Have you ever come across the abbreviation AHC? If you own a Toyota 4x4, then it’s likely you’ll have seen these three letters at some point. This month at Milner Off Road, we’re going to cover what AHC is and why some people look to replace it.
AHC stands for Active Height Control, sometimes also known as Adjustable Height Control. It’s a common feature on the Toyota Land Cruiser 100 series that allows drivers to adjust the height of their ride.
This gives the 4x4 better clearance over uneven terrain when off-roading by raising a system of accumulators, sensors and dampers. Alternatively, the system can be lowered to make any loading or unloading that little bit easier.
While this is a handy manual feature for the 100 series, it’s known to be slightly unreliable, something we’ll delve deeper into later in this piece.
What are the different AHC settings?
Using a switch inside the vehicle, the driver can manually change the AHC settings, with the front being able to rise by 40mm and lower by 50mm, while the rear can rise 50mm and lower by 40mm. That, essentially, gives you three options:
- Lower setting - This is a good little function if you need to load or unload, giving you easier access to the vehicle overall.
- Neutral setting - This will be your regular driving position that the Land Cruiser will be set at automatically.
- High setting - This setting is useful for when you need additional ground clearance, usually for off-roading.
These suspension settings were introduced for greater control, but as we alluded to earlier, because it’s only a feature for Toyota - and a sometimes unreliable one at that - many people decide to replace this on their 100 series.
Should I replace my AHC?
Like any feature, the Active Height Control on a Toyota Land Cruiser is susceptible to wear over time. And since you need genuine Toyota parts to keep it going when it does succumb, it can be pretty expensive to maintain.
These days, there are a whole host of ways in which you can get the ground clearance you need for off-roading. With suspension lift kits and body lift kits available, you can replace the AHC system with something a lot more reliable, while the parts are available for a much lower cost than Toyota AHC parts whenever you need to replace something.
If you’re an experienced 4x4 owner you may be able to tackle the replacement yourself, but it can be a little technical, so getting a professional to replace the AHC system with your new lift kit might be the safest bet.
Buy lift kits online at Milner Off Road
As the experts when it comes to parts and accessories for Japanese 4x4s, here at Milner Off Road you can rest assured that we’ll have plenty of options for your Toyota Land Cruiser. Simply select your model in the 100 series (UZJ 100, HDJ 100 and HDJ 101) and browse through our products where you’ll find suspension kits, ride height parts and much more to help you customise your vehicle to the driving experience you want.
Whether you’re an avid off-roader or using your 4x4 for work, you can find everything you need here with us and get rapid dispatch for delivery worldwide. We’ve been supplying Japanese 4x4 parts since 1981, so if you need any further assistance in finding the right product, just get in touch with our team of specialist advisors.