Troubled Lexus GX 470 Air Suspension: Repair, Replace or Convert?

Lexus’ GX 470, which stands for Grand Crossover, occupies a space unto itself in the SUV market. Somewhere between the increasingly popular crossover wagon/SUV and the luxury full-size SUV, the GX 470 ticks a lot of boxes for a lot of drivers. While the combination of performance and luxury has won over many hearts and minds in the auto world, drivers of older models and GX 470s with high mileage are starting to notice many problems with the vehicle’s air suspension. Some drivers have noticed their GX 470 having trouble maintaining its ride height.

In others, the car has sagged in the rear or leaned to one side. Others may have noticed a suspension warning light. In every case, a busted air suspension can’t be ignored. Not only does a leaking or broken air suspension make the ride uncomfortable, it puts the driver and every passenger at risk. There are several routes to take when considering how to fix the busted Lexus GX 470 air suspension. Let’s take a look at each of them.

Option 1: Repair Your GX 470 Air Suspension Piece-by-Piece

The problem with your GX 470’s air suspension could be as simple as a torn air line or leaky air spring. Repairing these items won’t cost too much or take up too much time at the mechanic. However, if one of the components on your Lexus’ air suspension has gone, the rest are sure to follow. Air suspensions are highly complex, computer-controlled systems. They require every component to function properly in order to work at full efficiency. 

When one component goes down, the rest pick up the slack to try and keep things smooth for the driver. This extra stress causes the other components to wear out more quickly. So while it might seem like an attractive option to simply replace the one component that’s broken at the time, it’s a surefire way to end up back at the mechanic soon. And in the meantime, even just replacing one of those air springs can set you back nearly $1,000.

Option 2: Replace Your Air Suspension With Another Air Suspension

These days, you have plenty of options for replacing your air suspension with another, similar air suspension. Whether you go to the dealership or look for aftermarket parts from a third-party vendor, it is certainly possible to replace all of the components in your air suspension. The advantage of this option is that you get to keep your air ride. However, there are two main disadvantages. The first is cost.

By the time your car is ready for a new suspension, it will have decreased in value significantly. A new air suspension will run you close to $4,000, likely more when extra labor is figured in. The second disadvantage is that you’re replacing a system that is busted with one that you know will break down in the same amount of time or even less, depending on the quality of the product. While it may be nice to keep that air ride feel, you’re setting yourself up for future repairs once again. 

Option 3: Convert (and Save!)

If you’re tired of always dealing with air suspension issues and want to save some money, a conversion kit might be the answer. These kits allow Lexus GX 470 owners to ditch that air suspension in favor of sturdy, reliable coilover struts. You can convert all four wheels of your Lexus to coilovers for less than $700! That's more than $3,000 you've saved on replacing all four wheels. The beauty in these systems is in the simplicity.