has anyone ever tried to re-use the factory air compressor for the RAS as a tire inflator? for example, lets say you replace the RAS with coils and remove the airbags, is there any way to access the compressor and attach a standard air hose to it so that you can use it to inflate your tires after a beach or trail session?
Looking for V8 Limited owners with Air Suspension issues.
- Thread starter MacVay
- Start date
profuse007
New member
Can someone describe when and which trim package did the Toyota offered the air suspension for the 4th generation? Is it only on V8?
SAR_Runner
New member
Just look at your upper control arm on the rear axle and follow it forward. they are linked to the control arm to determine ride height. I recently pulled all of mine out and could supply mine if needed. When I pulled mine I had no issues, just wanted lift and to avoid the stiff ride while chasing rally cars.
I also have my factory bags.
SAR_Runner
New member
it is a very low volume high PSI pump and would burn out the compressor. you are better off with a CO2 tank or an ARB or Via Air system. not worth the time. Also the fittings would be near impossible to make work. they are a press in clip that mates to an 1/8" air line.
SAR_Runner
New member
V8 limited. it was considered part of the towing upgrade that the V8 provided. the V6 only has a 5k towing capacity. If you bought an 04 and up V8 you should have a 7300# towing capacity. the 03 had a run of the 5k# hitches installed, mine included... and should not be used to tow the heavier weight. Also the tongue capacity is higher, hence the auto level.
SAR_Runner
New member
I just didnt want to be stranded when my over inflated air bag decided it was tired of doing it's job... I switched to also allow for a rear drawer system and other gear.
vt4runner87
New member
Bumping this post as I'm also struggling with my RAS. Went out one morning and it was dropped way down and rides like a bouncy ball. Lights say its in the neutral position and can't get the compressor to kick on using the up/down switch in the car. Checked the fuses and both seem fine (unless there's more than 2 and I missed some).
I'm hoping someone can help me locate the sensors so I can pull and clean them. I'm not a mechanic but fairly handy if I know what I'm looking for. So far all I can find is some zoomed out diagrams with general location. Maybe I'm missing something but I've tried finding them a couple times now and can't figure it out. If anyone could provide me with pictures of where they are and how to pull them or a video it'd be unbelievably helpful.
Thanks!!!
I'm hoping someone can help me locate the sensors so I can pull and clean them. I'm not a mechanic but fairly handy if I know what I'm looking for. So far all I can find is some zoomed out diagrams with general location. Maybe I'm missing something but I've tried finding them a couple times now and can't figure it out. If anyone could provide me with pictures of where they are and how to pull them or a video it'd be unbelievably helpful.
Thanks!!!
Bossman
Senior Member
Height Control Sensor location and removal:
http://4runnerclub.com/i/4r_files/f...toyrm/07toypdf/07rmsour/4runnerr/03500610.pdf
and installation:
http://4runnerclub.com/i/4r_files/f...7toyrm/07toypdf/07rmsour/4runnerr/0350027.pdf
http://4runnerclub.com/i/4r_files/f...toyrm/07toypdf/07rmsour/4runnerr/03500610.pdf
and installation:
http://4runnerclub.com/i/4r_files/f...7toyrm/07toypdf/07rmsour/4runnerr/0350027.pdf
I was in the middle of British Columbia at 5pm on a Sunday afternoon, 500km from home and the air system lost all pressure. There was nothing I could do except keep driving, on the bumpstops, with only the tires for suspension. I'm glad it was just me (the dogs were at a kennel)... there'd have been doggie barf everywhere from all the bouncing. My stomach was doing backflips.
Just as randomly as the problem showed up, it went away... half hour or so of driving and everything returned to normal.
I attempted to clean the sensors (as per a thread on this forum) once I returned home, but my sensors were way past too far gone. Most of the contacts no longer existed, just piles of rust. The guts disintegrated once I opened the case... so I ponied up and replaced them, $1100ish I think it was.
That was all about 2 years ago. Everything worked fine until I ripped out the XREAS... now I'm pulling the RAS out too.
If your sensors are junk, I'll probably be selling mine soon.
I dealt with this for a couple of years and finally dumped the system once I decided to go with a lift.
The main issue I experienced was the sensor arm that can be seen in 03500610.pdf seizing up and not being able to freely rotate. In winter months, it became regular monthly maintenance to clean the arms and connections and keep them lubricated. Once seized, the sensor's limit switch will no longer "sense" when the desired ride height is achieved and the system will either continue to dump or pump air into the bags until they are full or empty.
vt4runner87
New member
Thanks guys!! That's a really helpful diagram. I'm going to try and pull them and check them out this weekend and will report back. I'm wondering, when the arms were ceased up were you able to adjust the ride height manually with the ride height switch? I am unable to get the compressor to fire and it's saying its in the neutral position. Did any of yours start reading in the low position when it crapped out? Were you able to raise it up manually or get the compressor to fire at all?
Thanks again!!!
The second time the passenger side seized up, the compressor sensor continued to call for air which pushed the back end all the way up. The force bent that arm of the sensor so now passenger side was reading the "normal" position at max level and the driver side was reading the "normal" level at normal level.
From what I was told by a Toyota mechanic was that if the two sensors are reporting conflicting levels, the module errors out and will not engage the compressor even if you attempt to change ride height.
I never went the route of manually releasing or injecting air (some have on this forum), and for the issues I had, it was always the sensor arms no longer operating as they should which caused the issues.
vt4runner87
New member
That's super helpful. Thank you! I'm wondering if they're conflicting then and maybe one is shot and one isn't but neither is reading how low it's sitting. Fingers crossed that's the case and I can get things back to normal by pulling, cleaning and lubing them up.
I'll report back after this weekend in case its helpful for anyone else in the future.
flipflopnfly
New member
I'd use dielectric grease when you rebuild them. You can use it on both the electrical surfaces and the sealing surfaces and screws to prevent future failures. Wonderful product.
vt4runner87
New member
Alright, so it was not a straight forward process as I'd hoped it would be. I located the sensors once I knew what I was looking for (thanks again for the help). All 4 bolt heads sheared right off when I went to pull the sensors off the car. Opened the sensors up and 1 of the 3 spots on 1 of the sensors was gunked up so I was pretty excited that it should be a quick clean up and fix (minus the now sheared bolts stuck in my frame). Cleaned it up, peeled 2 extractors off in the bolts stuck in the frame and decided to just rivet them up to the frame right next to the bolts. Got that all done, set the height on one and then struggled with 3 people to test the ohm reading to match the two sensors so they'd read the same. Fired the runner up... no dice.
I can hear a clicking when I turn the car on and then when I hit the Height Control Off button almost like it's trying to start and stop the compressor with no success. So likely not the sensors at all and a bunk compressor instead.
Picked up coils, the metal tech kit and plan to just rip it all out over the next couple weekends.
QUESTION FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SWAPPED TO COILS: How do you get the airbags out in order to put the coils in? Do you have to get up under the interior floor in order to remove the top end of the airbags? Any tips and tricks to making it a slightly less painful process? Thanks in advance!
I can hear a clicking when I turn the car on and then when I hit the Height Control Off button almost like it's trying to start and stop the compressor with no success. So likely not the sensors at all and a bunk compressor instead.
Picked up coils, the metal tech kit and plan to just rip it all out over the next couple weekends.
QUESTION FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SWAPPED TO COILS: How do you get the airbags out in order to put the coils in? Do you have to get up under the interior floor in order to remove the top end of the airbags? Any tips and tricks to making it a slightly less painful process? Thanks in advance!
NeutronJon
New member
I did this swap a few years ago. All of the work can be done from under the rig and no need to pull anything in the interior apart.
If I recall correctly, the air bags are installed by pushing them up through a keyhole slot, then rotating them in place and a metal clip is installed from the side on the top to prevent it from rotating out again. When I removed them, I took a long piece of wire and slid it through the clip, gripped both ends with vice grips and pull hard.
Here's a full write-up. http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/120196-how-convert-ras-coils.html
If I recall correctly, the air bags are installed by pushing them up through a keyhole slot, then rotating them in place and a metal clip is installed from the side on the top to prevent it from rotating out again. When I removed them, I took a long piece of wire and slid it through the clip, gripped both ends with vice grips and pull hard.
Here's a full write-up. http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/120196-how-convert-ras-coils.html
Bossman
Senior Member
Rear pneumatic cylinder - removal and installation:
http://4runnerclub.com/i/4r_files/f...toyrm/07toypdf/07rmsour/4runnerr/03601010.pdf
http://4runnerclub.com/i/4r_files/f...toyrm/07toypdf/07rmsour/4runnerr/03601010.pdf
NeutronJon
New member
I couldn't get the tubes disconnected without the Toyota tool so I just cut them.
Camobutterfly08
New member
Need help
You said you just took out the whole system. As in the air suspension? I am very very new to having a 4runner and don’t know very much about vehicles. Could you please explain to me what you did to take out your old system and what you replaced it with? My air bags keep deflating and I’ve already replaced them twice. I’m not doing it again, so I would like to just put regular shocks on it. But I have no idea what I need to buy or do to the vehicle in order to do that.
You said you just took out the whole system. As in the air suspension? I am very very new to having a 4runner and don’t know very much about vehicles. Could you please explain to me what you did to take out your old system and what you replaced it with? My air bags keep deflating and I’ve already replaced them twice. I’m not doing it again, so I would like to just put regular shocks on it. But I have no idea what I need to buy or do to the vehicle in order to do that.
