RAS to Coil Conversion

[Kyler TM87]

I’ve read countless write ups on swaps and conversions for 4th gen 4runners swapping from factory rear air bag suspension and the time has come to swap my own.

My 2003 Limited V8 currently sits at 190,390K and a week ago my airbags finally failed. The car was rear ended about 2 years ago and I had to replace the entire rear bumper and tailgate. The swap was fairly painless aside from the rear windshield wiper plug location not lining up. And now a small rust problem inside the weather stripping by the power rear window. All that aside, the factory airbags were thrown out of alignment, meaning the system was still operating however the bags were at different heights.

I started planning for this coil conversion right after the accident. I purchased the metal tech gx460 conversion kit. And a few days prior to my airbags failing I ordered OME 2895 rear coils.

Looking for any input and advice to make things go smoothly.

 

[Kyler TM87]

As she currently sits with fully collapsed airbags

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Bernardchan96]

Hey im about to do my RAS swap soon too! Got the metal tech stage 1 kit without the isolators. Ended up getting Moog k160061 For much cheaper and went dobinsons coils

 

[Bossman]

@ARK Swamp Rider is the best resource I know on this forum for this conversion. He started this thread:

How To: Convert RAS to Coils

 

[Kyler TM87]

The full write up with good explanation will come later.

In short the task of pulling out the old failed airbags was challenging as accessing the small metal clip that hold them in place was not easy to access.

As far as install my method was different from those I previously read about but none the less the conversion is complete and so far so good.

Two jack stands with blocks

Very poor quality photo of the metal tab that holds the bag in place.

PITA metal tabs. My only real frustration during this process today.

Airbags after tab was released and the air hoses disconnected

The driver side coil isolator was more effort than the passenger side

The driver side coil in

The passenger side coil in. Isolator was much easier to mount

All in all having two jack stands was much easier than using. Also two sets of ratchets, a torque wrench and a breaker bar. Oddly enough I did not remove the rear tires for this install instead disconnected most of the rear suspension components and I clipped the break lines and air lines.

Pulled the two fuses from the fuse box. Air suspension off light blinks but otherwise no Christmas tree dash. For now...

From start to finish with a second set of hands to roughly two hours and 10 minutes including putting the spare tire back in place.

Don’t have measurements before as the bags were collapsed and uneven but with the roof rack the rear end is sitting just below 6’3.

Placing an order for OME ARB 2885’s to replace the Tacoma coils in the front currently mounted on Bilstein 5100’s up front to level her out.

As she sits until the new coils come in for the front end. Too bad the factory rake didn’t come like this

My apologies for iPhone quality photos.

Also I do have to keep my running boards for now... my girlfriend and her dad find it difficult to get into the car. The dog doesn’t seem to mind the jump.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Sandersox]

Hi,

I am in this same process with my 2004 4runner. Do you think that the kit you used would also work for my runner?

Thanks

 

[xtremewlr]

Hi,

I am in this same process with my 2004 4runner. Do you think that the kit you used would also work for my runner?

Thanks

This is the kit you want - Lexus GX470 Rear Coil Conversion Kit Complete

 

[badtzbuzz]

Air suspension off light blinking

I just completed the RAS conversion to coil spring with the MetalTech kit. First the kit is great, clear instructions, high level quality parts, and the ride is much improved.

However, after the installation and removing the two fuses per instructions, the dash air suspension "off" light is continuously flashing.

Does anyone know how to correct/prevent the light from constantly flashing?

Appreciate any help.

 

[Keros]

I just completed the RAS conversion to coil spring with the MetalTech kit. First the kit is great, clear instructions, high level quality parts, and the ride is much improved.

However, after the installation and removing the two fuses per instructions, the dash air suspension "off" light is continuously flashing.

Does anyone know how to correct/prevent the light from constantly flashing?

Appreciate any help.

I haven't done it yet... the tape holding the piece of cardboard from an automotive light bulb box is ~5 years and still holding strong

But, I've been keeping this link when the time comes:
How To: Convert RAS to Coils

 

[4thGenCanuck]

Following

 

[badtzbuzz]

Thank you very much for this. I'll tackle this when the weather gets a bit warmer. Forn ow I'll place a nice sticker over the light.

BTW, the conversion with the Bilstein shocks improves the ride much better than the factory X-REAS and RAS.

 

[Ryanhutch12]

I’ve read countless write ups on swaps and conversions for 4th gen 4runners swapping from factory rear air bag suspension and the time has come to swap my own.

My 2003 Limited V8 currently sits at 190,390K and a week ago my airbags finally failed. The car was rear ended about 2 years ago and I had to replace the entire rear bumper and tailgate. The swap was fairly painless aside from the rear windshield wiper plug location not lining up. And now a small rust problem inside the weather stripping by the power rear window. All that aside, the factory airbags were thrown out of alignment, meaning the system was still operating however the bags were at different heights.

I started planning for this coil conversion right after the accident. I purchased the metal tech gx460 conversion kit. And a few days prior to my airbags failing I ordered OME 2895 rear coils.

Looking for any input and advice to make things go smoothly.

How did this end up working out in the long run?

 

[CDNT4Rguy]

Reviving this thread with a question about height with the RAS to coil conversion.

Bags are shot on my 4runner so I'll be installing the conversion kit but I'm not sure the route to go for springs. I have a 1.25" spacer installed in the front coilover for a net 2.5" of lift. It seems most guys with traditional suspension run a 2.5/1.5 setup and still have a tiny bit of rake which is what I would like also. So if the conversion kit itself gives you 0.5" lift in the rear, should I look to get a spring or spacer with only 1" of lift? I am considering just going with FJ springs and a 1/2" spacer, which should work out to the 1.5" of rear lift in total

 

[CDNT4Rguy]

Hey im about to do my RAS swap soon too! Got the metal tech stage 1 kit without the isolators. Ended up getting Moog k160061 For much cheaper and went dobinsons coils

How did these work for you? The stock coil isolators are crazy expensive!