I have a 2021 RX 450h F-sport. One of the features is the automatic variable suspension. It dampens out the swaying and makes the car feel like it's on rails...except when there are bumps. Bumps can be pretty sharp. Now, I am coming from my cushy 07 ES350, which was always moving around, but in a way that was not noticeable.

Does anyone know of a way (service menu, can bus, aftermarket modifications, tuning shop...) to tune the suspension? Ideally, to make it as comfortable as my old ES, but at least, to un-sport the suspension as much as possible?

I notice the general trend for car suspensions is towards more "feel for the road" at the expense of comfort, but I like comfort.

Yes, I know. I bought the F-sport. It's supposed to be sporty. And I really do like the stability of the suspension (better than the base RX model), but if the bumps could just be allowed to settle out in 1/2 a second instead of a tight 1/4 second...

 

Well, like you say, it is an F-Sport. That's a pretty sophisticated suspension system. Not sure what you could reasonably do to soften it other than making sure the tire pressure is correct. Maybe even change to softer riding tires.

 

Yup, I know And I do like it, for the most part.

I lowered the pressure to 33 psi, from 36 psi that the dealer had it set to. That helped reduce the annoying oscillations (boyoiyoing instead of boing when hitting certain unevennesses in the road).

Once the tires are ready to be replaced, I will look to see what is rated more comfortable. Bridgestone Ecopias at the moment.

 

You have a '21 and I have a '17 so things might be different, that said, make sure your chassis is set to normal not sport, there's a big difference.

 

Hi @Nail34 ,
I regularly switch between sport and normal, depending on road conditions. Sport is more comfortable on smooth roads. It really tries to keep the car perfectly still. Bumps are sharper, but road unevenness is almost perfectly canceled. Normal mode allows a little more movement and bumps are smoother, but on really smooth road, sport mode feels better to me. Normal mode still tries to keep the car in the "no movement" mode, but isn't as strict about it and allows more time for settling after a bump.

It's almost like they are trying to minimize the change in position over time, but to do so, they are making the change in acceleration (aka "jerk") be too high. I'd love a "comfort" mode that minimizes both, but puts a limit on the change in acceleration.

Any Lexus dev's listening, I am a willing beta tester

 

Hate to be the one to break it to you, but it is adaptive variable suspension, not automatic. This means you have you turn it on and off manually.

I think it's a magnetic type, meaning that either there is an electrical current, the metal particles align, causing the suspension to be stiffened. Or it's off and the suspension is normal. Therefore there is no comfort mode.

Pressure and tires are the easiest thing to change. You could also look into transplanting suspension components from the highlander. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[QUOTE=CalebD;11339667]Hi @Nail34 ,
I regularly switch between sport and normal, depending on road conditions. Sport is more comfortable on smooth roads.
You regularly go into Drive Mode Customization and change from sport to normal and back depending on the road conditions you are going to be on??
I keep mine "set" to normal and if I want a firmer ride I just "shift" into sport+.

 

i would try the NON f sport version of the RX. Its more comfortable and softer than the F sport even in comfort mode. I mean lets be honest here, even in F sport, sport mode, this aint no porsche 911. Might as well go all in on the comfort

 

He already owns a '21 RX 450h F-sport.

 

Yeah, I already bought it. But I actually test drove the base model initially and was like, hmm, too noticeable. It's softer than the F sport, but it seems like you get more micro jerks from road unevenness. There just happened to be this F sport on another day I test drove, and I really liked the overall feel of the suspension. Just trying to see if a comfort mode can be added. I figure it is technically possible to make such a system, but don't know if it's beyond the design constraints of the F sport system, or just that Lexus decided, "they don't need a comfort mode on this model" (which the GX has).

I mean, I just twist or press the ****. Usually just going between normal and sport. I thought Sport+ was just a stiffer steering, but looking at this page (which really goes into detail), it seems there is some more adjustments to the suspension as well:
https://mag.lexus.co.uk/2020-lexus-rx-suspension/

I will have to try S+ some more.

 

In my '17 f-sport:
Menu, Vehicle, Drive Mode Customization, Chassis, choose between normal or sport, there's a huge difference.

 

I took a look. That's for defining the Custom mode (if you press the **** twice) as far as I can tell. At least, that's what it seems to affect on the 2021 model.

 

I would NOT mess with tire pressures below the manufacturer recommended pressure. That could have catastrophic side effects i.e.. Handling issues, tire temperature buildup (Remember Ford Explorers in 90s???) etc.

 

Door frame says 33psi.

 

There used to be a setting where you could set a sport chassis all the time and I certainly understand why they dumped it. Why would anyone want a permanent harsh ride in a vehicle which most people buy because it is smooth and cushy. And, as you say, if that's what you want just select sport+