[blkexp98]

Do any of you have any pictures of the Factory rear air suspension where you have removed or replaced it? I looked under there real quick and didn't really find a good angle right off to see what i was dealing with. Im mainly curious how the actual air spring looks and what the top mount looks like. I've talked with a member on here about lifts and my suspension combination and being SOL is the most apparent solution.

However i tend to enjoy tinkering and was curious to see what i could come up with for the back. I not after anything wild, maybe 2" or so. If i cant come up with a spacer of sorts have any of you done a coil conversion and care to let me know what was involved.


Thanks for any help or info.

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

If you want to convert to coils, this thread outlines what is required.
RAS to Coil Conversion Questions - Toyota 120 Platforms Forum
You can adjust the system to provide lift in the rear, that's what i've done. Ride quality suffers the higher you go, but still not bad. Its easy to do, would be worth a shot to start out with unless you're just really looking for off road performance.

[blkexp98]

Have you measured the difference between high and normal? I havent yet but now that you mention it that would be a interesting option. The only problem i see if if i carried any real weight i may need that extra lift ability. Am i right in assuming you just tricked it to running on high?

Thanks for the link. Ill read over that to give me some more decision making ammo.

[Huskey]

I had the same issues with the RAS you are about to get into. I dont have a pic of it but your chassis is different then the typical 4th gen T4R specifically made for this adjusatble airbag.

Focus on the right side of your vehicle as its alot easier to see what I am talking about. The mount on the axle where the airbag sits has a pin about half an inch or so that comes out of bottom of the airbag and rotates into the mount. I dont remember if it was 90 or 180 (i had alot of beer by the time i got to ripping this thing out), then that mount is essentially welded to the axle with a small spacer to give room to for the pin. The upper mount is almost the same excpet it is part of the chassis and has no spacer, which makes your chassis different from any other 4th gen. For this reason there is no kits made for your vehicle, sorry to say. However you are not SOL... you just need to be very creative.

One solution i seriously considered was to fab a spacer (with a hole for the pin) to put between the mount and the axle... this would be very difficult especially on the left side but you could keep your adjustable option. Main reason I didnt go this way is I wasnt comfortable to weld the new spacer to the existing mount while the airbag was in place as you will most likely f**k the airbag. So to do it right you would need to completely remove everything and weld your mount and build it back up, that would be a hell of a job. Im not sure its possible without disconnecting the non bleedable XREAS system (factory install only). This is a must as the airbag rotates into both upper and lower mounts at the same time. I spoke to alot of people about this at different shops and even toyota... IMO its not worth the money or effort or stress for 2 inches... might as well just mess with your height sensors for a perma lift and then just replace your bags each year or two as you will destroy them.

Another option is to remove everything, ditch the XREAS, fabricate and weld in place a new bracket direct to the chassis for a coilover swap. Easier said then done once you look at the chassis where this is to be welded. I'll try to send a pic once I am home at the end of the month. You will definatly have alignment issues doing this.

My solution was to get drunk with a grinder, cut everything out and start from scratch. Sobered up and went oldschool with leafsprings... If you can weld I recomend this. Everything lined up real nice and aligment is currently perfect.

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

The swaps aren't that big of a deal from what I've read, but I've not done it so can't say for sure. What I have done is to raise the normal setting. The height control feature works just like before, only each setting is 1.75" higher than it use to be. It still auto levels like it's suppose to do.

[Huskey]

Originally Posted by ARK_SWAMP_RIDER

The swaps aren't that big of a deal from what I've read, but I've not done it so can't say for sure. What I have done is to raise the normal setting. The height control feature works just like before, only each setting is 1.75" higher than it use to be. It still auto levels like it's suppose to do.

Playing with your height sensors is an easy out, but I'm just thinking that if you do any serious offroading and you put them to the upper position, there is a chance they can wear out alot quicker as I am sure you know its a much stiffer ride. I'm just saying, thats why I avoided that option.

As for the airbag chassis mount, I've looked at it and its slightly recessed into the chassis. To fab a new mount for the coilover would be tricky but I'm sure it can be done. In which case it probubly would be better to make a 2" spacer and a new mount for the airbag, same as on the bottom, and keep the adjustable option. Either way, to make and install a new mount for a coilover or a spacer for either the top or the bottom of the airbag is not an easy task but the spacer would be ideal IMO.

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

You're absolutely right, the adjusted air bags are not ideal for off road use. However, the airbags in general are not good off road, pretty good risk of damaging them in stock form. here's my thought on this after taking to several who've done the swap. The main difference is the lower mount, it's not deep enough to hold the coil. If you do the coil swap, you can use coil clips from a Jeep to hold the coil in place on the bottom. At the top, you'll need the cone to keep the top of the coil in place.

Again, i'm going off what i've read, since you've actually done the swap maybe you can confirm or correct this info.

[Whitebeauty]

I have air ride but lowered...

[Huskey]

Just remember, I never did the swap for coils but for leaf springs as it was alot easier. I agree that the lower mounts and upper mounts would require work just to hold the springs. Also from what I saw and read and heard from many others (including toyota) is that the chassis mount also requires modification away from the airbag mount to facilitate the regular shock within the CO, that is why there is no kit for this. I really wish I had taken a few pics while I had the back end completely ripped appart but I will try to get a pic or two of the chassis when I come home. This seems to be a common discussion for alot of guys with RAS "how to lift it". For that matter, I will start my build thread as I plan on doing alot more when I am home.

Currently here is my only pic below my back end, its not great with detail about the topic, but it shows what I have done to overcome this RAS. Take note how naked that axle looks compared to yours.

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

The OEM system uses separate shocks/coils for the rear, not a single coilover like the front. I've replaced the shocks on mine, but not the coils. From what I've been told, the upper mount is the same, it's only the lower mount for the coil that is different. If you use the coil clip to hold the coil in place, no other modification is needed. For the top, there's a cone that goes into the top. The mount is there to accept this, you just have to purchase the cone.

This thread is the main one I've saw that shows the bottom mount (pages 2-3 have pics).

This thread has great info and better pics. It's for a GX470, but it's the exact setup that's on the 4runner.

This is an excellent step by step on the removal and install of their kit. If you were to use the coil clips to make your own, the process would be almost the same.

[Huskey]

Well that makes a bunch more sence now, I probubly would never have gone with leaf springs if I saw those threads. 4x4x8 did very well. The whole time I did my research I had coilovers in mind for this with additional shocks up into the wheel well, stupid me!

This is my first lift I have attempted and now I am planning to lift my dads 3rd gen T4R as his B-day present with a 3 inch kit. Should be alot easier then this lift was.

Still seems strange that Toyota was telling me what they told me about the chassis being so different, unless all they meant by it was that I would need the cone for the upper coil mount. Initially all I wanted was an additional 2 or 3 inch lift. I totally blame beer for this, I had too many when I ordered parts, and way to many when I went to town with the grinder. I think I was just to eager to get it lifted. Oh well, no regrets, I love my T4R as it is truely one of a kind and she rides like a champ.

Two questions:

1: Is it completely unheard of to put coilovers in the back?
2: I was winging it when I did this, and the only way I could fit my shocks in were on some crazy angles... Is that also concidered strange to see? They run directly inline with the axle and are mounted 6 or 7 inches appart.

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

Coilovers on the rear, at least on a 4runner, is a first for me. I've never seen a setup quite like yours either, but I've not looked into anything like that either. You've got a sweet setup regardless. I'm planning on this swap, just trying to make sure I've got all the info right, don't wanna end up with it tore apart and not have everything to put it back together.

Off topic: how much trouble was it to get that front lift to fit?

[Huskey]

lol Seems to me like I know very little about conventional ways to lift a 4runner! I was looking into the most difficult ways to do this, but never the less I did make it work so high five for me! I'll send you a PM about the front end to keep this forum on topic.

[Berty_K]

Originally Posted by Huskey

Just remember, I never did the swap for coils but for leaf springs as it was alot easier. I agree that the lower mounts and upper mounts would require work just to hold the springs. Also from what I saw and read and heard from many others (including toyota) is that the chassis mount also requires modification away from the airbag mount to facilitate the regular shock within the CO, that is why there is no kit for this. I really wish I had taken a few pics while I had the back end completely ripped appart but I will try to get a pic or two of the chassis when I come home. This seems to be a common discussion for alot of guys with RAS "how to lift it". For that matter, I will start my build thread as I plan on doing alot more when I am home.

Currently here is my only pic below my back end, its not great with detail about the topic, but it shows what I have done to overcome this RAS. Take note how naked that axle looks compared to yours.

Bumping an old thread, but damn! That rear leaf spring conversion is on another level.

[BigBlackVenom]

I recently bought 2005 4Runner V8 Limited with XREAS disabled and factory RAS is still working with non-XREAS shock. I checked by looking at top of shock with no tube going into and can see tube is disabled and tied, then I looked under body and saw oil cylinder where it is controlled the XREAS. My question is if I go ahead with Bilstein 5100 for all four corners and will the height control still work? I need to keep RAS working because I have 4500 lbs boat to tow around.