After disconnect X-REAS from existing strut, can I still drive it?

[Fareastplaza]

I am going to replace my 4runner limited struts. The original struts is an X-REAS system which is leaking. My plan is to delete X-REAS and put on a set of 4 bilstein 4600 shocks.

Now, before I start, I am a little worry, if I cannot take the old struts out because it is too rusty but already removed X-REAS pressure pipe, can I still drive with existing strut safely?

I just want to give myself a PLAN-B so if I cannot do it, at lease I can drive to someon's garage/shop to have it them to finish the job after X-REAS offline.

 

[Boort]

[MENTION=65848]Fareastplaza[/MENTION]

If you were close I'd offer you my old pressure pipes that were removed before I put on my lift they are probably still fully pressurized and out in the shed after I turned them off at each check valve to remove them. I don't really recall any difference driving to the shop to have the lift and ARB5100's installed. But I still had a fully functioning system when I lifted the truck.

I think the safety and comfort will depend on if you were able to turn off the check valves as each shock while they were still under pressure. If so you should basically have a set of 4 well used standalone struts that lack the crossover compensation to flex the opposite corner in a tight turn.

If the pressure pipes were removed and allowed to leak you are now riding on 4 totally worn out struts. Likely a bumpy uncomfortable ride but should be safe enough to limp a few KM to the shop to get your Bilstein 4600's installed.


Boort

 

[Whippersnapper02]

Not really. You’re going to have no shock absorption so the vehicle will be very bouncy, nose dive and sway around.

 

[rdruss]

When I replaced the xreas system on mine several years ago I found the system had no gas pressure at all when I disconnected it and I had been driving it for a couple of years since I had bought it used. So, I would say, yes, you can drive it if the system disconnected. If it has no gas or oil it will probably be pretty bouncy, but with just no gas, no problem.

 

[4skrunner]

It’ll just be bouncy


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[Bossman]

Without the hydraulic fluid in the X-REAS system, you will have virtually no active suspension system.

The ride will be very similar to this very early precursor of our current 4Runners.