replacing X-REAS

[Berta]

Hi,
New to forum and need advice please. I have a 2004 4-Runner V8 Sport Edition with the X-REAS system with only 35,000 miles on it, which I love. Am older lady and auto shop tells me front shocks leaking must replace all four which I get because of system configuration. Toyota dealer rep not returning my calls and new X-REAS appears way too expensive anyway. I read on this forum Bilstein and KYB are good options to replace. Any preferance and why since price about the same at Shock Warehouse, labor is a doozy either way. Many thanks.

 

[Techsan]

I think there are a few threads on this already, but I just had the same issue on my 03 Sport. My front XREAS shocks were leaking & had to get them fixed to pass Maryland state inspection. I ended up going with KYB. I bought them online on Amazon for a good price & had my local shop install them. They'll just rip out the hydraulic lines associated the XREAS---no biggie. The KYBs are very similar to the stock XREAS, if not a little better in my opinion.

 

[Berta]

Thank you much appreciated!

 

[BlackWorksInc]

You'll need to take the vehicle to a Toyota Dealer to have the properly repair the XREAS system as they'll be the only ones with access to the SST to recharge the system. That being said, I have not seen this repair done, nor have any of my co-workers done much of anything to those systems so finding someone who actually has done that type of repair on the system before is unlikely.

That being said, unless you're truly hell bent on keeping the XREAS system, you can easily have the shocks removed, plumbing removed (or left alone, either way works) and a good lift kit or aftermarket shocks installed without any issues.

 

[Desert Fox]

It is interesting that the XREAS failed at 35000 miles. I have 175000 miles on mine and so far so good.

That seems like a pre mature failure. Wonder if Toyota would cover it

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Oh, I did not notice the failure occurred at such low mileage, that's very surprising. My '04 still had great functionality of the XREAS at 86k when I bought it and I even trashed it off-road a couple times.

Unfortunately I do not think that Toyota will cover it under warranty as your vehicle is too old (mileage and/or age which ever comes first .)

From your description I am thinking there is a failure in the gas charge of the system (if I remember right how these work, the gas charge is contained inside of the central cylinder on the frame rail, I could be mixing it up with the AHC system I just did on my stepdad's LX470 though.) I will see if I can pull up the documentation on the XREAS system this upcoming week at work when I have some time.

The system itself is still very much like a conventional shock absorber design, the main difference being that the hydraulic fluid is cross linked with the opposite corner through a dampening cylinder to provide counter pressure and better handling in the vehicle. So they use both hydraulic fluid & a gas charge.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Okay, so I looked into the system a little more and as I suspected the shocks themselves do not contain a gas charge. The central dampening cylinders have a nitrogen gas charge (similar to our accumulators on the AHC system) that provides pressure for the shock absorbers. The sypmtoms you describe in terms of the bouncy, sloshy feeling are often indicative of a failed shock absorber assembly; namely it losing its gas charge and the seals wearing out. As I stated before, since the shock abosrbers do not in fact have a gas charge, the culprit is likely one or both central dampening cylinders. As to why they failed so early, I can't be sure...

Good news is that if there are no external leaks in the system in terms of hydraulic fluid you will be able to simply install new central dampening cylinders and this should correct your issue.

Some reading for the XREAS system courtesy of TIS:
[Currently am not able to upload to T4R.org, will update later today]

As well as the repair procedure for the LH central dampener, will be similar on the RH side as well:
[Currently am not able to upload to T4R.org, will update later today]