Lifts are turning out to be a PITA

[RL Lemke]

I am now on my second lift kit and it too is going by the wayside. Anyone out there want to buy a NE or Revteck kit?

However it happened doesn't matter at this point. Pre or maybe post lift one of the Xreas shocks developed a leak. Now the entire system would have to be replaced to make things right. $1,200 in parts + install.

I am making the jump to coil over shocks in front. After discussing them with Goodtimes and a mfr I feel good about this switch. Coil over shocks used on off-road vehicles are just like the rear shocks I have come to know and trust on dirt bikes. Easily repaired and modified. Tough as nails as well.

Several mfrs are jumping into making coil over shocks for the 4Runner. In large part to the efforts of Goodtimes in helping them see the potential market.

Unfortunately for me, I am on my way to Moab in 2 weeks. I have to do something now. As far as I can tell, until March 1st, there are only 2 options for immediate delivery of front coil over shocks for the 4th gen 4Runner - Sway-A-Way & Downey.

Maybe Goodtimes could step in here and discuss the relative merits of the coil over design and the differences between the available and soon to be available systems.

 

[RL Lemke]

Here is a photo of the Donahoe coil over available March 1.

Here is a description of the install on a Taco:

http://www.off-road.com/toyota/tech/donahoe_tacoma/

Notice how easy the install is, when compared to spacer lifts.

Here is a comparison of the different coil over systems for the Taco: http://www.off-road.com/toyota/projects/tacoma/coil_over_compare/

 

[Hitman]

Well, considering that one of the shocks could have developed a leak BEFORE you lifted it, I'd return it to stock and bring it back to the dealer for a warranty repair.

BTW, don't most people who want to lift avoid the XREAS suspension in the first place?

 

[HuntRunner]

So you just plan to take out the xreas.....Curious to know where the leak is?

 

[RL Lemke]

I am over 37,000 miles, and the 100,000 mile warranty doesn't cover the Xreas. So it is goodbye to the Xreas and hello to off-road race proven coil over front suspension.

 

[slyangel9]

Please keep us up to date. I am still hesitating to mess with the x-reas.

 

[bryancos]

Before I got my 4R, I spoke with the service manager and asked about repair costs on the XREAS system... after getting my answer, right then and there I opted to get the standard suspension. The potential added costs of repairs to the new system scared me into it.

 

[HuntRunner]

Please let us know how ditching the system goes. I think it is something a lot of people have considered.....How long have you had your truck lifted?

 

[RL Lemke]

Please let us know how ditching the system goes. I think it is something a lot of people have considered.....How long have you had your truck lifted?

All of these lift issues have been compressed into 60 days and a few thousand miles. If you have seen my previous posts I have enjoyed the look and off-road abuilites of the lifted 4Runner. I have not been happy with the stiff ride and "shudder" felt with some sharp bumps.

 

[RL Lemke]

So you just plan to take out the xreas.....Curious to know where the leak is?

Left rear shock. All of the fluid was pumped out leaving me with no shocks.

 

[hre814]

was the leak in the shock itself? at the connection point of line and shock? if it was in the shock, had you done any heavy offroading where the shock might've been fully extended? interested to know the answer as i'll be putting one on soon. thanks!

 

[hre814]

also, how much $ are those coil-overs you showed above?

 

[Bluto]

.... one of the Xreas shocks developed a leak. Now the entire system would have to be replaced to make things right. $1,200 in parts + install. ..

Is this from the dealer? Was the shock bad, or a x-reas line damaged? So it looks like you can't replace a bad shock, fill and bleed the system. All or nothing? Seems like a design flaw by Toyota. Or the dealer does not know what they are talking about.

In this thread you mentioned Revtek was looking into an x-reas relocation bolt, and a way to bleed the system (and add longer, x-reas compatibile rear shocks?).

You did not have the NE relocation bolt?


Just a suggestion, could you include a bit more info in the thread title? I think you will be the first member down the 'damaged x-reas system' road. It will be looked at a lot in the future.

 

[Bluto]

Please let us know how ditching the system goes. I think it is something a lot of people have considered.....

I'm one of them. I like to do things correct the first time. If I can't lift correctly with the x-reas, I'd rather go coilovers.

I'd rather have a $1200 part sitting in my garage than a $1200 paperweight.

On Tacoma forums, there are frequent 'I should of went with coilovers the first time' threads.

 

[Good Times]

RL:

buzz me at the office. I want to ask ya a few q's.

Thanks!

 

[dcampen]

Coilover shocks

It will be interesting to see what shocks Donahoe uses in the front coilover. The Downey kit says that they have had to custom weld an extension onto an existing shock to get the proper length.

 

[Good Times]

Donahoe uses their own shocks.
Downey uses Bilsteins.
Sway A Way uses their own shocks.

 

[RL Lemke]

Re: Re: Lifts are turning out to be a PITA

Is this from the dealer? Was the shock bad, or a x-reas line damaged? So it looks like you can't replace a bad shock, fill and bleed the system. All or nothing? Seems like a design flaw by Toyota. Or the dealer does not know what they are talking about.

In this thread you mentioned Revtek was looking into an x-reas relocation bolt, and a way to bleed the system (and add longer, x-reas compatibile rear shocks?).

You did not have the NE relocation bolt?


Just a suggestion, could you include a bit more info in the thread title? I think you will be the first member down the 'damaged x-reas system' road. It will be looked at a lot in the future.

The rear shock has fluid on the exposed bottom portion of the shock. Pushing on the front bumper has the 4Runner bouncing as if there are no shocks. All of the xreas limes are connected and not leaking. I took the 4Runner to the dealer to get the shock replaced under warranty, only to find that the Gold level Toyota warranty doesn't cover shocks. Not even the expensive xreas system.

The dealer said that since the shocks are linked, that everything must be replaced as a system. No part replacements. Seems fishy to me, but that is what they were told by whoever they talked to at Toyota.

I have the stock xreas shocks in back connected to the NE relocation bolts. I won't speculate whether they were a factor as I just don't know or even care at this point.

I called Revtek and was reminded of their policy of saying that they don't recommend the use of their system with xreas. I was not asking them for any compensation just to see if they had any new information.

At this point I am anxious to get the 4Runner ready for Moab. I am ordering the Sway-A-Way coil over shocks with the help of Goodtimes. I will have the coil overs installed and the 4Runner aligned again at Mike's Off-Road shop in Dallas.

 

[bulldog-yota]

Sorry to hear about it man. Your lift has not been on for a long time. I have been running for almost a year with my Xreas on a Daystar lift, no issues with the XReas. I have even jumped a few dunes at Pismo.

I would take NE to task, as they explicitedly stated their kits and relocs would not damage the XREAS system. They gaurenteed it at one point and still say they will take care of you if something happens. So in my mind they should either compensate you for a new XREAS system or the new coilovers.

I have been looking at the coilovers for some time now. I think I'm going to wait for the DOnahoe ones, but since you need them now SAW looks like a good route to go. ARe you getting the 2.5" or 2"? What are you going to put in the back (the Revtek kit spacers + shocks)?

let us know how it works out, good luck.

 

[4route]

wait .. the fluid at the bottom/exposed part of the shock is the XREAS fluid???

if so ... both my rear shocks are shot too, RL.

is that what you found? mine never had that with the revtek kit, but when i switched to the NE lift and re-locs, that's when mine started to be wet.

is that how yours were????????