I'm looking to purchase a used 2004 4runner limited and have narrowed down to 2 vehicles. I believe the sport suspension is an option on the limited (is that correct?). If so, is there a way to physically tell whether a vehicle is equipped with X-REAS or not? I don't want to just believe the salesperson.

thanks much and great site as I'm been searching here the past couple of weeks for info prior to my purchase.

well, I looked under my '07 Sport that I got a few monthes ago. Look above the rear wheel and see the top of the shock. If there is a black rubber hose going to it, that must be it. flashlite may help.








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2007 SE Titanium V6 4X4

Look for some hydraulic lines running along the outside of the main frame connecting each shock and a central control module on both sides:

Attached Images

 

Here is also some good technical info on how it works (kudos to toto for posting this):

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x-reas suspension.pdf (99.6 KB, 6340 views)

Great, thanks alot for the info guys. Very helpful.

This is helpful, I'm gonna have to give it a look when I go outside again.

XREAS was optional on 2003+ Limited's, Standard on Sports and N/A on SR5's.

This picture should give a better idea of what to look for with the difference in regular and X-REAS suspension.

From member Luxury's thread.

Does this mean that I need specific shocks that allow for the connection to the system?

An earlier recommendation for shock/strut replacement was the Bilstein's 5000 - but will they connect to the X-REAS system?

2007 4Runner Sport 150K miles

XREAS shocks have hydraulic lines coming out of the top section of then, regular shocks don't. You can see this really obviously looking at the rear shocks.

If you look at your frame rails, you will also see metal pipes running forward and back along the outside of the rails. Those are the hydraulic lines, although having them the doesn't mean they are hooked up to the shocks.

Only the OEM XREAS shocks will keep the XREAS system working BUT there is no harm installing Bilstein shocks, it will be exactly like if you had installed the Bilsteins on a non-XREAS 4runner.

I have actually never driven a non-XREAS 4 runner, but some people say the good Bilsteins are better than XREAS, and others say it's almost but not quite as good. Everyone says installing normal shocks is definitely the cheaper/simpler/more mod-friendly way to go.

I just bought a 4runner with a bad XREAS system, the dealer insisted on fixing it before I could buy the truck, instead of just giving me a discount. This was a Volvo dealer, and the local Toyota dealer wanted $1800 in parts and 12 hours of labor to install 4 new XREAS shocks. The dealer ended up having an independent shop install them for $2000k.

It rides nicely, but I would rather have had them install the Bilsteins and save me some money. I bought the truck anyway because it was still a good deal.

I like my XREAS a lot better then my old 4runner with Bilsteins, much more liveable ride...with 160k I have never had a problem and am not going to change just to change...

I had billies on my 97 Grand Cherokee and loved them.......... for about 2 weeks. Ride got very stiff. Handling had significantly improved though.

Maybe I'm old and prefer a softer ride. I recently (several months back) had my XREAS shocks replaced and love the ride. I especially like how it "stiffens up" during cornering. I notice it corner flat vs. my family members other SUVs (08 RAV4, 10 RX350).

So I think this sums it up:

Keep XREAS:
-Knowing it's expensive and that's fine with you
-You're not going to lift your truck
-Enjoy the ride/performance

Chuck XREAS:
-If you believe it's too expensive to repair
-You are going to lift and mod your suspension
-Could care less about the ride that XREAS offers.

Of course, I'm in the minority.

How to remove your X-REAS...

I FINALLY got to scrap the X-REAS!





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hEY GUSY AM ABOUT TO INSTALL THE LEVELING LIFT KIT 3 INCHES IN FRONT AND 2 IN REAR BUT I NEED TO KNOW IF MY 4RUNNER HAVE XREAS OR NOT? AND IF HAVE IT WHAT ELSE I NEED TO INSALL?

Look at the shock struts if they have a hydraulic line connected to the upper area with a bolt it has xreas you won't need anything extra to do your spacers. The xreas will just make putting the spacers on the front a bit of a pita because you can't or shouldn't disconnect the lines and they limit where you can move strut. The next question is if you have air suspension in the rear or not

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