Is XREAS suspension temperature dependent? Less than 20F, ugly clunk...

[PwAg]

An issue I couldn't narrow down after forum search, is with regards to temperature variation and XREAS.

Just took ownership of an 08 Sport with XREAS, 45k miles. We live in Denver, temps are often 40-50 in town during winter. Drives fine, no noticeable clunk during 40F+.

Took up to mountains this wkd, around 0F overnight, 10F morning drive sounded like there was zero gas/fluid in the driver side rear strut. Sounded like a shot strut, rather loud dull metal on bushing clunk. Drive was decent, but not comfortable like warmer temps. Once we drove around for a bit, sound subsided a bit, but was still there. Tire psi @ 32.

2hrs later, when back in Denver, 50F, clunk almost non-existent again. Same exact issue was experienced when in cold upstate NY, vs warmer non-freezing temps down-state.

I expect this type of issue on our Audi/M3, but not a lower mileage Toyota. It's unfortunate, XREAS drives very well when in normal condition.

Any ideas that may help me get around this without having to rip it out for Bilstein 5100/SR5 OEM type replacement? XREAS appears incredibly non-serviceable (new lower temp resistant fluid doesn't seem plausible).

We are often in cold temps for mt sports, do people experience similar issues with 5100's? I do not experience this on Bilstein nor KW for Audi applications.

 

[me_rikey]

are you sure this wasn't driveline clunk?
either way the cold certainly affects everything, and can certainly affect the drive quality of any vehicle when were talking extreme temperatures. other then that, i have not noticed any issues with my high milage XREAS 100k+ due to extreme temperatures here in longmont.

time for a nice a/m suspension set up??

 

[PwAg]

me_rikey: I did not eliminate that, but also did not suspect as this occurs while coasting with no power/braking in play. Premature conclusion on my part?

 

[paraordnance]

I live in Alberta, Canada and own 4Runner for 4 years now. It is one with XReas and rear air. Ride quality really goes down when winter hits full force. I mean its fine to around 0 F but anything below that its like riding a wooden chair. Everything stiffens up. XReas shocks are filled with fluid that's why ride quality suffers and some noises/clunks show up. We seen as low as -30 F here, but as soon as spring starts everything is fine again

 

[me_rikey]

me_rikey: I did not eliminate that, but also did not suspect as this occurs while coasting with no power/braking in play. Premature conclusion on my part?

i like what paraordiance has to say about this. i wouldn't suspect driveline clunk if it is during driving and affecting the ride quality .. stop and go driving is what will reveal the driveline clunk.

 

[dgmorr]

I have XREAS and noticed a clunk that started when the weather got cold. Last week we had warm weather and the noises went away. This week the cold is back and it's clunking again. Checked the usual sway bar bushings, end links, ball joints and they all appear to be good.

 

[paraordnance]

I have XREAS and noticed a clunk that started when the weather got cold. Last week we had warm weather and the noises went away. This week the cold is back and it's clunking again. Checked the usual sway bar bushings, end links, ball joints and they all appear to be good.

I just replaced sway bar bushings in front and rear with prothane ones from Summit Racing (less than an hour) and my diagonal clunk went completely away. My original sway bar bushings looked really good and not deteriorated when I took them off the sway bar but I still replaced them, what a difference! I was just about ready to gut it all out, XREAS/rear air and all and replace it with Toytec Ultimate kit. I glad I got new bushings first, much easier and cheaper to do. I probably good for at least couple years. My XREAS shocks do not leak but in cold weather they stiffen up substantially. So much that in -30F it feels like you bottoming them out they have really short travel in cold weather.

 

[Sporin]

Old thread but it came up in my search so I thought I'd share my experience.

2005 V6 Sport, 168k miles. It's only been in my possession for about 2 years and 20k miles.

I noticed late this winter that my Xreas was particularly jarring and noisy on very cold mornings. When weather would warm up, the clunks went away. I thought it might be just sway bar bushings, and that may be part of it, but I do think the Xreas's fluid-filled nature results in some noise at low temps because there is no other explanation for the sound going away above freezing like it does.

I'd like to replace my Xreas with a low lift OME kid but if I can hold off until later this summer I'll be happy.