Is my XREAS trashed?

[PhoRunner]

Ok so after getting the Readylift installed the other day I noticed a small 10 " puddle of oil under the drivers side wheel. Apparently my driver's side shock is now leaking. GRRRR. I told the shop ahead of time to please be careful with the XREAS lines. They take no responsibility and insist it was already leaking. I told them I think I would have noticed a leak prior to taking it in. Now its just a finger pointing contest I want no part of. Going over speed bumps over 5 mph I can hear a thud in the passenger rear shock which I why I think the system is now trashed. Am I overextending the rear shocks (why thump only on passenger side) or is my XREAS trashed. If it is I may just get 5100s for all corners and call it a day. :rant:

 

[TwoDraft]

So I'm not the only one. I had the Daystar Comfort lift installed last month and noticed that the ride was rough and not very good to drive. I had the garage remove the 33" tires and remove the lift to find that my Xreas no longer has fluid and can't be fixed.

I'm now going to go with Adjustable 5100's with a .86" or 1.75" lift on the front and stock in the rear. Not sure if I want some rake or if 1.75" will be level.

You can leave the Rear spacer in with the 5100's set at 2.5" if your looking to achieve more lift. I know this sucks.

 

[1engineer]

Why do you guys let these shops get away with this crap? XRAS can be fixed too.

 

[DannyLlama]

That freaking sucks! I was so close to purchasing a ready lift kit too, a while ago. But was talked out of it by the good folks on this forum. I heard that it's a rough ride and that deterred me, now I'm more glad I didn't. Sorry about your troubles!

What's the millage on your trucks? If its under 35k , you can get toyota to replace it.. Have the shop remove the spacers and take it to toyota. I have had both the fronts and rears replaced under warranty. No spacers installed.

Included in your extended warranty as well.

 

[thebwlife]

Just get the 5100's. The thump you hear is the rear over extending.

Not to be rude but your taking a $40,000 and putting the absolute cheapest lift you can get for it. Top spacers are known to cause geometry issues because the effectively lengthen parts that others depend on them being a certain legth. Take the front top spacer off, and put the 5100's in and set to 2.5". Rear leave your spacer and get the 5100's in. Fixed.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Why do you guys let these shops get away with this crap? XRAS can be fixed too.

You can only bleed the XREAS systems that are combined with KDSS, the FSM treats the non-KDSS XREAS systems like the 4th Gen systems and is non-serviceable.

 

[2011T4RLE]

Thats unfortunate because I did not have any issue with my install, nor have I had any 53,000 miles later. It seems as though the shop did not take their time with the install. I am sorry to hear about the issues.

 

[1engineer]

You can only bleed the XREAS systems that are combined with KDSS, the FSM treats the non-KDSS XREAS systems like the 4th Gen systems and is non-serviceable.

I understand. I did not complete the thought of under warranty as they have 5/60 on them correct?

 

[Falls]

My 4th gen had Xreas and when I decided to put a lift on it I scrapped the whole system and went with new springs and shocks.

I afraid you system is shot . They would have to replace the whole system which would spell out HUGE $$$$.

My advice is to pull it off and go with a new system as stated above.

 

[PhoRunner]

Had I taken some before pictures it would have been easy to prove but since I didn't it becomes a he said she said. The ride itself is still completely like stock. It is VERY comfortable and the only thud I hears going over speed bumps on the rear passenger. Everything else still feels OEM. I checked underneath the car this morning and no leaks so could this have just been some residual oil during the installation. If the XREAS was completely shot I would know/feel a difference correct? As far as the ready lift being crap I beg to differ. If care was taken to my driver side shock during installation this thread never would have happened. I believe it is a quality kit to achieve/fit bigger tires like the big boys without spending an arm and a leg. I don't wheel the rig very often. Ride is still OEM. With proper installation the Readylift is a quality kit. Here's a photo with the new wheels.

 

[Socalrugger]

Ok so after getting the Readylift installed the other day I noticed a small 10 " puddle of oil under the drivers side wheel. Apparently my driver's side shock is now leaking. GRRRR. I told the shop ahead of time to please be careful with the XREAS lines. They take no responsibility and insist it was already leaking. I told them I think I would have noticed a leak prior to taking it in. Now its just a finger pointing contest I want no part of. Going over speed bumps over 5 mph I can hear a thud in the passenger rear shock which I why I think the system is now trashed. Am I overextending the rear shocks (why thump only on passenger side) or is my XREAS trashed. If it is I may just get 5100s for all corners and call it a day. :rant:

bummer, I just had a firm tear out the entire XREAS system for Icons.....they dumped everything literally a few days ago or else I would've shipped my parts up your way....(Im not even sure if they couldve been used though)

 

[eddiebx]

Did you go under and take a peek to see what's up? I mean you can probably tell if the nuts on the XREAS lines had been messed with or not? If it does not seem like they touched the fluid lines at all, and if you see that the shock is just pissing the fluid out of the stem seal, then maybe it did just happen to blow a seal?

I am not positive here, but I think the only way for the tech to screw it up is if they disconnected the fluid lines wrong and let out all the fluid by accident. If you disconnect it properly, I think there's some kind of check valve to hold the fluid in?

I would definitely go under there and inspect it with my own eyes and see what is exactly going on. Knowing that there's a puddle yesterday and not a puddle today does not really help you determine exactly whats wrong, lol.

Plus, from what I've read about top spacers, this could cause OE shocks to over extend/compress, and might make it even easier to blow a seal?

FWIW, I recently pulled off my OE shocks at less than 10k miles and one of the front ones was already leaking horribly. Granted they are not XREAS shocks, it just goes to show that it's possible to blow them in no time.

Good luck, and I hope you get it resolved!

BTW, my 5100s are at least 10x better than my OE shocks, just sayin'. :

 

[KVA]

I have my whole XREAS system in storage...lol....don't know why. If you want it let me know...I am in SoCal if you want to make the trip. Shipping would probably be painful.

 

[PhoRunner]

socalrugger and KVA thanks for the thoughts. I will either just step up to the plate and purchase ICON Stage 2 with the sale at the end of the month or just buy Bilsteins 5100. From what everyone tells me the Bilsteins/ICONS will be an upgrade over OEM anyway..

eddiebx I did crawl underneath and the shock itself is all covered in oil/grease. Not sure what part of the shock is actually leaking. I'm just gonna ditch them and roll with some aftermarket setup. I guess it was just meant to be LOL. Thanks

Danny I have 37,000 miles now I no longer have warranty and I did not purchase the Platinum warranty.

thebwlife I will for sure be going aftermarket now. Don't want to wait for a disaster to happen.

 

[thebwlife]

socalrugger and KVA thanks for the thoughts. I will either just step up to the plate and purchase ICON Stage 2 with the sale at the end of the month or just buy Bilsteins 5100. From what everyone tells me the Bilsteins/ICONS will be an upgrade over OEM anyway..

eddiebx I did crawl underneath and the shock itself is all covered in oil/grease. Not sure what part of the shock is actually leaking. I'm just gonna ditch them and roll with some aftermarket setup. I guess it was just meant to be LOL. Thanks

Danny I have 37,000 miles now I no longer have warranty and I did not purchase the Platinum warranty.

thebwlife I will for sure be going aftermarket now. Don't want to wait for a disaster to happen.

You'll be much happier, so will your truck.

 

[KVA]

I have my whole XREAS system in storage...lol....don't know why. If you want it let me know...I am in SoCal if you want to make the trip. Shipping would probably be painful.

Forgot to mention "for free"...if you want to pick-up.

The Icons are the way to go and great pricing now - Metaltech has a 30 day price guarantee so you can buy now and get the difference refunded on the first day of sale.

 

[alaskaman]

Mine had a beginning leak. sounds like yours is toast. Fix at the Toyota dealer for $600.00 for one side left front and right rear. Under the extended warranty.

 

[adam2562]

Had I taken some before pictures it would have been easy to prove but since I didn't it becomes a he said she said. The ride itself is still completely like stock. It is VERY comfortable and the only thud I hears going over speed bumps on the rear passenger. Everything else still feels OEM. I checked underneath the car this morning and no leaks so could this have just been some residual oil during the installation. If the XREAS was completely shot I would know/feel a difference correct? As far as the ready lift being crap I beg to differ. If care was taken to my driver side shock during installation this thread never would have happened. I believe it is a quality kit to achieve/fit bigger tires like the big boys without spending an arm and a leg. I don't wheel the rig very often. Ride is still OEM. With proper installation the Readylift is a quality kit. Here's a photo with the new wheels.

LOVE the wheels... but i'm biased :rofl:

 

[Canazes9]

...As far as the ready lift being crap I beg to differ. If care was taken to my driver side shock during installation this thread never would have happened. I believe it is a quality kit to achieve/fit bigger tires like the big boys without spending an arm and a leg. I don't wheel the rig very often. Ride is still OEM. With proper installation the Readylift is a quality kit. Here's a photo with the new wheels.

I'm sorry, but that's just not true. Spacer lifts require shock absorbers to do things they were never designed to do. No matter how many stories you read/people you talk to that say "spacer lift works great, I never had a problem" it doesn't change the fact that your shock absorber is now functioning as your bump stop. Shock absorbers will fail with boring regularity when asked to function as bump stops.

You mentioned Icon suspension. I have had all of the combinations of the 5100's, different settings, different springs and I have also installed an Icon suspension on my wife's 4Runner. The 5100's are an improvement over stock, but they don't provide anywhere near the improvement that the Icon set-up does. If Icon is in your budget, go that route. It is a night and day difference in performance.

David

 

[Scott@Hightech]

I'm sorry, but that's just not true. Spacer lifts require shock absorbers to do things they were never designed to do. No matter how many stories you read/people you talk to that say "spacer lift works great, I never had a problem" it doesn't change the fact that your shock absorber is now functioning as your bump stop. Shock absorbers will fail with boring regularity when asked to function as bump stops.


David

I'm going to somewhat disagree there, There is nothing wrong with spacer lifts. If the Spacer bolts on to the top of the strut Your not changing anything but the geometry of the suspension. The strut characteristics have not changed. Your suspension(sans changing other components) would be the same if you used a strut with a spacer or a longer strut. Performance would be different but that's only due to the valving in the struts.

In the rear, If you keep the factory shocks whats the difference between using a spring and a spacer on the factory spring? Nothing 2" is 2". However, if you lift it to the point that your topping out the shock, then its time to get longer shocks. Shocks are built to be able to handle abuse like that.

Case in point On my dodge ram i cranked the torsion bars all the way up, the front shocks are almost topped out they have about 1/2 of droop. It rides like crap but the shocks will likely not fail.

the readylift kit is probably the best spacer kit IMO. Huge benefits in that the factory ride is retained, as well as the ability to retain XREAS. Yes a 5100 would perform better but so will a Icon S2 suspension. Its only money.

OP if the shock itself is leaking and not the connection, your shock probably just happened to fail. Likely it wasn't the installer or the lift, rather just bad luck.