WOW!!!! Just like that. Thanks for this video. I will definitely click on the links you provided and purchase these components. I was looking into a lift for my 03 GX and I think this makes sense to me as we are going to be towing with it. Thanks a million.
Hey, just wanted to let you know that this video is very helpful in motivating me to do this. Worked out great, and I love the way my truck looks for the amount of money I put into the lift. Thanks
Just wanted to say thatnks for this. Worked great for me, I kept the stock rear shocks(for now), added a simple nut spacer and let it all air up. Its 1" higher than stock which on stock wheels looked good just enough. Going bigger in the future, bit this worked til i can run off some tread on the stocks and justify the MTs
Thanks boss couldn’t find this anywhere finally got my 03 4Runner sitting how I want 👌 did a 2.5” level up front it was annpying me squatting a inch in the rear now I lifted the back up 1.5” looks perfect now easiest lift I’ve done haha
Thank you! Finally, that is exactly what I want to do to my 06. I like my air suspension too and everybody is trying to turn these into a series 80. There is a lot of freeway between me and the good fishing. I used to have a FJ40 that would beat me to death on the road.
Thanks for the vid. Swapping my front UCAs and Struts/Springs in a week but keeping my air bags because I got lucky too. Only 40k on them. The washer trick will come in handy. I have the rear springs and struts but I’ll do a delete when the bags go out.
Sweet and easy! I dig it. I too appreciate the awesomeness and comfort of airbags! I'm using bushings for airbag spacers. I just felt more confident in a single unit vs the stack of washers and tried a 1/4 bushing or proof of concept then moved on to a 1/2" spacer bushing (for 1" rear lift) in my set-up.. (true value PN: H883490, 1/2" heavy steel bushing) I understand the front diff drop (and recognize the many arguments for and against) for axle geometry, and wanted to hear your $0.02 on the change in driveline geometry and output shaft seal stress or universal joint geometry changes related to dropping the front diff. thanks for the sweet and clear video explaining the airbag trick! Keep on keepin' on!!
This is great. I've been doing a butt-ton of research because I'm about to pick up my first GX470 soon. I'm also in Mesa so if you wouldn't mind helping a noob out every now and then it would be greatly appreciated!
Just hit 200k miles, I’ve had wheels and tires on it for a while but now that I’ve seen this I think it’s time for a lift and to remove the running boards. Best video on CZcams for a GX lift.
Other GX Videos of mine: Driveshaft Clunk / Rear Ended feeling fix czcams.com/video/7Qekh4_L3EQ/video.html Swaybar Maintenance: czcams.com/video/_9ak5mHXdDE/video.html Towing with your GX470 | hitches: czcams.com/video/Hf_PM8aMB5k/video.html Towing with your GX470 | Brake Controller: czcams.com/video/yd9WBO1mSB8/video.html GX470 power steering drain and fill: czcams.com/video/F6bC4RMKde0/video.html Oil change info GX470 czcams.com/video/DFCJCQ6xKlQ/video.html Lift and airbag trick: czcams.com/video/z1NJzxT2KtY/video.html
Now that is how you make a video like this. We have been looking for a nice GX 470 but around Indy they are hard to find and if we ever do fine one i'm going to do this same thing to it.
Great video. They said it could not be done and here it is.. I'm going to use this method and use the extra money for some rock sliders!! Thanks again for spending the time and making this video. My GX470 thanks you immensely!!
Great video. Very informative. I’m looking into a GX470 for pretty much what you described; highway driving to campgrounds/adventure locations. I will definitely be considering this route for the lift. My one question: is there an option for the same lift with shocks with remote reservoirs?
Them matching his/her lifted GX's is nioce... the matching wheels?? CHERRY ON FRIGGIN TOP!!!! SOOOOOOO NICE. mine wanted a 460, so we dont get to match.
Ive been wondering if there was a lift that uses the factory air bags. I do a lot of towing with my GX and take it on some very mild off roading out here in CA. Thanks for the video. I’ll be doing this lift soon!
Thank you so much for the wonderful video. I have a 2005 and the spring has become soft. I was looking for the SN of the front Eibach spring and there are few out there. Which one do you recommend to use with this mod?
My GX470 has been stock longer than any other vehicle I’ve had. Finally ordered Bilstien 6112 for the front. Will try the air bag trick and add Dobinsons long travel shocks to the rear I had laying around. Once the bags blow I am going with AirBag Man 2” lift bags. They can be tricked up to 4”.
Right on! Are the bags original on yours? If so, definitely change them. They never last long with the added pressure and being so old. The arnott bags are cheap and so far, holding up awesome.
@@MR_Garage I believe mine are still factory but don’t leak down even after sitting for a few months. I ran my GX460 airbags tricked up around 2” and had a set of Airbag Man 2” lift bags to swap them with when they blew. I installed the Dobinsons coil overs up front and had ran the rear completely stock for over a year. They survived a Lone Star Jamboree and I never ended up installing the lift bags because the stock bags wouldn’t blow no matter how hard I tried lol 😂 Flexed them to the bump stop plenty of times too. I’ll be ordering some lift bags in August though when my budget is freed up and I’ll actually put them on this time to see how they work.
Thank you thank you. Just put the lift on and it looks great. I am thinking I could go with a little larger tire than what you used if that’s correct what would be the next size that you would recommend
v helpful, thx for this video. just bought a gx470 and may do the same. what size wheels/tires can you fit onto this setup without any additional work?
Good video. A lot of explanation and and you showed us some of the important parts without making us watch you do every bit of it or other. Well done. I do have a few questions. You refer to it as a differential drop but it seems to me really you are pushing the body up?? Do you have any trouble running out of vertical lifts with the airbags in the back? Do you have the DSS system on your GX? Or are these the regular adjustable shocks? How much rougher are the Bilsteins than the original suspension?
Hey Craig, Appreciated. Per your questions... 1. The diff is actually lowered with a diff drop. The housing of the diff is moved downward and then held in place by spacers. 2. No, the high function still functions as intended, just higher of course. 3. You get rid of and disable the factory adjustable shocks with this lift. Just simply unplug them, will not throw codes. These are adjustable in height on the front, non-adjustable rears. 4. The bilsteins are actually very smooth and well damped. I have no complaints. The only complains you will see online are from people that swap in the bilstein fronts and leave stock old blown shocks in the back that are bouncy.
Hi! Great Video! Thanks for the video. I just did all this to my 2008. It all turned out great! By the way, did you need to perform a Zero Calibration after the install?
Wow that 1.75 inch lift on front is impressive. I’m absolutely overwhelmed with the options on this truck and frankly I realized I don’t need to go all out as my main usage for GX is road trips and some minor easy trails nothing too crazy.
Smart man to know your needs vs splurging to impress people or the internet (what most do) Reality is no one cares, no one will remember and everything will end up scrap someday. So do what fits you and never waste a penny on what does not!
@@MR_Garage I’ve personally had great experience with the 5100’s on my 2wd 05 4Runner and was happy with the 1.75 lift. Seems many in the GX community go all out with UCA’s and other things and I feel overwhelmed. I just want to level the truck to make it look good and modern enough that it can still get things done for my needs.
Wow, what a transformation... I’m new to this off-road capability stuff... I’m looking for gx as well... I have 4Runner v8 but it’s 2wheel drive I’m going to sell it and get this gx...thanks
Great video. I had a rear airbag deleted from previous owner. Thinking of going back to airbags. Do enabling the rear airbags have any height control over the front with standard shocks/strut ?
Great write up! Since you retained the factory airbag setup, what are the rear wheel arch heights at Low, Normal, and High? I have the same size tires and want to still park in my garage which has a low entrance.
Hello, compressor is here. It is a very nice setup and have used it many times over the years. Definitely something you want in your toolbox! www.amazon.com/Interchangable-Strut-Spring-Compressor-Extractor/dp/B00X5CXTR6/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=mcpherson+strut+compressor&qid=1592232041&sr=8-6
@@MR_Garage The one you linked to is currently unavailable, how much was it and can you give specifics as to why this one over others? Prices range from $39+ with this type of compressors.
On max height, ride would suck bad. Spring preload would be nuts - too stiff. And you would not get it to align unless you went with custom upper control arms
Awesome video! I am however a little confused. Doesn't disconnecting the plugs in the rear turn off the height adjustment? I guess my understanding with the washers is that it will trick the system to keep it on the highest setting? I guess my goal is to keep it permanently on the high setting to give it that lifted look the entire time even when driving highway speeds. Thank you in advance.
This is great, thanks for the work. Question, since ride quality electronics are disconnected, were there any warning lights to deal with? Remove fuses etc. Thanks
Oh that’s right, so the comfort/sport doesn’t function now...got it. So how would you say the new setup is compared to the factory settings? I’m guessing more towards the sport end??
Ok Lauren here from Ft worth.. I finally got my billstein 5100s on. It looks great, I did diff drop and air bag trick. While doing the front I observed that I need to replace ball joints, stabilizer bar end links and tie rod ends.. should I just replace the control arms with joints already in or can I remove and replace ball joints myself? Also what the best aftermarket brand to use for suspension on the gx??
If you have a press, press tools and like suffering, do your own ball joint and bushing replacement 😅 Otherwise,, just buy pre-assembled OEM units or aftermarket like superpro control arms. Makes life so much easier.
Hello and thank you for the video as I am about to do my gx470 project. Nothing crazy and expensive but off-road capable and fun. Got few questions. 1. From your experience how much gx470 can tow? My RV weight about 5150lb empty, I think with all our stuff in it it will be 6200-6500lb. Would be it too much for gx470 Including few hills on the road? The tires you’ve put are they 33’s or 35? What rims size would you suggest if I want the tire to be flash with a sides/fender sides What would be the difference if Belistein 6112 installed? Thank you in advance
Love it man. Looks great. And you're saying the tow capabilities are still great? I was able to get get a GX for cheap and need it to tow my car for track days.
Does using the 5100s in the rear mess with the electric suspension/air spring system? I've been looking into this for a sequoia and get conflicting information.
What are your feelings on the 285/70/17 size, mounted on the stock wheels and also how the 285/70/17 size is on the -12 offset wheels you mounted your tires on? I've seen some people mention 285/70/17 fitting with no modifications
Hey man looks great! I also tow and do some mild off-road travel with my gx470. I was curious if you have ever had issues with the compressor or air suspension while towing. I just recently had the air suspension stop working and it started working again right before I came home from camping.
@@MR_Garage Will you replace with factory air springs or buy aftermarket? If aftermarket did you have a supplier in mind? I'm thinking my problem may have been overheating the compressor due to high tongue weight.
Compressor only airs up once and then makes minor adjustments unless the bags are leaking. I have looked at Arnott bags but will likely just go OEM. I mean hell... 150K miles over nearly 15 years... I would say they are quality :)
@@MR_Garage I just replaced the airbags on my gx470 last month. There are videos on the internet the only tricky part was disconnecting the airlines. Once you see the videos you’ll see why. One guy used dental picks, another used a piece of 1/4 inch sprinkler line which seemed very clever. Other than that it’s a simple change. A couple hand tools jack stand and a Jack. It took me 3 hours. Mainly because I fooled with the airline disconnect not wanting to break them. If there is a next time I could do this no more than 1 hour. Rides like butter again.
I appreciate this trick and I am going this route. I tow trailers as well. Question, by going to the 265/70/17 if I do the same Tandem wheel, which I like a lot, is there any rubbing anywhere? does it clear the factory plastic so I don't have to cut on it?
Curious if you know whether you can do the washer trick to the front end in lieu of the 5100s to gain height in the front? We are holding our son to a budget over time and would prefer to do everything in steps. 1st: diff drop and washers front and rear, 2nd: 5100s front and rear, 3rd: Tandems and BFGs. Any guidance much appreciated! Love your channel!
Great idea for the air bag rear lift, beats the hell out of doing it any other way. I'll be putting the 5100s on my 03 4runner(limited with airbag and xreas). SO how does it ride/handle compared to the stock shocks. I'm hoping it's not too jarring when I get the 5100s on mine, although I swear the xreas on mine was making it ride super hard. Love those GX470s, pretty much the same drivetrain as mine which will last for a very long time.
It is a good firm ride, better than stock and much more controlled. Much improved freeway manners and towing manners. If you want a more plush ride, stick with load range D tires.
Going to finally do this tomorrow! Do you have any tips for removing the factory adjustable shocks? I know in the vid you said they were a pain. Do I need to disconnect the ball joints?
Just unplug the rears and replace. The fronts you unplug but the top electronic adjuster can be a pita. Since the struts are trashed, I took a hammer and prybar and jus broke the top assembly totally off (plastics). Then, can get to the nut that holds the large metal bracket for the electronic adjuster on. Take that off and remove the bracket. Then, there is a back bolt on the strut top that is a pain to get to. Spray penetrate oil on it prior to trying to get it out. Last, the shock will come out without disconnecting the ball joint. Kind of a have to rotate the shock over and over and slip it out between the A-arm and such. Just a super tight fit. Good luck!
Mr. Garage Yeah from what I’ve gathered the removing those brackets in the front will be the hardest part. I may just end up breaking of the plastics if I get too frustrated also. Thank you for the all the tips!
Results look great. I'm currently debating something similar with my sequoia. I'm guessing you trick your airbag neutral heigh position into being higher with the washers. What would happen if you aired them up to high? I'm debating between this mod or disabling the air ride system with a switch once they've aired up so they don't deflate after driving like 15 mph.
I followed this video over a year ago and couldn't be happier w it. Took it to Cabo and back and it handled everything very well. One problem with it though - and it's intermittent: some mornings I'll come outside to find the rear bags fully deflated. BOTH rear bags. Other mornings they'll stay at their (increased) 'normal' height for a week at a time. So, something is either telling them to settle all the way to low (sensor?) - OR something is leaking (pump?). But again: intermittently. So I don't think leaking... Any ideas??
System does not work with ignition off so my guess is the check valve in the pump is maybe leaking a bit? Or, does it only happen during times you do not drive for a while? I had a leaky bag finally. Replaced with Arnott bags.
@@MR_Garage thanks for that. To clarify - it's completely random. For instance it's been sitting for a week now and it's still uniformly inflated at proper height. But I'll go out and 1 in 4 or 5 times it's be completely deflated the morning after I've parked it the evening prior. It's an even deflate on both side. Check valve in the pump is an interesting idea... Do you happen to know if it's integrated into the pump itself or somewhere in-line?
I've got 272 k (stock F/R suspension) on mine and I'm wondering if I should swap springs and air bag delete due to the high miles? Also did you use the driver side front spacer to account for the leaning issue I've read about? @Mr.Garage
Hey thanks for the video. I did the airbag trick on my 2016 GX460 today and am waiting to put my Bilstiens on the front next week. I used 5 washers and was wondering if you can still use the high mode safely or not? I kept the rear OEM shocks as well. Just looking for your thoughts.
Stock feels far too soft. Floats around and feels sloppy. with more air in the rear bags, more pre-load on the front springs, it feels far more stable. Load range E tires help too on the stability (stiffer side wall). So many things are changed in this easy lift (spring pre-load, air pressure, tires....) it feels totally different. Nothing like stock but still no complaints.
Thank you for all the great GX470 videos! The drawtite hitches look nice but get a lot of terrible reviews for being bent with bad alignment issues. Do you have any suggestions around this? I was thinking maybe a local place has them and I could find one that isn't bent up, IIRC uhaul installed one on my jeep back in the day. I checked uhaul, they now sell their brand class 3 installed for around $250, do you have an opinion about these? They claim capacity is 5000 lbs. Also, have you tried the factory hitch? It's a class iv but may be slightly more expensive. -A
5K lbs is a lot lower than the drawtite at 6500 (more with weight distro and higher tongue capacity). I did not have any issues with mine. Ordered from etrailer.
Thank you for the video and information. I did the fronts on my 08 470 today. I was not able to use any but the lowest notch because I could not get the lower control arm down enough to get the shocks in. I did have the lower ball joint disconnected. It isn’t a difficult job. Do you have Any tips or tricks for installation?
Hey Jon, The notches do not make the shock longer or shorter. That is still fixed. spring preload is changed and that is all so the setting should not have mattered!
@@MR_Garage Thank you for clearing that up. I found the error of my way I needed to loosen the lower control arm to frame bolts. I reattempted and was successful. Thanks again.
Dude, this is the video I've been looking for! Fantastic!👏👏👏
WOW!!!! Just like that. Thanks for this video. I will definitely click on the links you provided and purchase these components. I was looking into a lift for my 03 GX and I think this makes sense to me as we are going to be towing with it. Thanks a million.
Best GX470 video on CZcams. Thank you
Thanks for the tips! Super helpful on helping alot of newcomers some basic info about an awesome platform.
Hey, just wanted to let you know that this video is very helpful in motivating me to do this. Worked out great, and I love the way my truck looks for the amount of money I put into the lift. Thanks
Just wanted to say thank you. I did this conversion and love it. It rides well, it’s good off road, it just works. Thanks!!
Can you still adjust the stiffness of the shocks?
Great video. i needed the help and advice. thank you. Just got my first gx470
I just purchased a 2005 GX. Loving your videos! Thanks man.
Right on!
Awesome! Very affordable as well. Thank you for sharing!
I love your video so much more than the other guy. Damn he grinds my gears!
Thanks for this man. Much appreciated!
Just wanted to say thatnks for this. Worked great for me, I kept the stock rear shocks(for now), added a simple nut spacer and let it all air up. Its 1" higher than stock which on stock wheels looked good just enough. Going bigger in the future, bit this worked til i can run off some tread on the stocks and justify the MTs
If I move onto a GX I'd want a basic setup. This really is perfect for my needs.
Thanks boss couldn’t find this anywhere finally got my 03 4Runner sitting how I want 👌 did a 2.5” level up front it was annpying me squatting a inch in the rear now I lifted the back up 1.5” looks perfect now easiest lift I’ve done haha
Nice job. Love to see the Mtn bikes in the background!
2 GX470's and a 3rd gen T4R to boot! Nice video
I have Kendas on my power wagon and they are great. Thanks for the info video
I dont even own a gx and I liked the video immensely. Great tips for diy guys like myself.
Glad you enjoyed! Now time for you to get a GX :)
Did this on my GX. I’m happy it doesn’t sag when I tow or hang my motorcycle off the back. Bonus is wife can’t tell between stock ride and new ride.
Thank you! Finally, that is exactly what I want to do to my 06. I like my air suspension too and everybody is trying to turn these into a series 80. There is a lot of freeway between me and the good fishing. I used to have a FJ40 that would beat me to death on the road.
same here
Thanks for the vid. Swapping my front UCAs and Struts/Springs in a week but keeping my air bags because I got lucky too. Only 40k on them. The washer trick will come in handy. I have the rear springs and struts but I’ll do a delete when the bags go out.
You may find the rear with good shocks feels pretty good, well damped without bounce. May like them enough to keep the bags! Surprises many.
Thanks for the informative video!
Sweet and easy! I dig it.
I too appreciate the awesomeness and comfort of airbags! I'm using bushings for airbag spacers. I just felt more confident in a single unit vs the stack of washers and tried a 1/4 bushing or proof of concept then moved on to a 1/2" spacer bushing (for 1" rear lift) in my set-up.. (true value PN: H883490, 1/2" heavy steel bushing)
I understand the front diff drop (and recognize the many arguments for and against) for axle geometry, and wanted to hear your $0.02 on the change in driveline geometry and output shaft seal stress or universal joint geometry changes related to dropping the front diff. thanks for the sweet and clear video explaining the airbag trick!
Keep on keepin' on!!
Very cool.
Thanks for the info.
Mr Garage working smartly !!
This is great. I've been doing a butt-ton of research because I'm about to pick up my first GX470 soon. I'm also in Mesa so if you wouldn't mind helping a noob out every now and then it would be greatly appreciated!
Nice clear explanation!
Just hit 200k miles, I’ve had wheels and tires on it for a while but now that I’ve seen this I think it’s time for a lift and to remove the running boards. Best video on CZcams for a GX lift.
Thanks man! Good luck with your project!
those Tandem 612s look great. fit the Lexus quite well.
Wish I found this sooner! Lol great video
Very informative video. Thanks for sharing 👍
Liked, subbed and saved! Thanks for the great video 👍
Other GX Videos of mine:
Driveshaft Clunk / Rear Ended feeling fix
czcams.com/video/7Qekh4_L3EQ/video.html
Swaybar Maintenance:
czcams.com/video/_9ak5mHXdDE/video.html
Towing with your GX470 | hitches:
czcams.com/video/Hf_PM8aMB5k/video.html
Towing with your GX470 | Brake Controller:
czcams.com/video/yd9WBO1mSB8/video.html
GX470 power steering drain and fill:
czcams.com/video/F6bC4RMKde0/video.html
Oil change info GX470
czcams.com/video/DFCJCQ6xKlQ/video.html
Lift and airbag trick:
czcams.com/video/z1NJzxT2KtY/video.html
Now that is how you make a video like this. We have been looking for a nice GX 470 but around Indy they are hard to find and if we ever do fine one i'm going to do this same thing to it.
Much appreciated!
Looks good!
Thank you! Good video
Excellent video. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
You got a sub from me ! amazing vid , good descriptive vid too
Awesome, thank you!
Great video. They said it could not be done and here it is.. I'm going to use this method and use the extra money for some rock sliders!! Thanks again for spending the time and making this video. My GX470 thanks you immensely!!
Sweet deal! Glad it helped
Same.Was debating things until I saw this vid
Thanks for that great video
You bet
Thank you man.
Great video. Very informative. I’m looking into a GX470 for pretty much what you described; highway driving to campgrounds/adventure locations. I will definitely be considering this route for the lift. My one question: is there an option for the same lift with shocks with remote reservoirs?
Them matching his/her lifted GX's is nioce... the matching wheels?? CHERRY ON FRIGGIN TOP!!!! SOOOOOOO NICE. mine wanted a 460, so we dont get to match.
Those rims are fire.
Telling ya!
You should do a video of the tipe of wheel and tire setup looks really cool
Great video Mr. Garage! :)
Have you finished the AC video you mentioned at the end of this one?
Ive been wondering if there was a lift that uses the factory air bags. I do a lot of towing with my GX and take it on some very mild off roading out here in CA. Thanks for the video. I’ll be doing this lift soon!
Thank you so much for the wonderful video. I have a 2005 and the spring has become soft. I was looking for the SN of the front Eibach spring and there are few out there. Which one do you recommend to use with this mod?
My GX470 has been stock longer than any other vehicle I’ve had. Finally ordered Bilstien 6112 for the front. Will try the air bag trick and add Dobinsons long travel shocks to the rear I had laying around. Once the bags blow I am going with AirBag Man 2” lift bags. They can be tricked up to 4”.
Right on! Are the bags original on yours? If so, definitely change them. They never last long with the added pressure and being so old. The arnott bags are cheap and so far, holding up awesome.
@@MR_Garage I believe mine are still factory but don’t leak down even after sitting for a few months.
I ran my GX460 airbags tricked up around 2” and had a set of Airbag Man 2” lift bags to swap them with when they blew. I installed the Dobinsons coil overs up front and had ran the rear completely stock for over a year.
They survived a Lone Star Jamboree and I never ended up installing the lift bags because the stock bags wouldn’t blow no matter how hard I tried lol 😂 Flexed them to the bump stop plenty of times too.
I’ll be ordering some lift bags in August though when my budget is freed up and I’ll actually put them on this time to see how they work.
I'm jealous of your paint job. Mine is showing its age.
Mine both are too, they needs some TLC in that department.
Great video..I live in AZ as well...just finishing a Discovery 2. Any good recommendations on trails?
Do you happen to have video footage of you removing the strut from the spring and installing it in the front
Awesome!!😊😊💯💯♥️♥️🇯🇲🇯🇲
Thank you thank you. Just put the lift on and it looks great. I am thinking I could go with a little larger tire than what you used if that’s correct what would be the next size that you would recommend
I see a lot of 03-09s with 285/70 17s
Great video tutorial, on the fence with getting a GX. I run those Kenda Klever R/T in my Land Rover LR3. Great tires so far.
Indeed - for the cash I am very pleased so far.
too bad that the lr3 in comparison to the GX its a piece of c....
v helpful, thx for this video. just bought a gx470 and may do the same. what size wheels/tires can you fit onto this setup without any additional work?
Yes. Do what suits you👍👌🇳🇿 They're are not paying for your setup
Good video. A lot of explanation and and you showed us some of the important parts without making us watch you do every bit of it or other. Well done.
I do have a few questions. You refer to it as a differential drop but it seems to me really you are pushing the body up?? Do you have any trouble running out of vertical lifts with the airbags in the back? Do you have the DSS system on your GX? Or are these the regular adjustable shocks? How much rougher are the Bilsteins than the original suspension?
Hey Craig, Appreciated. Per your questions... 1. The diff is actually lowered with a diff drop. The housing of the diff is moved downward and then held in place by spacers. 2. No, the high function still functions as intended, just higher of course. 3. You get rid of and disable the factory adjustable shocks with this lift. Just simply unplug them, will not throw codes. These are adjustable in height on the front, non-adjustable rears. 4. The bilsteins are actually very smooth and well damped. I have no complaints. The only complains you will see online are from people that swap in the bilstein fronts and leave stock old blown shocks in the back that are bouncy.
Hi! Great Video! Thanks for the video. I just did all this to my 2008. It all turned out great! By the way, did you need to perform a Zero Calibration after the install?
I did not on either of mine - no issues.
Thanks for doing this video. What rims are those and where did you get them?
No prob! Those are Tandem Offroad 612's. Not sure if they are making them anymore. Bought them direct from Tandem Offroad.
Wow that 1.75 inch lift on front is impressive. I’m absolutely overwhelmed with the options on this truck and frankly I realized I don’t need to go all out as my main usage for GX is road trips and some minor easy trails nothing too crazy.
Smart man to know your needs vs splurging to impress people or the internet (what most do) Reality is no one cares, no one will remember and everything will end up scrap someday. So do what fits you and never waste a penny on what does not!
@@MR_Garage I’ve personally had great experience with the 5100’s on my 2wd 05 4Runner and was happy with the 1.75 lift. Seems many in the GX community go all out with UCA’s and other things and I feel overwhelmed. I just want to level the truck to make it look good and modern enough that it can still get things done for my needs.
removing the shocks and the electronic adjustment plug noticed a cap? on the wire harness?
Wow, what a transformation... I’m new to this off-road capability stuff... I’m looking for gx as well... I have 4Runner v8 but it’s 2wheel drive I’m going to sell it and get this gx...thanks
An easy transformation at that!
Great video. I had a rear airbag deleted from previous owner. Thinking of going back to airbags. Do enabling the rear airbags have any height control over the front with standard shocks/strut ?
Let me know if you need any parts from that were removed from the delete.
What size and offset are the wheels what tire size. Is there ANY rubbing at all
Thanks
Great write up!
Since you retained the factory airbag setup, what are the rear wheel arch heights at Low, Normal, and High? I have the same size tires and want to still park in my garage which has a low entrance.
Your current settings + about 2".
Great video. What would happen if you did the airbag trick with the washers but kept the factory rear shocks? Thank you
You would likely have a very bouncy ride in the back.
Thanks for the video! Just what I’m wanting to do. What spring compressor do you have. I’m a little gun shy on those and want to use a proven tool.
Hello, compressor is here. It is a very nice setup and have used it many times over the years. Definitely something you want in your toolbox! www.amazon.com/Interchangable-Strut-Spring-Compressor-Extractor/dp/B00X5CXTR6/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=mcpherson+strut+compressor&qid=1592232041&sr=8-6
@@MR_Garage The one you linked to is currently unavailable, how much was it and can you give specifics as to why this one over others? Prices range from $39+ with this type of compressors.
Amazing vid thanks for sharing. Would the max height setting on the bilsteins be too much for this trick?
On max height, ride would suck bad. Spring preload would be nuts - too stiff. And you would not get it to align unless you went with custom upper control arms
@@MR_Garage Okay thats good to know, might just go with a coil conversion. Thank you
@@MR_Garage One more question, do you think 285/75/17's would fit with this trick with minor remedying in the wheel well area?
Awesome video! I am however a little confused. Doesn't disconnecting the plugs in the rear turn off the height adjustment? I guess my understanding with the washers is that it will trick the system to keep it on the highest setting? I guess my goal is to keep it permanently on the high setting to give it that lifted look the entire time even when driving highway speeds. Thank you in advance.
Nope, it is independent of the struts. You still get all three ranges, just shifted higher. I use them all the time towing.
I’m sure you have answered this already but what rims are you using? They look great
This is great, thanks for the work. Question, since ride quality electronics are disconnected, were there any warning lights to deal with? Remove fuses etc. Thanks
Not a thing - I just disconnected everything and moved on with life :)
Oh that’s right, so the comfort/sport doesn’t function now...got it. So how would you say the new setup is compared to the factory settings? I’m guessing more towards the sport end??
Ok Lauren here from Ft worth.. I finally got my billstein 5100s on. It looks great, I did diff drop and air bag trick. While doing the front I observed that I need to replace ball joints, stabilizer bar end links and tie rod ends.. should I just replace the control arms with joints already in or can I remove and replace ball joints myself? Also what the best aftermarket brand to use for suspension on the gx??
If you have a press, press tools and like suffering, do your own ball joint and bushing replacement 😅 Otherwise,, just buy pre-assembled OEM units or aftermarket like superpro control arms. Makes life so much easier.
Hello and thank you for the video as I am about to do my gx470 project. Nothing crazy and expensive but off-road capable and fun.
Got few questions.
1. From your experience how much gx470 can tow? My RV weight about 5150lb empty, I think with all our stuff in it it will be 6200-6500lb.
Would be it too much for gx470
Including few hills on the road?
The tires you’ve put are they 33’s or 35?
What rims size would you suggest if I want the tire to be flash with a sides/fender sides
What would be the difference if Belistein 6112 installed?
Thank you in advance
From the Dominican Republic. Excellent tutorial, do you have any problem when you disconnect the cable from the shock absorber ???
None at all, just disconnect.
Appreciate the guidance! Do you know if the airbag trick is possible on the newer models after the facelift? Thanks!
If airbag equipped, yes! Works the same.
Nice and straight to the point. What are the torque specs for the diff dip bolts?
I went german spec - goodntight.
Great video high quality h2O!!!! Where do you get that awesome strut compression tool at???? Would love to have me ones of those!!!!
I have a link in the video description - great tool!
Love it man. Looks great. And you're saying the tow capabilities are still great? I was able to get get a GX for cheap and need it to tow my car for track days.
Exactly - perfect for towing / way better than stock for towing.
Does using the 5100s in the rear mess with the electric suspension/air spring system? I've been looking into this for a sequoia and get conflicting information.
What are your feelings on the 285/70/17 size, mounted on the stock wheels and also how the 285/70/17 size is on the -12 offset wheels you mounted your tires on? I've seen some people mention 285/70/17 fitting with no modifications
Same thing for the LC 120? And do you know if its possible to trim bumpstops to get more flex front and back?
Hey man looks great! I also tow and do some mild off-road travel with my gx470. I was curious if you have ever had issues with the compressor or air suspension while towing. I just recently had the air suspension stop working and it started working again right before I came home from camping.
I have not had any problems but bags are due on my white GX470. 150K miles on the original so just a matter of time.
@@MR_Garage Will you replace with factory air springs or buy aftermarket? If aftermarket did you have a supplier in mind? I'm thinking my problem may have been overheating the compressor due to high tongue weight.
Compressor only airs up once and then makes minor adjustments unless the bags are leaking. I have looked at Arnott bags but will likely just go OEM. I mean hell... 150K miles over nearly 15 years... I would say they are quality :)
@@MR_Garage I just replaced the airbags on my gx470 last month. There are videos on the internet the only tricky part was disconnecting the airlines. Once you see the videos you’ll see why. One guy used dental picks, another used a piece of 1/4 inch sprinkler line which seemed very clever.
Other than that it’s a simple change. A couple hand tools jack stand and a Jack. It took me 3 hours. Mainly because I fooled with the airline disconnect not wanting to break them.
If there is a next time I could do this no more than 1 hour.
Rides like butter again.
I appreciate this trick and I am going this route. I tow trailers as well. Question, by going to the 265/70/17 if I do the same Tandem wheel, which I like a lot, is there any rubbing anywhere? does it clear the factory plastic so I don't have to cut on it?
I had to tuck the front fender liners forward as they would rub full lock. Just a minor rub but annoying
Curious if you know whether you can do the washer trick to the front end in lieu of the 5100s to gain height in the front? We are holding our son to a budget over time and would prefer to do everything in steps. 1st: diff drop and washers front and rear, 2nd: 5100s front and rear, 3rd: Tandems and BFGs. Any guidance much appreciated! Love your channel!
The front does not have air suspension - nothing to trick as they are fixed struts.
@@MR_Garage makes complete sense. Wasn’t thinking. Thank you for the reply.
What’s your hub to fender measure in the back?
Hey just subscribed! can you do this without the shocks, as in just the diff drop kit and the wheel spacers? Sorry if its a dumb question 😅
Cannot do this lift without the shocks. Can do the wheel spacers. Will widen it out and make it look better.
Greetings from a Mesa, AZ. I’m looking for one 🤘🏽
Thanks a lot for the vid. How's the ride compared to stock. Looking for soft and comfy. Hoping to give this lift a try
Slightly stiffer than stock with a better, more planted feel on the road. Damping is excellent without bounce. I really like the ride.
Great idea for the air bag rear lift, beats the hell out of doing it any other way. I'll be putting the 5100s on my 03 4runner(limited with airbag and xreas). SO how does it ride/handle compared to the stock shocks. I'm hoping it's not too jarring when I get the 5100s on mine, although I swear the xreas on mine was making it ride super hard. Love those GX470s, pretty much the same drivetrain as mine which will last for a very long time.
It is a good firm ride, better than stock and much more controlled. Much improved freeway manners and towing manners. If you want a more plush ride, stick with load range D tires.
@@MR_Garage Thanks for the review, love the looks of your GXs.
Going to finally do this tomorrow! Do you have any tips for removing the factory adjustable shocks? I know in the vid you said they were a pain. Do I need to disconnect the ball joints?
Just unplug the rears and replace. The fronts you unplug but the top electronic adjuster can be a pita. Since the struts are trashed, I took a hammer and prybar and jus broke the top assembly totally off (plastics). Then, can get to the nut that holds the large metal bracket for the electronic adjuster on. Take that off and remove the bracket. Then, there is a back bolt on the strut top that is a pain to get to. Spray penetrate oil on it prior to trying to get it out. Last, the shock will come out without disconnecting the ball joint. Kind of a have to rotate the shock over and over and slip it out between the A-arm and such. Just a super tight fit. Good luck!
Mr. Garage Yeah from what I’ve gathered the removing those brackets in the front will be the hardest part. I may just end up breaking of the plastics if I get too frustrated also. Thank you for the all the tips!
Results look great. I'm currently debating something similar with my sequoia. I'm guessing you trick your airbag neutral heigh position into being higher with the washers. What would happen if you aired them up to high?
I'm debating between this mod or disabling the air ride system with a switch once they've aired up so they don't deflate after driving like 15 mph.
The height settings are fixed. The additional height has been no problem for the bags.
How much lift did it give you in the rear? Did you measure height before and after?
I followed this video over a year ago and couldn't be happier w it. Took it to Cabo and back and it handled everything very well. One problem with it though - and it's intermittent: some mornings I'll come outside to find the rear bags fully deflated. BOTH rear bags. Other mornings they'll stay at their (increased) 'normal' height for a week at a time. So, something is either telling them to settle all the way to low (sensor?) - OR something is leaking (pump?). But again: intermittently. So I don't think leaking... Any ideas??
System does not work with ignition off so my guess is the check valve in the pump is maybe leaking a bit? Or, does it only happen during times you do not drive for a while? I had a leaky bag finally. Replaced with Arnott bags.
@@MR_Garage thanks for that. To clarify - it's completely random. For instance it's been sitting for a week now and it's still uniformly inflated at proper height. But I'll go out and 1 in 4 or 5 times it's be completely deflated the morning after I've parked it the evening prior. It's an even deflate on both side. Check valve in the pump is an interesting idea... Do you happen to know if it's integrated into the pump itself or somewhere in-line?
I've got 272 k (stock F/R suspension) on mine and I'm wondering if I should swap springs and air bag delete due to the high miles? Also did you use the driver side front spacer to account for the leaning issue I've read about? @Mr.Garage
Hey thanks for the video. I did the airbag trick on my 2016 GX460 today and am waiting to put my Bilstiens on the front next week. I used 5 washers and was wondering if you can still use the high mode safely or not? I kept the rear OEM shocks as well. Just looking for your thoughts.
Hey Jamie,
I use the high mode all the time to lock in a trailer ball and also backing a trailer up a steep driveway. Never had an issue.
@@MR_Garage Do you remember what setting you installed your front springs at? Also, I assume the Bilsteins will eliminate the AVS?
I have a 2016 luxury and plan to do the airbag trick and a toytec spacer in the front. Did you wind up doing it? I’d like to keep my AVS in the front.
great info. how does this ride compare to stock? you mentioned stiffer shocks, is it jarring? thanks.
Stock feels far too soft. Floats around and feels sloppy. with more air in the rear bags, more pre-load on the front springs, it feels far more stable. Load range E tires help too on the stability (stiffer side wall). So many things are changed in this easy lift (spring pre-load, air pressure, tires....) it feels totally different. Nothing like stock but still no complaints.
Thank you for all the great GX470 videos! The drawtite hitches look nice but get a lot of terrible reviews for being bent with bad alignment issues. Do you have any suggestions around this? I was thinking maybe a local place has them and I could find one that isn't bent up, IIRC uhaul installed one on my jeep back in the day. I checked uhaul, they now sell their brand class 3 installed for around $250, do you have an opinion about these? They claim capacity is 5000 lbs.
Also, have you tried the factory hitch? It's a class iv but may be slightly more expensive.
-A
5K lbs is a lot lower than the drawtite at 6500 (more with weight distro and higher tongue capacity). I did not have any issues with mine. Ordered from etrailer.
Thank you for the video and information.
I did the fronts on my 08 470 today. I was not able to use any but the lowest notch because I could not get the lower control arm down enough to get the shocks in. I did have the lower ball joint disconnected. It isn’t a difficult job. Do you have Any tips or tricks for installation?
Hey Jon,
The notches do not make the shock longer or shorter. That is still fixed. spring preload is changed and that is all so the setting should not have mattered!
@@MR_Garage Thank you for clearing that up. I found the error of my way I needed to loosen the lower control arm to frame bolts. I reattempted and was successful. Thanks again.