is my shock dead?

[djrocketodd]

its a shock on a 03 limited with xreas and auto height control.

is it worth gettin these shocks replaced?
if i get non xreas would i get just shocks, or full coilovers (springs and shocks) like OME style.

and last question is will something like OME work with the auto height control?

and/or will new shocks with a daystar lift work with the rear suspension height control?

Cheers,

 

[d_clark]

Looks like they are toast to me. With Xreas, you will need to replace all 4 shocks as they are cross linked. With the cost of Xreas, you could probably get a nice lift.

I don't have any experience with the rear suspension height control so can't give any suggestions there.

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

Yep, I'd say it's time for new shocks. You can go whatever route you choose, your only limitation is that if you keep the ride height control, you can't use any of the conventional lifts for the rear. It is not advised to use longer than OEM rear shocks with the ride height control.

Do you off road at all? That'll determine what setup is right for you (stock, OME, etc). Depending on mileage, it wouldn't be a bad idea to get new coils, but you don't "have" to have them.

I've got some OEM shocks that are used. The fronts are in good shape, one of the rears is messed up (threads are messed up so you can't put the nut on it). Less than 20k miles from what I was told by the guy I bought them from. I purchased them for the rears, ended up not being able to use them. You can have these for the cost of shipping.

What I have on my 4runner with the ride height adjust is Bilstein 5100's and OME 885 coils on the front, stock 4runner shocks on the rear. With the ride height control, there are no rear coils, so nothing to replace there.

Give us more info on your desired use and perhaps a budget and we'll be able to better make a recommendation.

 

[djrocketodd]

it has 140,000 km on it,

I am planning on using it to do some light off road, some muddy rutted lease roads for oilfield. I was going to put the daystar 2.5/1.5 lift in.... but maybe that wont work with ride control?

I am not attached to ride control as i dont see what it is actually useful for (does it only use air and a shock?) , so I am willing to replace it if it is easy enough to do...

in the end i would like some lift over stock, 2-3" for the terrain i am going to go into, as well as upgrade to 31" all terrain tires.

on a side note i'm not sure how to replace just the shock on the front as it all looks like one peice to em, shock and spring.... but i know it can be done, second is isnt there a big chance of getting air into the xreas system when changing a shock?

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

The xreas is very expensive to repair/replace. You'll want to pull the whole system and replace it with standard shocks. If one shock is leaking, the others aren't far behind. With xreas, the shocks are linked to each other in an x pattern. It's very hard to replace just one, and very expensive. It's safest to replace both shocks that are connected (i.e. front drivers and rear passengers), but for that cost you can buy a full new set of shocks. When you replace with aftermarket shocks, you loose the xreas.

Once you pull the assembly out, you compress the coil, remove a nut from the top, and the strut is disassembled.

You can use the front Daystar spacer, but not the rear. What I did was the 5100's/OME front for about 3" lift. I adjusted the air bags in the rear to provide ~1.5" lift to level things out. You can do this or ditch the system altogether. This thread details everything that's required based on my understanding (I've planned for the swap, haven't done it yet).

The system automatically adjusts the height of the rear to compensate for load. It uses regular shocks, but air bags instead of coils in the rear. Your rear end will always stay at the same (relative) height, regardless of how much weight is added. It's a great system if you tow, but if not then it's pretty much pointless unless you carry a ton of heavy gear with you.

A spacer lift will give you the additional clearance you need. A lift using lift coils and longer shocks will give you the clearance and also added flex. Since you have to replace the shocks, I'd advise against the spacer route.

What's your budget?

 

[djrocketodd]

Yea I read how the xreas works, and its all or nothing. if i do replace all the shocks. how did you adjust the rear air to just magically sit higher? (i assume this was you dont need to buy coils for the back then) i found another user here got it done but had no explanation.

I probably budget about 1000 if I have to.... if i can do just the shocks now (with my daystar front) , and do coils later. and maybe change the rear to coils and add in the daystar rear later. then do a full coilover later after these wear out / i have more money.

if its best / almost same price to get full coilovers (OME or similar) with lift built in and return my daystar and remove my air suspension now i can go that route.

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

I went that route, kinda wish I would have just went straight to the full setup. I will say that the front rides noticeably different than the rear on mine since I have upgraded the front and have stock rear.

With that budget, you can do something like a full OME setup or 5100's/OME/Toytec coils. Good setup, not adjustable nor rebuildable like coilovers though.

What I would recommend would be to get the Bilstein 5100's and use stock coils. You can adjust them to lift the front .85", 1.75", or 2.5". I don't know what you should do on the rear. It is my opinion that if you adjust the rear air system to ride 1"+ higher than stock, you are safe to use longer than stock shocks (5100's). The general opinion is that you shouldn't run longer shocks, but that's assuming the rear is stock height. With the adjusted bags I believe you're safe, you may want to look into that though.

With the 5100's, you have the option of adding lift coils later, or if you want to go the coilover route, these should be easy to sell and get most of your money back.

I've attached a PDF showing the adjustments. It's on the last page. There are two ways to adjust, first is by raising the sensor, second is by lengthening it. The PDF shows both.

 

[djrocketodd]

thanks for the pdf,

I think i'm going to grab the 5100's all around. one thing with that was if i stick with stock springs in the front can i use the shock to lift the truck? or does them being adjustable mean they will work with a longer spring?

in my mind i would think i still need to put in the daystar to raise the front and set the 5100 to 0" lift, is this correct? or can i set the shock for the highest setting with stock springs to achieve my lift?

ive driven a car my whole life and know way more about lowering, not so much about raising !!

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

The shocks will actually provide the lift, up to 2.5", even with stock springs. They can be used with lift coils if you have them set at the lowest setting.