in buying one car that has a certain set of attributes and changing it to make it drive like a different car that has a different set of attributes. I've had the GS and I've had the LS, if I wanted the GS sporty ride I would have kept the GS. They're not that different in terms of size, and the real difference is in the rear seat.
I can agree with the driving improvements when swapping to coils from air.
In other words the car almost becomes as ‘sporty’ as GS. The downfall is the stock rear rim/tire width. When that is dealt with the LS tracks out of corners much better. The steering has become more precise but still not a good as the GS. Factory air dampens the ride much better but coilovers have much more connected mechanical feel which some can appreciate.
What spring rates did did you get ? 12k/8k ?
how many inches did you drop the car ? Pics?
What is it about the stock rear rim/tire width? Is it too thin/thick, is there a complication of it when switching to coil overs?
Coilovers for LS 460
told me if I wanted to die drive the car by myself ha ha.
