Keeping my X-REAS

[T4RME]

I'm going to throw in my argument for keeping the X-Reas system intact and not swapping out with another brand.

Point 1:
Removing the XReas removes an advanced feature on your luxury SUV. 4th gen 4runners with XReas were $35K+ when new. The overall quality of the 4runner was leaps ahead of the same year Camry and closer to Lexus in ride quality. Remember that the Avalon was a Lexus on the cheap? Anyway, they clearly did this on purpose. Buyers of the 4runner were not looking at Jeeps, Xterras, etc. They didn't want a truck they wanted a smooth refined SUV with advanced off road capabilities.

Point 2:
If you change out the shocks it will totally change the performance of the vehicle out of intended design specifications. The Xreas ability to counter and minimize body roll in the turns and curving on and off ramps is incredible. And the ride is like butter - rivaling many sedans. At high speeds the X-Reas contributes to a very confident on road experience.

Point 3:
Putting brand X on your 4runner may ruin the ride for you. I put Bilsteins on my Jeep Grand Cherokee and it totally ruined the ride. Horrible. On the highway the shocks helped give the Jeep a solid, surefooted feel. When cornering the stiff Bilsteins performed like champs. But on the straights, around the town driving making up 90% of total driving miles they were bone jarring and made driving miserable.

All in all the X-Reas is a well engineered idea that has taken shocks to a more complete system approach. IMO it is clearly a superior ride to stock or aftermarket shocks that it is worth the extra money to maintain.:thanks:

 

[S p a r k y]

To each his own, some like most don't. If x-reas is so great, why isn't it still around?

Kinda reminds me of a DeLorean, great idea, has some nice features, cost alot, but actuality it never caught on and stuck around.

Have you been in a 4runner without it?

 

[JB.]

To each his own, some like most don't. If x-reas is so great, why isn't it still around?

Kinda reminds me of a DeLorean, great idea, has some nice features, cost alot, but actuality it never caught on and stuck around.

It is still around in the 5th gen 4Runner and only the Limited Edition gets it.

 

[chris360hawks]

It is still around in the 5th gen 4Runner and only the Limited Edition gets it.

Shut down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[S p a r k y]

It is still around in the 5th gen 4Runner and only the Limited Edition gets it.

Well there i go spouting out again and not knowing what i am talking about!

 

[T4RAddict]

Put some Bilsteins on your runner then give us your opinion. JEEP pronouned in spanish is HEAP .. Just saying..

 

[BlackWorksInc]

I'm going to throw in my argument for keeping the X-Reas system intact and not swapping out with another brand.

Point 1:
Removing the XReas removes an advanced feature on your luxury SUV. 4th gen 4runners with XReas were $35K+ when new. The overall quality of the 4runner was leaps ahead of the same year Camry and closer to Lexus in ride quality. Remember that the Avalon was a Lexus on the cheap? Anyway, they clearly did this on purpose. Buyers of the 4runner were not looking at Jeeps, Xterras, etc. They didn't want a truck they wanted a smooth refined SUV with advanced off road capabilities.

Point 2:
If you change out the shocks it will totally change the performance of the vehicle out of intended design specifications. The Xreas ability to counter and minimize body roll in the turns and curving on and off ramps is incredible. And the ride is like butter - rivaling many sedans. At high speeds the X-Reas contributes to a very confident on road experience.

Point 3:
Putting brand X on your 4runner may ruin the ride for you. I put Bilsteins on my Jeep Grand Cherokee and it totally ruined the ride. Horrible. On the highway the shocks helped give the Jeep a solid, surefooted feel. When cornering the stiff Bilsteins performed like champs. But on the straights, around the town driving making up 90% of total driving miles they were bone jarring and made driving miserable.

All in all the X-Reas is a well engineered idea that has taken shocks to a more complete system approach. IMO it is clearly a superior ride to stock or aftermarket shocks that it is worth the extra money to maintain.:thanks:

A few counter-points/clarifications:

~It was an advanced feature offered on the Sport Editions and some Limited models to better increase on-road performance. It was a well engineered system and is very well executed and engineered, no aruments there. It was designed as a performance item to make the 4Runner seem just as "sporty as it was luxurious." But then again if you wanted a luxury SUV, why not go for the GX470?

~The XREAS system was mainly designed for on-road performance, it was never intended for serious off-road use and is extremely stiff off-road. Even without XREAS the 4Runner handles the road well, though there is a noticable tightness with XREAS in turns and corners. Replacing the system with factory OEM shocks would make your ride about the same as an SR5 or a Limited with a set ride height. Many members frequently take their 4Runners off-road and benefit from non-XREAS systems. I took my 4Runner for the first time out to Hollister Hills with the stock XREAS system and while it drove great to there and back, it was far too stiff, did not allow me nearly as much flex as I wanted (the system is designed to compensate for flex when sometimes you want it).

~Depends on the brand, I installed a 2.5" Overland Warehouse Lift kit complete with their custom Radflo Shocks and 700lbs springs. You would think that the ride would be far stiffer than the XREAS with such a heavy spring and lift. But truthfully it felt a lot like the XREAS, it even handled corners similarly, but the biggest improvement was felt off-road.

Am I saying you're wrong? Nope, if you're 4Runner is going to see more street than dirt and the dirt it does see is your backyard, then XREAS is a great system. If you plan to wheel your rig and play in the mud and dust, its just not designed for that. Also the cost to replace a XREAS system is substantial compared to a set of new OEM shocks or even 5100's. The system is not going to last the life of the vehicle, shocks as a general rule last only about 50k, and even then some sport cars go through them faster than that. Keep in mind that while the shock may not be leaking, it can fail and degrade internally, you can have gas leakage, but not fluid leakage. The reed valves inside become work hardend and will tend to wear out (ever try to bend a piece of metal back and forth? Imagine 50k constantly being pushed up and down, that's easily a few million up and down motions on that valve.) Many mechanics do not want to learn how the system operates and thus will often either not do work that involves dealing with the suspension in any way or when they do attempt to work on it, they screw it up. (Lots of examples on the forum of this happening...) These shocks should last easily past 100k, but they are about as lifetime as the WS Fluid.

In short, if you're a road warrior its a great system if you can afford to replace it when it goes bad and know someone who is experienced in working with the system.

Otherwise, its not as practical, cost effective, and better performing off-road as a dedicated lift kit (Toytec, OLW, ICON, ect) or even a set of Bilsten 5100's.

 

[Eastcoastrunner]

my 2 cents

xreas>5100 bilstein & FJ springs>leaking xreas

I have 5100 bilsteins and FJ springs and it definitely doesnt corner/handle like the xreas did while functioning properly. The rear just doesn't respond well to bumps, and I feel lots of body roll. I can honestly say I wish i had xreas back. Keep in mind I don't offroad at all

 

[SUP3RJEFF]

I still have the XREAS on my truck, and I honestly find the ride a little harsh. I do appreciate the lack of roll in the turns compared to other trucks/suvs i have driven, but I don't think it's enough to keep me from ditching the system when its time for a lift.

 

[ChaosStarter]

my 2 cents

xreas>5100 bilstein & FJ springs>leaking xreas

I have 5100 bilsteins and FJ springs and it definitely doesnt corner/handle like the xreas did while functioning properly. The rear just doesn't respond well to bumps, and I feel lots of body roll. I can honestly say I wish i had xreas back. Keep in mind I don't offroad at all

I've heard of guys upgrading to polyurethane sway bar bushing and making a good difference to equal out the loss of the XREAS.

 

[4RBob]

my 2 cents

xreas>5100 bilstein & FJ springs>leaking xreas

I have 5100 bilsteins and FJ springs and it definitely doesnt corner/handle like the xreas did while functioning properly. The rear just doesn't respond well to bumps, and I feel lots of body roll. I can honestly say I wish i had xreas back. Keep in mind I don't offroad at all

x2, xreas>5100 bilstein & FJ springs>leaking xreas

except i think the 5100's corner/handle pretty close to the XREAS. i do agree the rear doesn't respond well to bumps.

I have 5100's, not FJ Springs. maybe the body roll/cornering issues for you are the FJ springs getting you up higher.

also, as others have said, it's to expensive to keep(replace) the XREAS once it goes.

good points from Black Works too, from an off-road perspective.

 

[Eastcoastrunner]

I've heard of guys upgrading to polyurethane sway bar bushing and making a good difference to equal out the loss of the XREAS.

really? what kind/make? can anything be done to get rid of the bodyroll

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

The bushings did help imo.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/34115-swaybar-bushing-upgrade.html

 

[talonjade]

I've heard of guys upgrading to polyurethane sway bar bushing and making a good difference to equal out the loss of the XREAS.

In essence that's what I did, I just haven't' executed my lift yet. But with the poly upgrade has helped a lot where my worn X-REAS has been failing. I think the decision to keep XREAS is as stated above:

DD on road = keep XREAS

Off-Road medium- Xreas is adaptable but not a star performer

Off-Road MAXX- ditch it and get a specialty lift


I do love the confidence I get when taking turns with the XREAS but for my application I want a fair amount of Off-Road prowess.

 

[ChaosStarter]

Has anyone done the poly swaybar bushing with the XREAS? I'm curious if it would be a worthy swap.

 

[krupnation]

I'm going to throw in my argument for keeping the X-Reas system intact and not swapping out with another brand.

Point 1:
Removing the XReas removes an advanced feature on your luxury SUV. 4th gen 4runners with XReas were $35K+ when new. The overall quality of the 4runner was leaps ahead of the same year Camry and closer to Lexus in ride quality. Remember that the Avalon was a Lexus on the cheap? Anyway, they clearly did this on purpose. Buyers of the 4runner were not looking at Jeeps, Xterras, etc. They didn't want a truck they wanted a smooth refined SUV with advanced off road capabilities.

Point 2:
If you change out the shocks it will totally change the performance of the vehicle out of intended design specifications. The Xreas ability to counter and minimize body roll in the turns and curving on and off ramps is incredible. And the ride is like butter - rivaling many sedans. At high speeds the X-Reas contributes to a very confident on road experience.

Point 3:
Putting brand X on your 4runner may ruin the ride for you. I put Bilsteins on my Jeep Grand Cherokee and it totally ruined the ride. Horrible. On the highway the shocks helped give the Jeep a solid, surefooted feel. When cornering the stiff Bilsteins performed like champs. But on the straights, around the town driving making up 90% of total driving miles they were bone jarring and made driving miserable.

All in all the X-Reas is a well engineered idea that has taken shocks to a more complete system approach. IMO it is clearly a superior ride to stock or aftermarket shocks that it is worth the extra money to maintain.:thanks:

Too each their own. :guitar3: Like many have said, most people put on aftermarket suspensions for off-roading. I know XREAS is supposed to help with cornering and body roll, but this is a 5k lb truck! It's not an Audi R8 that you go to the track to race and huck around corners. How much better do you want a heavy SUV/truck to handle in corners? If you want it to handle like an R8, buy an R8. Just saying. I owned a B6 Audi S4 before my runner and there is no comparison in cornering, body roll, and the like. I know my runner won't handle like a sports car.

And I'm wondering what model Bilsteins you put on your old Jeep. HD's I'm presuming? as they are stiffer than most Billie's because of different valving...

 

[sonerick]

All valid points from the OP. However, I think X-REAS is a gimmick designed to lure soccer moms and other ppl who do not need an SUV into buying one. Personally, I think an SUV should ride like a truck. However, if all 4Runners rode like a truck, there wouldn't be as big of a market for them.

I use my 4Runner for lots of stuff-- from daily commuting to work, to the occasional wheeling, to hauling my bikes, skis, yaks, and camping gear around. When X-REAS began to fail around 100k miles, I ditched it for a cheaper, more suitable suspension for my needs.

If you like the ride with X-REAS, keep it. It is a nifty little system that seems to work well. It's just expensive and more suited for the road than for what (in my opinion) a true SUV was designed for.

 

[zimdba]

Has anyone done the poly swaybar bushing with the XREAS? I'm curious if it would be a worthy swap.

Yup, did it a month ago. My X-REAS isn't failing, so I didn't see a huge difference, but it was noticeable. Read the swaybar bushing upgrade thread - most think it's a great upgrade for the price & effort.

 

[M1911]

All valid points from the OP. However, I think X-REAS is a gimmick designed to lure soccer moms and other ppl who do not need an SUV into buying one. Personally, I think an SUV should ride like a truck. However, if all 4Runners rode like a truck, there wouldn't be as big of a market for them.

I disagree. I take my '03 Limited XREAS offroad. I still prefer the reduced lean while cornering provided by XREAS. Realistically, 99% of my driving is on road, and the offroading that I do isn't MOAB. So I don't need that extra bit of articulation that you might lose with XREAS.

5th Gen TE is available with KDSS. That provides similar roll stiffness onroad as XREAS, but better articulation offroad -- the best of both worlds.

 

[T4RME]

Thanks for all the comments. There are a lot of topics on, "should I ditch the X-reas" and I just wanted to offer another opinion on why someone might want to keep the X-Reas. Stay tuned for next week's post where I have leaking XReas, no money for $800+ in parts and $$$ in Toyota labor and ask what the closest alternative to Xreas would be...