unevolved
Member
I believe Slee will assemble them before shipping.
Time to replace OEM struts and XREAS?
- Thread starter Lewis&Clark
- Start date
I believe Slee will assemble them before shipping.
Mr. Sparkle
New member
Thanks for the prompt replies, I appreciate the info.
I'll was leaning towards keeping the stock coils at first for budget reasons, this 4runner is the main family vehicle so no need for any heavy suspension modifications or anything. Only reason I am swapping them out is because the front driver side is shot and I can't stand the hollow thunk.....kathunk.....thunk...thunk...kathunk noise over every bump, the truck feels solid otherwise.
I noticed a lot of people on this site call the front shocks "struts", and just to keep it confusing the bilstein 6112 kit I just bought even says strut on it. 4runners don't have struts, period. Don't worry about it too much just make sure the part numbers are correct for your truck.
unevolved
Member
If you don't have plans of ever modifying the suspension, there's nothing wrong with some good OEM replacements. Hell, even Monroe shocks would be better than blown OEM parts.
Powder_Hound
New member
I can't answer many of your specific ride quality, icon, Billstein questions, but I can share my XREAS leaky strut story. I was quoted 975 at a dealer before tax to replace my leaky Lfront XREAS strut and the matching Rrear. I told them to take a hike. I ordered a complete OME/Toytec lift for the same price. I spent about $100 on misc tools, bought my friend a growler of his favorite beer, and spent the day together doing the job.
Toytec and Slee have very comparable prices and when I asked Slee about labor it was going to be right at 1500 to pull XREAS and install the OME. I chose Toytec because their customer service (phone calls) was night and day better than Slee. But, the parts alone for an OME set up are 1/5 the price you were quoted.
XREAS can be disconnected and reused later with appropriate XREAS struts and charged by a dealer. However, most, if not all, including myself find other suspension options to ride better than XREAS. I've only had my new suspension for a few weeks now and it's night and day.
On a budget and no lift required/desired purchase some Billstiens, disconnect XREAS, and pay someone to do the job (rear is a no brainer, but the front will take some work as the coil is compressed over the strut.).
On a slightly bigger budget, purchase an entire sus kit and lift up your rig too. A Toytec Ultimate which uses Billstiens runs around 1300' OME for just under a grand.
Ulimitd budget...Get an Icon 2-3 stage system or compatible. For your needs, I personally think this is overkill.
I hope this helps, but Billstien with OEM springs are a great option based on the research I did before I r/r my 112,000 mile tired XREAS suspension.
Apologies for resurrecting an old thread, but i am in a similar position and specifically looking for input from Bay Area folks on best place for an install.
I am at ~160k miles and need to replace stock XREAS. I have pieced together the 5100s and springs (planning on only a ~1-1.5" lift) and ready for the upgrade.
The problem is i live in the city with no garage or tools for the job, so i am looking for a recommended shop to have the work done. I don't mind paying a bit for labor to get it done right the first time at a reputable shop.
Having searched around this site and elsewhere online, it sounds like i would be best off going to an offroad shop, and i'd love it to be one with significant Toyota/XREAS experience. Does anyone know of a place in the greater Bay Area that can get this done? The two i was looking at are below, but not really sold on either. Thanks!!
SWAT Customs | Fremont, CA. | (510) 651-7928
Shaffer's Offroad and Performance - 4WD and Performance Specialist
I am at ~160k miles and need to replace stock XREAS. I have pieced together the 5100s and springs (planning on only a ~1-1.5" lift) and ready for the upgrade.
The problem is i live in the city with no garage or tools for the job, so i am looking for a recommended shop to have the work done. I don't mind paying a bit for labor to get it done right the first time at a reputable shop.
Having searched around this site and elsewhere online, it sounds like i would be best off going to an offroad shop, and i'd love it to be one with significant Toyota/XREAS experience. Does anyone know of a place in the greater Bay Area that can get this done? The two i was looking at are below, but not really sold on either. Thanks!!
SWAT Customs | Fremont, CA. | (510) 651-7928
Shaffer's Offroad and Performance - 4WD and Performance Specialist
riceandpho
Elite Member
try the wheel and tire shops, otherwise get ready to pay an arm and leg at 4 wheel parts. if you watch the youtube you can do it like that but still recommend to disconnect at the points. must get an alignment after the work and also readjust the headlights. sucks i dont have the other tools and jack stands for the job too. otherwise i could guide you.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rAskv_pSmS0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Lewis&Clark
New member
So I'm the OP, and I'm also Bay Area based. I never got the work done because I ended up needed new tires, new brakes, and some other things done and they were higher priority. However, I'm planning to have it done in about 6 weeks.
I was in the process of shopping around and the kind folks at my local Toyota dealer actually offered me a very fair price to have it all done. Surprisingly, they were also willing to disconnect Xreas in the process. I don't want the system, but didn't want to remove it either, so we were discussing just disconnecting the lines and letting them sit there. And then swapping out all the OEM struts and putting in the Bilstein 5100s.
I can't remember off the top of my head the price they finally agreed on after our bantering over it, but it was within a couple hundred of the cheapest 3rd party I could find. By comparison, their price to put in Toyota OEM replacements was uneffingfathomably expensive. Toyota sticks it to you more than the dealer I think. Sometimes.
Would you mind posting up here what place you finally settle on? I"ll go anywhere in the Bay Area as long as it's a reputable licensed shop and a good price.
flipflopnfly
New member
Don't know about Bay Area, but I was quoted by a local Toyota dealer $1121 for removal of the XREAS shocks only and install of a Toytec Boss kit front and rear. Boss kit provided by me, so that's all labor.
$1410 for removal of the entire XREAS system shocks and plumbing, and install of the Toytec Boss kit front and rear. Independent shop said $875 labor for entire removal and Boss install.
$1410 for removal of the entire XREAS system shocks and plumbing, and install of the Toytec Boss kit front and rear. Independent shop said $875 labor for entire removal and Boss install.
riceandpho
Elite Member
seems like a lot.
I bought my shocks from total automotive performance for 380 I think out the door.
moog fj springs from rockauto for 110 I think out the door.
have a buddy put it in for 200, took like 2.5 hours, good to have a nice impact, and also a breaker bar, tall jack stands 6 ton ones since its higher in height.
about 120 for alignment.
flipflopnfly
New member
Yeah that's a lot, too much. I'll do it myself, done it before without XREAS removal but that doesn't seem too messy if done correctly. I know it will be done right using antiseize on the install, ABS wires and brake lines won't be stretched, all of the little things will be done right. And there's a few other things I can do when it's up on stands with the wheels off.
Wow those are some crazy numbers, I have a 04 with 162k and xreas is holding up fine, but I have been preparing for the inevitable.
Why not try to pickup low mileage fj or tacoma suspension parts on CL?,
I see them for app. $200-300 with rear/fr coils and 100-150 just for the shocks and these are usually Bilsteins
Why not try to pickup low mileage fj or tacoma suspension parts on CL?,
I see them for app. $200-300 with rear/fr coils and 100-150 just for the shocks and these are usually Bilsteins
Xreas and Bilstein 4600
I'm new to this forum and this is my first post.
I have a 04 4Runner sports trim with 154000 miles. I was experiencing very rough ride on the vehicle for a while. After reading multiple posts on this forum that were very similar to my ride experience, I decided to replace XREAS shocks on my truck with after market shocks.
I don't do any offloading and mostly have city drive. I'm more concerned about ride comfort and was not looking for for any lift.
So here is my story;
I went with Bilstein 4600 HD shocks in front and back. I didn't replace the spring and reused the stock springs.
I went with 4600 as I was not looking for any lift ( at least this is what I understood after reading several posts with difference b/w 4600 vs. 5100). But after shock replacement the front height has gone up by approx 3".
As per my understanding the 4600 should provide the stock height.
Before replacement (measured from center of rim to wheel wall) :
Front : ~19"
Rear : ~ 21'
The reason I used the approx as I my talking off my memory. Though, I did measure but not recorded values.
After replacement :
Front : 22 3/4 (Right)
Front : 22 1/2 (left - Driver side)
Rear : 21 3/3 (Right)
Rear : 21 3/4 (left - Driver side)
The truck looks higher in front than rear (I know it is about inch lower in rear).
But main concern is the ride quality has not improved and it feels like floating even driving on small bumps.
Also, I had stabilizer links replaced on both side and had alignment done as well.
I'm new to this forum and this is my first post.
I have a 04 4Runner sports trim with 154000 miles. I was experiencing very rough ride on the vehicle for a while. After reading multiple posts on this forum that were very similar to my ride experience, I decided to replace XREAS shocks on my truck with after market shocks.
I don't do any offloading and mostly have city drive. I'm more concerned about ride comfort and was not looking for for any lift.
So here is my story;
I went with Bilstein 4600 HD shocks in front and back. I didn't replace the spring and reused the stock springs.
I went with 4600 as I was not looking for any lift ( at least this is what I understood after reading several posts with difference b/w 4600 vs. 5100). But after shock replacement the front height has gone up by approx 3".
As per my understanding the 4600 should provide the stock height.
Before replacement (measured from center of rim to wheel wall) :
Front : ~19"
Rear : ~ 21'
The reason I used the approx as I my talking off my memory. Though, I did measure but not recorded values.
After replacement :
Front : 22 3/4 (Right)
Front : 22 1/2 (left - Driver side)
Rear : 21 3/3 (Right)
Rear : 21 3/4 (left - Driver side)
The truck looks higher in front than rear (I know it is about inch lower in rear).
But main concern is the ride quality has not improved and it feels like floating even driving on small bumps.
Also, I had stabilizer links replaced on both side and had alignment done as well.
Here is what I discovered and sharing so that others could benefit.
so, I called shockwarehouse customer service and informed them about lift in the front after installation of Bilstein 4600. They confirmed me that 4600 shouldn't raise the vehicle at all as it is stock height shock. But they told me that they have seen this issue couple of time before ,and it was when strut plate was installed in reverse direction causing the plate to be sitting about 2 inches higher; hence, spring was sitting higher, resulting the lift in the front.
Guess what, when I checked the struts , the plates were indeed installed in reverse direction.
This morning I went to place that installed the struts and had them take off the struts, correctly installed the plate and reinstall the struts.
The vehicle is now gone back to expected height in front.
The suspension feels much better after correcting the issue.
so, I called shockwarehouse customer service and informed them about lift in the front after installation of Bilstein 4600. They confirmed me that 4600 shouldn't raise the vehicle at all as it is stock height shock. But they told me that they have seen this issue couple of time before ,and it was when strut plate was installed in reverse direction causing the plate to be sitting about 2 inches higher; hence, spring was sitting higher, resulting the lift in the front.
Guess what, when I checked the struts , the plates were indeed installed in reverse direction.
This morning I went to place that installed the struts and had them take off the struts, correctly installed the plate and reinstall the struts.
The vehicle is now gone back to expected height in front.
The suspension feels much better after correcting the issue.
What to do?
Frequent visitor, first time poster.
I'm in a similar conundrum. I have a 05 4Runner Sport V8 w/ XREAS (over 197K miles). My shocks have been slowly failing for the last 6 months or so, and very noticeably in the past month or so. SO I definitely need replacements.
Even though many other don't like the XREAS.. I'm one of the few that like it. I loved how it handled in the turns and when towing, my rear never sagged, no matter how heavy the load was. I don't plan on getting rid of my truck anytime soon. And the plan is to get a travel trailer in the future. Being that my V8 can tow 7000 lbs (which none of the new 4Runners can do). So I need options.
Yes, I can fork over the $$$ for XREAS replacement OR remove and get after market parts OR idk. I also read in the thread that going to a 4W mechanic shop is the ideal way to go, being they know trucks and Toyotas and the best solutions. Does anyone know of any in the Chicagoland area they trust?
Or maybe someone knows of rumors where Toyota would bring back the V8 with better towing in the future?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Frequent visitor, first time poster.
I'm in a similar conundrum. I have a 05 4Runner Sport V8 w/ XREAS (over 197K miles). My shocks have been slowly failing for the last 6 months or so, and very noticeably in the past month or so. SO I definitely need replacements.
Even though many other don't like the XREAS.. I'm one of the few that like it. I loved how it handled in the turns and when towing, my rear never sagged, no matter how heavy the load was. I don't plan on getting rid of my truck anytime soon. And the plan is to get a travel trailer in the future. Being that my V8 can tow 7000 lbs (which none of the new 4Runners can do). So I need options.
Yes, I can fork over the $$$ for XREAS replacement OR remove and get after market parts OR idk. I also read in the thread that going to a 4W mechanic shop is the ideal way to go, being they know trucks and Toyotas and the best solutions. Does anyone know of any in the Chicagoland area they trust?
Or maybe someone knows of rumors where Toyota would bring back the V8 with better towing in the future?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
I rather not go the Lexus route. ;-)
I'm in the same boat, just dropped off a 2005 4wd sport v8 4Runner for them to take a look at the suspension. I bought it used several years back and am at 215k miles. Not sure if the XREAS system was replaced by the previous owner or if it's still stock, but it's just now starting to get a bit wonky on handling. I likely won't be paying a $2k price tag for a replacement. I'll prob go with Bilsteins or the like as mentioned in other threads.
One question for those that have removed the XREAS and gone with after market shocks: Have you noticed a difference in wear on your tires?
I currently have NITTO's on mine and they have worn more evenly than any other set I've had. I'm wondering if a change in shocks will cause quicker uneven wear. (I rotate them as prescribed, I'm curious if the shocks may cause uneven wear causing them to wear faster)
Thanks in advance
One question for those that have removed the XREAS and gone with after market shocks: Have you noticed a difference in wear on your tires?
I currently have NITTO's on mine and they have worn more evenly than any other set I've had. I'm wondering if a change in shocks will cause quicker uneven wear. (I rotate them as prescribed, I'm curious if the shocks may cause uneven wear causing them to wear faster)
Thanks in advance
Bluesky 07
Senior Member
I replaced my X-REAS several 2.5 years and 75K miles ago and noticed no difference in tire wear. The "X-REAS delete..." post linked in my sig may be helpful as you consider alternatives. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised once you replace it regardless of what you go with. One suggestion: replace your springs too. They're not that expensive and are a key part of the suspension. New shocks are wasted to some degree if you're still riding on springs that have been hauling a 4,500-lb. SUV for 15+ years and the equivalent of 8 times around the planet.
