Rear Air Suspension Help - what to do?

[gimmea250swb]

I've been running my 4runner as is for years now. I should have addressed this some time ago, but there I am now...

I'm not 100% sure what I'm looking at, but it appears the previous owner replaced the air shock system with a conversion of some sort. As it sits, the springs are compressed enough that when I ride over a speed bump (at low speed) it bottoms out. I'm not sure how safe that would be at high speed. I'm trying to decide how to proceed - update the springs or go back to the air bags.

Anyway, I've got replacement air bags, but don't know if the pump works and I don't know if the ride hight sensors work.

Could I get your thoughts and confirmation of what I think I'm looking at here?

Is this a photo of the air pump? It doesn't look like the ones I see as replacements online.

 

[Handfulofwheel]

Looks like nobody has responded to your post. I removed the air suspension from my 2008 Limited. The system uses level sensors on the wheels, but they get out of alignment and that causes the computer to get out of whack and overcorrect the air flow to the bags, causing an hilarious rockin' ride. If your bags or hoses leak, that will create the same kind of experience. Replacing the original system is over $1000 which seemed like a waste for a 15 year old vehicle.

Nonetheless, mine crapped out so I removed the XRES (or whatever it's called) and installed Bilstein shocks and lifted the front to level out the profile. Entire project cost about $300. If you tow, you will want to get heavier duty shocks in the rear. The suspension may be bit less comfortable, but I don't experience any added sway or roll feeling without the air suspension. There are some buttons and alarms that need to be deleted or ignored, like the level indicator on the dash will stay level the entire time. The only loss for me was the ability to raise/lower the rear end when adjusting to trailer heights. But none of my other tow vehicles do that, so I'm pretty good at getting trailers lined up.

I read a lot of threads about replacing with conventional suspensions, and decided to do that instead of spending the extra funds for OEM replacement. I'm glad I did and since my system was wacky, I'm really glad I replaced it all with conventional suspension.

 

[gimmea250swb]

Looks like nobody has responded to your post. I removed the air suspension from my 2008 Limited. The system uses level sensors on the wheels, but they get out of alignment and that causes the computer to get out of whack and overcorrect the air flow to the bags, causing an hilarious rockin' ride. If your bags or hoses leak, that will create the same kind of experience. Replacing the original system is over $1000 which seemed like a waste for a 15 year old vehicle.

Nonetheless, mine crapped out so I removed the XRES (or whatever it's called) and installed Bilstein shocks and lifted the front to level out the profile. Entire project cost about $300. If you tow, you will want to get heavier duty shocks in the rear. The suspension may be bit less comfortable, but I don't experience any added sway or roll feeling without the air suspension. There are some buttons and alarms that need to be deleted or ignored, like the level indicator on the dash will stay level the entire time. The only loss for me was the ability to raise/lower the rear end when adjusting to trailer heights. But none of my other tow vehicles do that, so I'm pretty good at getting trailers lined up.

I read a lot of threads about replacing with conventional suspensions, and decided to do that instead of spending the extra funds for OEM replacement. I'm glad I did and since my system was wacky, I'm really glad I replaced it all with conventional suspension.

Thanks for the reply. I think in my case I've decided to just replace the air shocks. I'm trying to decide between these two - unless there are others. Does anybody have any experience? There's quite a difference in price:

$200 1AAuto

$500 Metal Tech

 

[gimmea250swb]

I found this statement at the end of the Metal Tech Item. . I wonder if I can just try to find the shorter profile bump stops that it's referring to? Does anybody know what they look like?

NOTE: The included springs in this Stage 3 kit are built to be replacements for "base" model GX460 rear coil springs. This is the closest we can get to match what the GX470 would have if factory coils were used. However with some of the GX470s one can feel them "bottoming" even with a non weighted truck. This is actually the 150% larger frame bump stops hitting the axle first. The GX470 airbag trucks have oversized frame mounted bump stops, vrs the OEM coilover trucks with a smaller height bump stop. This about 1" of space can make quite a difference in travel. This is an easy fix, to swap the rear frame mount bump stops to the coil versions. You can get them from Toyota or from a local wrecking yard. Any 2003 or newer 4Runner, FJ Cruiser or base model GX460 will have direct bolt on smaller bump stops that will work great. Again not every truck needs these but know there is an easy solution if needed.

 

[Keros]

I found this statement at the end of the Metal Tech Item. . I wonder if I can just try to find the shorter profile bump stops that it's referring to? Does anybody know what they look like?

NOTE: The included springs in this Stage 3 kit are built to be replacements for "base" model GX460 rear coil springs. This is the closest we can get to match what the GX470 would have if factory coils were used. However with some of the GX470s one can feel them "bottoming" even with a non weighted truck. This is actually the 150% larger frame bump stops hitting the axle first. The GX470 airbag trucks have oversized frame mounted bump stops, vrs the OEM coilover trucks with a smaller height bump stop. This about 1" of space can make quite a difference in travel. This is an easy fix, to swap the rear frame mount bump stops to the coil versions. You can get them from Toyota or from a local wrecking yard. Any 2003 or newer 4Runner, FJ Cruiser or base model GX460 will have direct bolt on smaller bump stops that will work great. Again not every truck needs these but know there is an easy solution if needed.

yeah, you just need new bump stops. I had the exact same issues you have. I used the Wheeler's Offroad superbumps. Timbren also makes a comparable product.