Riding Low

[wutagoalie]

Hello all, Im riding an 03 limited v8. We drove up to the cottage yesterday, ride was great. Today went out to the store, when loading groceries in the back i noticed it was sitting lower than normal. Usually I cannot see the top of the roof or my rear spoiler, now i can clearly see the top no problem.

I tried the air suspension and switched it to high, In the high position ,the rear of the truck seems to be the correct height (As in Normal position). When I switched it back to Normal, It seems to skip the Normal position and drop to the low position. When its in the Normal height position and i switch it to low, there seems to be no change at all. The ride home was very spongy and bouncy on the way home. Felt every bump. I don't haul anything and did not have anything heavy in the back.

Any thoughts?

 

[Acidmeld]

May be a problem with the height sensor on the rear axle.

 

[wutagoalie]

May be a problem with the height sensor on the rear axle.

Makes sense, considering my height control switch is working, just seems like its lost its sense of where it should be.

Is it easily accessible , and an easy swap. 1 bolt and a couple of wire couplers?

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

Look in the suspension sticky at the top of this section. At the bottom of the first post there is a PDF attached that shows how to adjust the rear sensors.

 

[wutagoalie]

Look in the suspension sticky at the top of this section. At the bottom of the first post there is a PDF attached that shows how to adjust the rear sensors.

Saw the post for how to adjust the rear sensors, but isn't that pointless if the sensors are dirty or bad? Can the sensors be opened and sprayed or cleaned?

I have no issue trying to adjust the sensors, id just rather make sure they are working first.

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

I've seen info on cleaning them....I'll see if I can find it. You're correct though, the PDF only shows the adjustment procedure. There's a possibility that the sensor came loose and slid down the bracket, causing the rear to lower (this happened to me before). That's the reason I mentioned the PDF.

 

[wutagoalie]

I've seen info on cleaning them....I'll see if I can find it. You're correct though, the PDF only shows the adjustment procedure. There's a possibility that the sensor came loose and slid down the bracket, causing the rear to lower (this happened to me before). That's the reason I mentioned the PDF.

I hope you just made my day, I'll go check to see, i hope it did slide down the bracket. I will update when i have a look.
If it did slide down, would that cause a bumpy rough ride?

Thanks for the info!

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

I hope you just made my day, I'll go check to see, i hope it did slide down the bracket. I will update when i have a look.
If it did slide down, would that cause a bumpy rough ride?

Thanks for the info!

When mine slid down, it was riding on the bump stops and was an extremely rough ride. This isn't common, most of the time it is the actual sensors have malfunctioned, but worth a shot.

 

[wutagoalie]

When mine slid down, it was riding on the bump stops and was an extremely rough ride. This isn't common, most of the time it is the actual sensors have malfunctioned, but worth a shot.

Hey ARK im just going out now to have a look and hopefully i get lucky and its a loose sensor like you mentioned.

If the sensor is loose on the bracket like you explained, is there 1 sensor or 2? I just looked in my Haynes manual, it there is no info on the air suspension. Where do i even start to look? I have no idea on its location.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

There are two sensors, a left and right hand side sensors over the rear axle.

Try adjusting/cleaning them if possible; this should correct the issue. While you're there I would also inspect the condition of your airbags for signs of dry rotting and/or small leaks. More than likely the issue is the sensors, but it wouldn't hurt to check everything while you're there.

 

[wutagoalie]

Found it!

This is what i found . Now my question is, how the hell do i find a part number for that stupid little bracket? can i order that bracket? there is a nut on both ends, that's about it. Bracket looks like it rusted and broke away, and i have a couple of train tracks i go over every day, thats probably what did it.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/members/wutagoalie-albums-suspension++too+low-picture20423-bracket-has-separated-nut.html
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/members/wutagoalie-albums-suspension++too+low-picture20422-height-adjuster-bracket-rusted-away-broken.html

 

[wutagoalie]

Anyone know if i can just purchase the broken bracket that i posted with pictures?

 

[Acidmeld]

Check this part out. Looks like the bracket.
http://www.villagetoyotaparts.com/showAssembly.aspx?ukey_product=2102739&ukey_assembly=360971

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

I doubt the bracket can be purchased separately. The bracket is welded to the rear upper control arm, you would need to replace the whole arm I believe.

 

[wutagoalie]

Check this part out. Looks like the bracket.
ELECTRONIC MODULATED SUSPENSION. Fits: TOYOTA | Village Toyota Parts

That is definitely the part i need, It's also more than the bracket that i need as well, i took apart the sensor to clean it, and sure enough, the plastic piece inside the sensor had broken off, so now i need to replace the sensor as well.

I looked at the above link and the assembly i need is $280.00. The problem is that they only ship within the US, im located in Ontario, Canada. I went to my dealership, and the exact same assembly here is $465.00. Does anyone know if this assembly can be purchased anywhere besides Toyota? I tried 4 local scrap yards, No 4runners in sight.