Rear Air Suspension

0

007Runner

Banned
Are there any negatives, or problems that I should be aware of regarding the rear air suspension?

I never towed any thing before, so I was wondering if the rear air option makes it easier to hook up the hitch? I know that it is supposed to keep the ride level with heavy loads, and while towing. Does it do anything else I should know about?
 
Register to hide this ad
I don't have it personally, but many members here use it when off-roading as well as towing. It increases the departure angle which allows for better off-roading. As far as towing, it really levels out the vehicle and can make it much easier to hook up to the trailer. It will not increase stability when towing (but will not decrease it either).
 
I have it and it does help out with towing because it keeps the truck level. Without it, the truck's rear lowers down due to the increase in weight. With it, the truck will always be at the same height regardless of how much weight it's handling, within it's limits of course. And yes, it does help out when off roading and fording.
 
If you tow or carry some weight it is well worth every penny. The really amazing thing about the system is that no mater how much weight you are carrying or towing (within the limits) the ride doesn't change.

Koz
 
Last edited:
It sounds great, is this a trouble free option? Air bags bursting, cracking, or leaking? I think I can really benefit from the rear air. Is it durable and trouble free? Is there any maintenance? I guess air bags make me a little nervous. Just hope I have nothing to worry about.

I did preference the vehicle this way, so it is a bit late now to be asking these questions, but if you can answer them please do.
 
007Runner said:
It sounds great, is this a trouble free option? Air bags bursting, cracking, or leaking? I think I can really benefit from the rear air. Is it durable and trouble free? Is there any maintenance? I guess air bags make me a little nervous. Just hope I have nothing to worry about.

I did preference the vehicle this way, so it is a bit late now to be asking these questions, but if you can answer them please do.
Click to expand...

I tow a 4,000# trailer regularly with our air suspension equipped '03 'Runner. Currently the odo reads ~60K miles and I've had zero problems. No maintainence is needed.

The only thing not to like about the option is the cost. I installed a set of Air Lift bags on our previous '98 'Runner for < $100 which did the same job, albeit less conveniently. If memory serves, the option, bundled with XREAS, was > $1k on our '03.
 
Last edited:
I've contacted an installer and was told that an aftermarket system would cost thousands more then the OEM and still would not be as good. The OEM system even has an air dryer to remove moisture in the air used. 20K miles with no problems.

Koz
 
I have the air height control on mine ( 04 limited) and had to get it fixed under warranty. I dont know exactly what went wrong wit the unit, but basically the rear would just click, instead of lowering or raising. The service gut said i was luck to have it still under warranty, would have cost 1,200 to fix otherwise. I dont want to discourage anyone from getting it, but they arent prone to defects...as in my case. Also I never towed anything before this happend.
 
I have herad of a few people on the internet with bad height sensors, about $1000 a pair installed. The other problem with the air suspension is the cluck, the sensation of being bump from the back when stopping.
 
I thought that "bump" feeling was happening to almost all 4-runners, whether they had the ride height control or not! I thought it came from the drive train twisting when stopping quick and releasing when starting up again. Am I right?

when my ride height control went bad I heard a clunking when it was trying to raise and lower
 
I get that too when i stop, but i love how it tows. when people get into the car and the back raises i realy like it. it levels out the car.

as for towing, it is awsome. it is the first air suspension that ive had, but still, it levels out the runner.
 
Just took my 03 T4R for an oil/filter service at 135,000 km and the height control malfunctioned while up on the hoist. It jacked the back end up like a drag car.

They had to manually return the height to normal and then disable the height control.

The cost of repair to either the sensors or actuators and who knows what else is way too expensive (no longer under warranty), so I'll keep it deactivated.

Corrosion is likely a contributing factor to this malfunction.

Never used this technology anyways, so no real loss.
 
Well.... I'm worried my rear air-suspension air-bags are leaking. :cry:

I have heard and read about people having issues with the rear-air sensors due to salt from roads in the winter... and yes, I'm from east coast Canada and we have PLENTY of salt in the winter. So that may still be it, but....

...the big difference being that it seems that everyone that has had that problem, it has caused their air-bags to go all the way up and then they could not lower them.

Mine however is lowering not rising.... and the air-suspension still works fine. So whenever this happens (almost daily now) I just raise the rear to the "high" setting, then back to the "default" level setting and it rides fine again.... for a while that is. :redbrick:

It is just getting very annoying. And I have been trying to keep the undercarriage clean (washing it with my pressure sprayer) but it doesn't seem to help much. I'm trying to let it ride until the spring/summer before doing anything, to confirm if its the salt or not, but even if it is the salt, I'm thinking I'm going to have to swap out the air-bags for coils because it'll drive me crazy in the winter.

Can the rear-air bags be set in the "normal" position and then "deactivated" to make it stay like that? If so, if it wasn't too much effort, I could do that just for the winter. Then re-activate in the summer for towing purposes. Sucks because the rear-air was a key feature I wanted for towing.... now it's driving me crazy. When it drops down it is bouncy as hell and not a fun ride.

My rear fender wall height (from the ground) is typically around 36-36-1/2" driver side and 36 3/4-37" pass side.

But it now keeps dropping down to between 34"-35" driver side (34-3/4-35-1/2" passenger side.

Can someone else post what heights they get on their rear-air suspension in the "lowest" setting and the normal "level" setting?
 
Bossman said:
Just took my 03 T4R for an oil/filter service at 135,000 km and the height control malfunctioned while up on the hoist. It jacked the back end up like a drag car.
Click to expand...

Is there no disable button for the suspension? When I did tires we had to disable the lincoln airbags when they came in or they'd deflate all the way... if you're lucky they'd pump back up.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

Total: 329 (members: 3, guests: 326)

Forum statistics

Threads
278,310
Messages
3,554,078
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Share this page

Trending content

Back
Top