help deciding on xreas replacement

[mott768]

I know this topic has been discussed a lot on here but what I am looking for I havent found the answer to. I have a 2008 urban runner V6 with the xreas suspension which is now shot, couple shocks are leaking and my handling is getting bad, what I am looking for is the ride and handling when the truck was new, I dont go off road only highway.

I am looking at the Bilstein B6 4600 Series with new sway bar bushings and KYB SM5640 - strut Mount Kit. will this give me the same handling and ride as the xreas? I am worried and dont want to have body roll going around corners , I want a ride similar to how the truck was new.

or are the blistein 5100's closer to stock ride? should I replace the end links also for the sway bar? and what about springs? Do they need to be replaced? I dont want to have to spend extra money on brake lines by lifting truck too much but i wouldnt mind if truck sat level or a little higher without having to spend the extra money or causing extra wear on cv axels.

my rear is thumpy now even going over the smallest bumps and I hate that it always feels like Im riding on flat tires. Thanks for any help you guys can offer.

 

[HCWatson997]

I can’t give any input on 5100s vs 4600s. I have the 5100s and they’ll get the job done but they’re nothing special. How the XREAS system works is it detects when there’s is body roll and sends additional fluid to that side to help counter it. There isn’t another system like that on the market, but stiffer springs, a little wider stance, and new swaybar bushings and end links will do wonders. I have 5100s with 3” front lift and 2” rear and have never had issues with the stock length brake lines.

 

[rdruss]

I have an '03 V8 that had xreas originally. I replaced it with the B4600's and FJ springs ('07). I too do not off road but i'm very satisfied with the ride, no lean to speak of, nice, but firmer ride. Later I added the poly 1" spacer to the front to level it out. Everyone has their own idea of "better ride" quality, however.

 

[mott768]

I have an '03 V8 that had xreas originally. I replaced it with the B4600's and FJ springs ('07). I too do not off road but i'm very satisfied with the ride, no lean to speak of, nice, but firmer ride. Later I added the poly 1" spacer to the front to level it out. Everyone has their own idea of "better ride" quality, however.

Thanks for the feedback, did you do the fj spring front and rears? and did you replace any sway bar bushings or end links? Im basically trying to get the ride and handling as close to original or better as possible. I dont want a hard ride where I feel every bump in the road and I want to be able to take turns with little roll or drift as I do have a habit of taking turns a little fast lol. Driving on the parkway in NJ sometimes can be like driving at the Daytona 500 and sometimes you have to make evasive moves to avoid stuff.

 

[mott768]

I can’t give any input on 5100s vs 4600s. I have the 5100s and they’ll get the job done but they’re nothing special. How the XREAS system works is it detects when there’s is body roll and sends additional fluid to that side to help counter it. There isn’t another system like that on the market, but stiffer springs, a little wider stance, and new swaybar bushings and end links will do wonders. I have 5100s with 3” front lift and 2” rear and have never had issues with the stock length brake lines.

When you say lift is it a aftermarket lift or after replacing springs? my truck is stock height.

 

[HCWatson997]

That’s 3” front lift and 2” rear lift using aftermarket lift springs. But you can get shorter springs with the same spring rate as the lift springs

 

[War_Paint]

I know this topic has been discussed a lot on here but what I am looking for I havent found the answer to. I have a 2008 urban runner V6 with the xreas suspension which is now shot, couple shocks are leaking and my handling is getting bad, what I am looking for is the ride and handling when the truck was new, I dont go off road only highway.

I am looking at the Bilstein B6 4600 Series with new sway bar bushings and KYB SM5640 - strut Mount Kit. will this give me the same handling and ride as the xreas? I am worried and dont want to have body roll going around corners , I want a ride similar to how the truck was new.

or are the blistein 5100's closer to stock ride? should I replace the end links also for the sway bar? and what about springs? Do they need to be replaced? I dont want to have to spend extra money on brake lines by lifting truck too much but i wouldnt mind if truck sat level or a little higher without having to spend the extra money or causing extra wear on cv axels.

my rear is thumpy now even going over the smallest bumps and I hate that it always feels like Im riding on flat tires. Thanks for any help you guys can offer.

I just went through the same thing and ended up getting the Iron Man Stage 2 nitro gas shocks and air bag delete kit along with the control arms. I am extremely happy with it and do more towing than off road exploring, and use it as a daily driver. Couldn't wait to get rid of my warn out air ride. What little off-road driving I have done, I could not be happier.

Good luck on your search lots of options out there. This is just my limited experience.

 

[V8PoWer]

I just purchased my 3rd 4th gen a month ago after switching a bunch of different vehicles over the years.
This time is a 2007 sport v6 with one shot side xreas. It was bouncing around uncontrollably dangerous, especially at high speed and would bottom out on small bumps. I bought a set of 5100’s and using stock springs. Install was easy as it was my first time with the 4runnner. Only set backs were rust on the front top hat to body. The previous 4runner , i left them stock xreas as they were still working fine.
Honestly I couldn’t tell any difference from the working xreas. I mean after all you’re not going to drift this thing or hang some crazy turns on a truck all the time.
I got it at 3rd perch setting on the front and it is perfectly level. Rides nice now, a little firmer which I don’t mind.
If you’re installing yourself, don’t follow most of the youtube tutorial for the front. They show you to remove tie rods, upper control arm, lower control arm which is a lot of unnecessary steps. Drop the sway bar, remove the two 19mm bolt underneath near the lower ball joint and slide the whole brake system forward and you’ll have space to slide the whole shock out. If your top hat is rust weld to the frame, sharpen up a pry bar as flat as possible and wedge it in with a hammer. It’ll come right out.

 

[rdruss]

Thanks for the feedback, did you do the fj spring front and rears? and did you replace any sway bar bushings or end links? Im basically trying to get the ride and handling as close to original or better as possible. I dont want a hard ride where I feel every bump in the road and I want to be able to take turns with little roll or drift as I do have a habit of taking turns a little fast lol. Driving on the parkway in NJ sometimes can be like driving at the Daytona 500 and sometimes you have to make evasive moves to avoid stuff.

Yes, replaced front swaybar bushings, end links were good, FJ springs front/rear. I don't run a rear sway bar at present, like the feel without it. You may want to keep yours. I think you will find this setup pretty stable for your needs.

 

[UrbanRunner651]

I have the same rig & just replaced everything with a full 2.5/1.5 Dobinsons IMS kit. Slight lift, no more rake & can go bigger in the future if desired. Little more expensive but I'd rather have a slightly overkill setup even if I don't wheel much. Honestly if your XREAS is leaking, anything you throw in there is going to feel night & day difference. Replacing links & bushings, or adding some wheel spacers and control arms is all beneficial but not necessarily for everyone.
Top is stock. Bottom is with IMS & Spidertrax

 

[y=mx+b]

The main difference between the 4600s and 5100s are that the 5100s are valved for more weight. 4600s are more of a stock replacement.

I'd second also looking at sway bar bushings and end links while you're in there. Those parts are fairly inexpensive and will ensure the loaf of bread shaped 4runner won't body roll excessively

I have dobinsons and like the way they ride. I also have those kyb top mounts and have no complaints. I do recommend getting the new top mounts, since its easier to do while you're already in there.

Also should be noted that the Bilstein shocks are digressively valved, and dobinsons are liner. I'm not sure how the XREAS is valved, tried to look but I didn't see anything. I don't have enough experience with 5100s or XREAS to really comment on the difference in valving, but just something to think about/do a little search on. Different people prefer different things

 

[wreckedrex]

I was looking for something similar for my 03 sport, ended up with 5100s and fj fronts/eibach +1 rear and I'm reasonably happy with it. I do some mild fire/forest service road driving, but for the most part it's highway miles. Regardless of which dampers you choose I'd suggest some sort of spring replacement, mine were flogged and the truck would be in the bump stops. The truck had 200k on the factory parts though, so I guess ymmv.

 

[meltdowner]

BP-51's up front, Fox 2.5 in the rear. BOOM

 

[meltdowner]

I have the same rig & just replaced everything with a full 2.5/1.5 Dobinsons IMS kit. Slight lift, no more rake & can go bigger in the future if desired. Little more expensive but I'd rather have a slightly overkill setup even if I don't wheel much. Honestly if your XREAS is leaking, anything you throw in there is going to feel night & day difference. Replacing links & bushings, or adding some wheel spacers and control arms is all beneficial but not necessarily for everyone.
Top is stock. Bottom is with IMS & Spidertrax

Damn that is beautiful. I like your choice of rims.

 

[mott768]

The main difference between the 4600s and 5100s are that the 5100s are valved for more weight. 4600s are more of a stock replacement.

I'd second also looking at sway bar bushings and end links while you're in there. Those parts are fairly inexpensive and will ensure the loaf of bread shaped 4runner won't body roll excessively

I have dobinsons and like the way they ride. I also have those kyb top mounts and have no complaints. I do recommend getting the new top mounts, since its easier to do while you're already in there.

Also should be noted that the Bilstein shocks are digressively valved, and dobinsons are liner. I'm not sure how the XREAS is valved, tried to look but I didn't see anything. I don't have enough experience with 5100s or XREAS to really comment on the difference in valving, but just something to think about/do a little search on. Different people prefer different things

so far Im pretty set on the kyb and replacing the sway bar links and bushings, the problem I am having is deciding on shocks and springs. things I definitely want to improve are handling body roll/drift fixing that thump in rear every time I go over even a small bump and nose dive when braking, I dont want a super stiff ride that you feel every bump. basically I'm looking to have it ride and handle like when it was new.

 

[koolkris]

so i am also wanting to lift/level my v8 03, it has xreas that i want to delete. my friend has a 21 trd off road that he lifted when it was basically new, so i can get his front struts with springs and rear shocks with rear coil springs for cheap.

would this be a good option to put on my 03? i know there is slight mod on rear shock install , the shocks and struts are tokico. i read alot about people using tacoma setups with the bilstiens, just havnt seen many using 5th gen tokico??

hoping to end up with 1.5-2" front lift.

TIA !!

 

[firebirdguy]

so far Im pretty set on the kyb and replacing the sway bar links and bushings, the problem I am having is deciding on shocks and springs. things I definitely want to improve are handling body roll/drift fixing that thump in rear every time I go over even a small bump and nose dive when braking, I dont want a super stiff ride that you feel every bump. basically I'm looking to have it ride and handle like when it was new.

lots of threads on this subject you can search for, i have an 08 sport V6 & replaced my xreas at ~140k miles, they werent leaking but could tell they were shot. like you, mine is 99% street driving & i didnt want or need to pay more for off road geared shocks & springs that most say ride quite a bit harsher than the stock ones & the KYB front coil over shocks & rear shocks worked out great & have a very nice stock ride. about 10% stiffer springs & shock valving according to KYB but not harsh at all. they are the best value to performance choice for mostly street use IMO & have a lifetime warranty & come with the top hat & springs pre installed for an easy install. rock auto usually has the best prices, just be sure to keep track of the L& R sides for the fronts.

the stock rear springs are probably fine if the rear isnt sagging & the 4runner wasnt abused off road or heavy towing, but if they need replaced moog OEM are all thats needed. the new front shocks/springs will provide a slight lift too & make the front to rear a little closer to level, mine raised the front about 1.5-2" over the worn out stock shocks/springs.

 

[2021nightshade4x4]

If the dealer installs TRD suspension, will it carry any warranty?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[mott768]

lots of threads on this subject you can search for, i have an 08 sport V6 & replaced my xreas at ~140k miles, they werent leaking but could tell they were shot. like you, mine is 99% street driving & i didnt want or need to pay more for off road geared shocks & springs that most say ride quite a bit harsher than the stock ones & the KYB front coil over shocks & rear shocks worked out great & have a very nice stock ride. about 10% stiffer springs & shock valving according to KYB but not harsh at all. they are the best value to performance choice for mostly street use IMO & have a lifetime warranty & come with the top hat & springs pre installed for an easy install. rock auto usually has the best prices, just be sure to keep track of the L& R sides for the fronts.

the stock rear springs are probably fine if the rear isnt sagging & the 4runner wasnt abused off road or heavy towing, but if they need replaced moog OEM are all thats needed. the new front shocks/springs will provide a slight lift too & make the front to rear a little closer to level, mine raised the front about 1.5-2" over the worn out stock shocks/springs.

most of the posts I read guys are lifting or doing off road suspensions, I want to go with stock height not looking to put bigger tires or go off roading, my runner came with 18" rims and happy with them for now. If anything if the front shocks get closer to level so the rake is minimal would be a bonus. What shocks did you replace the xreas with? I am thinking oem springs for rear but not sure what to get for fronts I do not want a super stiff ride. as close of a ride to when truck was new is what I looking for, a little stiffer would be ok.

 

[Bluesky 07]

most of the posts I read guys are lifting or doing off road suspensions, I want to go with stock height not looking to put bigger tires or go off roading, my runner came with 18" rims and happy with them for now. If anything if the front shocks get closer to level so the rake is minimal would be a bonus. What shocks did you replace the xreas with? I am thinking oem springs for rear but not sure what to get for fronts I do not want a super stiff ride. as close of a ride to when truck was new is what I looking for, a little stiffer would be ok.

KYB is a very popular choice to achieve what you described and the Tacoma swap would also work. The "X-REAS Delete..." post linked in my sig will be helpful if you plan to do the work yourself and/or are interested in the Tacoma swap.