Spacer Lift or Level, 2005 Sport 4WD with XREAS

[mschwep-05sport]

I just recently put a 3 inch spacer leveling kit on the front of my 2005 sport and ran into some issues. If anybody is thinking about doing something similar here is the stuff I ran into: The shocks with XREAS have lines going into them which is I guess how the system controls ride/stability. These lines can't be easily removed to my knowledge so removing the struts to add in the spacers is tough. What I ended up having to do was rent a tie rod puller from autozone to disconnect the tie rods to open up enough space to slide the strut out of the lower control arm and get enough space to add the spacer to the top of the strut. To get the strut to drop enough, putting a bottle jack in between the wheel well and upper control arm was the easiest method we figured out. When you add the spacer to the strut you also have to rotate the strut 180 degrees to get it reinstalled, which leaves the line going into the shock at sort of an awkward looking angle. When I put the car back on the ground and the suspension compressed the line looked a little less awkward, but its definitely not sitting the same way it does stock.

I know this kit installs on a vehicle without XREAS in an hour or two but it ended up taking me and a couple of buddies over 5 hours, although we are amateurs for sure. I also have a sway bar drop and diff drop, which both went in quick and easy.

 

[pc1p]

I see this is your first post, so welcome aboard!

The lines "can" be removed when utilizing the built-in check-valve locations. However, the reason I put quotation marks in "can" is because even when disconnecting at the proper locations, you'll still likely have lots of leakage on aged systems.

I recently replaced the worn out XREAS in my 04' Sport. My system started leaking at around 120k and was fully blown by 128k. I decided to rip the entire system out as my front springs (V8) were sagging terribly and went with the complete OME 3/2 kit. I was able to do the entire install in around 5 hours, front and rear, by myself on a comfortable day. I ended up unbolting the lower control arm ball joint to get the shock assembly out and in.

What spacers did you go with?

 

[preacher35]

I just recently put a 3 inch spacer leveling kit on the front of my 2005 sport and ran into some issues. If anybody is thinking about doing something similar here is the stuff I ran into: The shocks with XREAS have lines going into them which is I guess how the system controls ride/stability. These lines can't be easily removed to my knowledge so removing the struts to add in the spacers is tough. What I ended up having to do was rent a tie rod puller from autozone to disconnect the tie rods to open up enough space to slide the strut out of the lower control arm and get enough space to add the spacer to the top of the strut. To get the strut to drop enough, putting a bottle jack in between the wheel well and upper control arm was the easiest method we figured out. When you add the spacer to the strut you also have to rotate the strut 180 degrees to get it reinstalled, which leaves the line going into the shock at sort of an awkward looking angle. When I put the car back on the ground and the suspension compressed the line looked a little less awkward, but its definitely not sitting the same way it does stock.

I know this kit installs on a vehicle without XREAS in an hour or two but it ended up taking me and a couple of buddies over 5 hours, although we are amateurs for sure. I also have a sway bar drop and diff drop, which both went in quick and easy.

That's weird. I didn't have anywhere near that much trouble installing my spacer kit (a year before I installed all new Toytec suspenstion and did away with XREAS permanently). I simply used a ball joint puller, and disconnected the the LCA from the spindle, which gave me enough clearance to drop the coil/shock assembly down enough to bolt the spacer on top. Bolted everything back up and an alignment.... good to go. Hey, just make sure that you go back, after about 100 miles and RE-TORQUE EVERYTHING!!!!

 

[Darwalk]

I just did a Daystar a few weeks back on my 06 Sport with xreas and did it solo. I ended up removing UCA from the spindle and removing the sway bar completely before attempting to get the shock out. PITA for sure, but now it is in and good for the time being until I get an Icon set up.

I concur on the re-torque of everything. I tightened everything back up a couple nights ago and the sway link at the spindle was very loose on both sides!

 

[T.Rock]

I installed a spacer lift (just a leveling lift, nothing extreme) on my XREAS 4Runner by myself in my garage. Took about two hours do the whole job. There's no reason to disconnect the shocks. I just unbolted them, put them down on an old milk crate, and installed the spacers that way. Bolted everything back together was easy that way.

BTW, 3" is more than a leveling lift if you're not touching the rear suspension. That would be too nose-high for me.

 

[mschwep-05sport]

I am closing in on around 120k... hope my system is OK for a while that sounds like an expensive fix, any idea how to prevent that?

 

[mschwep-05sport]

I like the squatty look... Don't know why but you see it a lot in the Carolinas and I have always liked it so no plans for the rear suspension. But did anybody else notice the XREAS lines at sort of an awkward angle into the shock after installing their spacers upfront? And I have driven about 40 miles since the install, will definitely go back and re-torque everything soon.

 

[mschwep-05sport]

Here is a pic of the finished product

 

[pc1p]

I am closing in on around 120k... hope my system is OK for a while that sounds like an expensive fix, any idea how to prevent that?

You don't see too many around AZ with much more than 125k on them before they start to blow out and leak. My T4R was leaking the RR, followed closely by the LR. Essentially, any leak out will likely introduce air in, which basically disables the system and makes it near useless. When I removed mine, the RR shock (the one leaking first) was almost half-empty of fluid.

 

[mschwep-05sport]

Was it the lines or fittings leaking or just the shocks? The way the lines fit with my level is what makes me nervous but they seem like pretty sturdy lines from what I can tell.

 

[T.Rock]

Dude....that is way too high in front. It makes the rear look like it's sagging. I think you're taking the pre-runner look to the extreme.

 

[awdjunkies]

Dude....that is way too high in front. It makes the rear look like it's sagging. I think you're taking the pre-running look to the extreme.

Does look kind of weird, but To each their own I guess.

We don't discriminate, because we're family.. Shoutout to all of the kid-friendly moms and dads out there (OHANA) lol .. arty:

 

[mschwep-05sport]

Dude....that is way too high in front. It makes the rear look like it's sagging. I think you're taking the pre-runner look to the extreme.

Hahah just the carolina squat man no pre-runner for me. It does look like the trunk is full of bricks but thats the way I like it. I don't wheel it much either so just for looks

 

[Pathfinder5243]

Here's what I have. Check it out. They offer a few different options for XREAS.

Traxda Kit #905099 - 2003-2012 Toyota 4Runner Including X-REAS System - Front And Rear Lift Kit