"You're wheeling a what?!?!" Build Thread - 2005 Lexus GX470

Put me down as an interested party. Are you doing the upper spring isolators as well?

 

Yes. And as of last week, that's the part SSO was waiting on. Before that it was the aluminum spacers. I'd prefer to use the SSO kit due to the extra lift available which I think I'll need since I went with standard duty Superflex springs rather than the HD ones. But if it's not here in time I'll use the MT kit and just hope that I like the stance enough to not have to redo it later.

 

I use the MT kit and have no complaints. However, I also have the HD superflex springs.

If I were to do it all again I'd hook up the stock compressor to some firestone or whatever airbags. Set the "zero" point on the height control stuff to your ride height where it would have very little (if any) air in the bags, and in my head if it sagged, the bags would fill. Makes sense to me, in my head, but I ripped out my air compressor before playing with it.

And since you don't have any pictures in here... Here's mine after my wife drove us up her first 4x4 trail.

DSC_0146 by Alex Wilson, on Flickr

And my suspension stuff...
DSC_0024 by Alex Wilson, on Flickr
DSC_0016 by Alex Wilson, on Flickr

 

I thought about that with the airbags. I might have to look into it. I really like the stock setup for towing with. I looked really close at the BP51 setup but just couldn't fork over that much cash. Here's a couple pictures I came across from my Colorado trip.

Imogene Pass - July 2017


Sorry, I'm not a photographer and all I have is my phone camera so this is as good as it gets.

 

And here's a picture from my drive home from work this evening

 

That's interesting. I ordered the SSO kit in early Aug and it took about 3 weeks or so to ship (going off memory) but I ordered it without isolators.

I bought the isolators, oem top hats for the fronts, and the pocket to delete the ahc switch in the center console from partsouq. Part #48302-60080 for the isolators $37/ea. Part#58839-60040 for the pocket $8 but they're in UAE so shipping is expensive.

My wife has an 09. I am planning on 5100s all around with stock coils at .85 in the front, and V8 4Runner coils in the rear. See how that goes and buy aftermarket coils if necessary.



Has 265/70 terra grapplers on stock wheels powder coated gunmetal.

Silver GXs FTW

 

Parts came in today to swap the stock locking hinge on the rear gate for a gas strut. Now the thing won't randomly close on me while I'm loading or unloading gear in the back. Might try to knock it out after class on Friday. Also the MT coil conversion showed up today as well. So now I officially have all the parts or the suspension install. Just need to figure out what is causing this damn ABS light.

 

A few members of the Rising Sun are running the U.S. Prado, e.g. the GX. Just went 'wheeling with one this past weekend. Badassery fer sure.

 

Were you at MSV this last weekend?

 

I was indeed.

 

My girlfriend saw that GX and had a mild freakout. She loves LC's and GX's. We were going up (in that toyota crew) as you were going down. Nice taco! I have a second gen as well.

 

@AWilson013 gives me shit constantly because i have the parts for that mod and havent done it yet. Supposedly it takes 5 minutes.

 

He also volunteered your garage for finishing his swing out next week. Play hooky and get it down at the same time.

 

In all honesty, I'll probably have these parts for months before I actually do it. Kind of like the scuba mod parts I've had sitting on my kitchen counter since April that I still haven't installed.

 

Changed out the brake light switch today. Been having issues with it. Disconnected the battery overnight. Going to hook it up in the morning and drive to class to see if the ABS light goes off. If it does, I'll have the shop look at it. Dropping it off tomorrow afternoon or Saturday morning to have the suspension put on. Oh yeah, I got all the new Grade 9 hardware for the suspension today as well. It's sexy as fuck.

 

Much better

 

Just dropped it off at Tandem Off-road. Should have it back Tuesday with the new suspension. Can't wait! Going to be a long four days of driving the Tacoma.

 

Yesssss. I'm so stoked for you. I talked to Pablo yesterday. My rear shocks should be coming in real soon.

 

Pablo was excited when I dropped it off. He's been chomping at the bit to do it. Said he'd knock it out Monday and align it Tuesday.

 

I saw one of these Lexus' on the Miller Jeep trail out here in CA last year (well-known black diamond 4x4 trail here in SoCal)...it was parked off to the side of the trail just past one of the tougher obstacles and had a busted tie rod or ball joint...the front wheels were completely toe'd in facing one another. Someone pushed it a little too far methinks, but it was in stock form it looked like. There was a video on youtube a few days later documenting the recovery, they fixed it up right there on the trail and drove it out. Was pretty cool to watch.