Are these xreas shocks gone?
- Thread starter shahsmerdis
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paraordnance
New member
Thats exactly how mine looked during replacement, in addition my xreas visibly leaked fluid. Its hard to say if they are gone just by looking on rusted exterior but I could definitely tell by the worsened comfort and stiffness they developed over the years. Just replace with the Bilsteins instead, better bang for your buck.
shahsmerdis
New member
I know there are other threads on bilstiens swap, but in summary I just need to get the shocks, and remove the old shock and put the new one in? can I just leave the xreas system open ? I know i need to replace all 4 as its a closed system
thanks for the advice. if its just swapping, the swap looks pretty darn simple.
ben550
New member
Yes. That is correct. I took mine off by replacing all 4 shocks/struts as well as all 4 springs. The xreas lines are still attached to the frame. I have just not gotten around to taking them off yet.
shahsmerdis
New member
since its a daily driver about 10 miles a day, no long trips, any other lower cost options?
Pretty sure my dad will want to stick with OEM, but this car is going to soon to have other issues because of its age, so hopefully i can convince him for a easy cheaper solution.
springs look a bit harder to get out... OEM with the new springs?
ben550
New member
I put KYB's on. The front came complete with the springs. I put moog springs in the rear. I bought all the parts and paid a shop to do the install.
shahsmerdis
New member
Ill take a look at KYB, which series, gas a tube? or whatever it was called, or the excel-G ?
For 90k miles, mom slow driving, do you guys think the springs need to be swapped?
ben550
New member
I believe the front were the strut-plus series and the rear were excel g
Hello, I'm new to the forum and I need help from someone ASAP. Just purchased an 04 4Runner and it has the XREAS system. The left rear shock is leaking so from reading these forums I purchased the Biltstein 4600 series shocks for the front and rear. My mechanic is saying it's not plug and play. He said he needs other parts for the front but said he needs to talk to the dealer to find out what is needed. Can anyone tell me what else he needs or is he just trying to run up the bill? Trying to get this done as cheaply as possible. Thank you very much.
T4RVB
New member
as far as those shocks, it is hard to tell if they are gone. You would be better off replacing as most have stated. If anything you will have new shocks that you wont have to worry about in the future. The install is pretty straight forward. If you are going to do it yourself make sure to soak all the bolts in pb blaster prior to removal because it looks like you got some surface rust issues.
My fronts had leaked fluid out. The rears seemed sealed up, but I think the fronts lost enough fluid to throw off the whole thing. It would bounce and buck going down the highway with a little undulation in the road.
This was at about 80k mi, and they honestly looked like they'd be leaking for a while before then.
This was at about 80k mi, and they honestly looked like they'd be leaking for a while before then.
strathcona
New member
All that you would need in addition to the shocks are front coils and the top mounting hardware if they are shot. Buy that stuff yourself and have him, or someone else, install it. Don't let him tell you he needs to replace the XREAS components. Do a search and you will find a bunch of threads from people who replaced the XREAS.
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offshorebear
New member
How can you check if the xreas shocks are still ok? I have 103k miles but have never driven a new 4Runner.
I think I remember from high school drivers ed that I should push down on a corner and the damped spring shouldn't take more than 3 bounces to settle. Is that true?
I think I remember from high school drivers ed that I should push down on a corner and the damped spring shouldn't take more than 3 bounces to settle. Is that true?
4Runrrun'n
New member
For those who have noticed their xreas leaking, where do they typiclly leak from. I assume it is from the banjo fitting where it attaches to the shock. This is were I have been keeping an eye on mine but I am wondering if I should be keeping an eye elsewhere as well...
paraordnance
New member
My was leaking at the shocks. I never seen xreas leak elsewhere. Shocks appear to be the weakest link
4Runrrun'n
New member
Thank you Paraordnance
shahsmerdis
New member
Looking at these shocks as an overall system, I could see that since this type of system adjusts for road conditions more frequently than standard shocks. Such as pressures forcing faster recovery. for this reason, it makes sense that the ware could show signs much faster than standard shocks.
CookieRoe
Senior Member
Some thoughts:
If the shocks are not leaking, then they should be ok. Having that said, those shocks are in terrible shape but don't appear to be leaking. Yet. Give it time, it will. You should be shopping shocks (or the alternative and have them replaced. I did.)
Many replace the XREAS with Billys. I had billys (5100) on my Grand Cherokee and loved them for about a week. The ride was very stiff, but the handling was great. Maybe I'm getting old, but the ride was becoming jarring. YET, on the forum (jeepsunlimited), everyone thought they were the second coming. So, shop wisely on what shock you want to get. Do some research before you commit.
Things to remember on XREAS: They are crossed linked and if you replace one, you have to replace the one that is across from it as well. AND it can only be replaced once. A second replacement requires a replacement of the whole system.
If the shocks are not leaking, then they should be ok. Having that said, those shocks are in terrible shape but don't appear to be leaking. Yet. Give it time, it will. You should be shopping shocks (or the alternative and have them replaced. I did.)
Many replace the XREAS with Billys. I had billys (5100) on my Grand Cherokee and loved them for about a week. The ride was very stiff, but the handling was great. Maybe I'm getting old, but the ride was becoming jarring. YET, on the forum (jeepsunlimited), everyone thought they were the second coming. So, shop wisely on what shock you want to get. Do some research before you commit.
Things to remember on XREAS: They are crossed linked and if you replace one, you have to replace the one that is across from it as well. AND it can only be replaced once. A second replacement requires a replacement of the whole system.
shahsmerdis
New member
How does one actually change an XREAS shock? once you open the shock, I assume air will get into the system?
I googled haven't seen exactly how to change it.
NuclearN8
New member
Xreas needs to be disconnected at specific junction points on the system. Check the FSM in the stickies. It's pretty straigt forward if there is no corrosion. This can be done once, then the system needs to be replaced entirely (supposedly, I think it states this in the FSM as well)
It's never done because, quite frankly, it's not worth the hassle/ pain in the a$$. air won't come out, hi pressure fluid will so wear some safety glasses/ goggles and keep your mouth shut when disconnecting the fittings, just in case.
It's never done because, quite frankly, it's not worth the hassle/ pain in the a$$. air won't come out, hi pressure fluid will so wear some safety glasses/ goggles and keep your mouth shut when disconnecting the fittings, just in case.
