With the last GX470 made for the 2009 model year, the rear air suspension system with which all GX470 SUVs were equipped can have issues as they age. We’ve written about the issues with the rear height control sensors before, but the failure of a more recent GX470 went beyond the sensor issue alone.
The vehicle arrived with the rear suspension collapsed, the owner concerned over an extremely rough ride and a blinking air suspension light. The stored codes in the system indicated the compressor had been running excessively, something that typically indicates a leak. The truck refused to engage the compressor when the system was told to adjust.
The issue was an air leak from the rear air springs where they fold over the lower perch, which in turn led to the pump running excessively and failing as a result. Heres a photo of a leaking air spring:
GX470 Air Spring leaking
The compressed air leaks out the side of the air spring where circled. The cause is from excessive wear where the circled portion of the spring folds down on the lower, rusty perch. The rust buildup wears the air spring leading to a leak. Note: use soapy water to confirm the leak on the air spring. Not all air springs that look like the above are leaking. The compressor, tasked with refilling the air springs constantly to make up for the leak, eventually fails due to too much use.
Here’s the compressor assembly:
GX470 Compressor
The compressor can be a tricky replacement if corroded – bolts like to break, the bracket that attaches the compressor to the frame likes to break, etc. It is not a job we recommend most DIY unless the vehicle is largely rust free.
The vehicle had two new air springs and a new compressor installed, the rear air suspension now performing flawlessly. As Minneapolis, Minnesota’s premier independent Toyota, Lexus and Scion specialist we work on dozens of GX470s a months and see the above more often than most shops. If you’ve got an air suspension concern on your GX, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment at (952)426-4798 today!
