I think somewhere in 2012 is when the changeover from Hitachi to AMK happened. On my 2012 I have AMK, although I'm not sure if that's what mine had originally. My first compressor swap was done under warranty at the dealer, so they could have replaced a Hitachi with an AMK.
Quick Compressor Replacement Question
- Thread starter avslash
- Start date
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My 2012 has a Hitachi, for whatever that's worth.
avslash
Full Access Member
Will do. I just ordered the AMK and valve blocks, so we will will see.
Mine might not be completely appicable if yours is stock, though, as IIRC the TR slider included its own compressor mounting bracket.
avslash
Full Access Member
I believe my 2012 was an April build date, and I'm certain the compressor has never been replaced as I have owned it since new.
The GAP Tool tells me I have AMK, so hopefully it is correct.
The GAP Tool tells me I have AMK, so hopefully it is correct.
If you take off the compressor cover (3 bolts), you can tell which compressor it is. A big flat shiny bottom plate is amk. From other forums, the hitachi compressor is better and serviceable.
Both new units come with the drier. I recently refreshed my system too and replaced it with the same hitachi. I can't express my love for the air suspension, especially with the auto-leveling xlifter.
Just pay attention to the air lines. I mixed up the center air lines, even though they were marked from factory with 1 stripe is top and 2 stripes bottom (I think).
Front valve block can be accessed through the removed RH wheel well and rear is LH near the compressor.
I also changed out the air inlet filter in the rear hvac cubby behind the brake light housing. My sponge filter crumbled. I replaced it with a k&n breather filter.
How i'm reading this the filter sounds like the main issue causing compressor and valving failures.
Along the same line why not install an engine oil filter without the filtering media and see what happens?
The "BEAN COUNTERS" stuck again.
I'd upgrade that filtering system imcluding adapting a higher quality with larger filtering material area also having finer (smaller) partical filtration abilities. Dust, dirt and moisture the biggest enemy of comperssors.
Different people will have different opinions about air rides vs coil or torsion bar spring suspensions. .....~~=o&o>.......
Along the same line why not install an engine oil filter without the filtering media and see what happens?
The "BEAN COUNTERS" stuck again.
I'd upgrade that filtering system imcluding adapting a higher quality with larger filtering material area also having finer (smaller) partical filtration abilities. Dust, dirt and moisture the biggest enemy of comperssors.
Different people will have different opinions about air rides vs coil or torsion bar spring suspensions. .....~~=o&o>.......
Joeyrc76
Member
I replaced mine with the Hitachi and while it works well, it is very loud at startup. I heard good things about the AMK. Have you checked to make sure that your Air Springs aren't leaking? I replaced my Compressor only to find out that I also had a leaky Air Spring. I ended up replacing the front two springs.
Do you still have the cover around the compressor? Mine was noisy when I broke the mounting bracket and bent the compressor mounting tabs so that the rubber isolators were no longer isolating, but with a fresh bracket is now quiet again.
It's not the filter that causes failures. It's the dessicant in the dryer that decomposes over time and sends dust through the system.
avslash
Full Access Member
New air struts going on next. It has 100K, so I'm just freshening up the air bits in general.
