TRD Pro Fox Suspension Install Mishap

[MKIVGuam]

Long time lurker, few posts. Long rant.

I've been on the look out for new wheels and tires for my 5th Gen. I'm a bit of an OEM snob and like the look of TRD wheels. Long story short, I found a set of new TRD wheels and Falkens on marketplace. After removing my wheels I noticed my front shocks were leaking. I have a 2013 Limited equipped with X-REAS suspension. I asked the installer if he had any suspension upgrades instock since we're in there already. He did have a set of used TRD Pro Fox from a 2019 4Runner. Although he insisted to get my current X-REAS suspension serviced I was unsure of how expensive it would have been instead of just getting an independent suspension. After a little bit of research on what to do with the X-REAS suspension I decided to not pass up a good deal. ($1100 used) This guy is pretty reputable from all the installs he's done in the area. Anyway after the install everything felt good. There were some suspect techniques for the install but suspension work is really straight forward. After checking everything out before putting on the wheels I noticed my right side rear strut's nut was loose. I watched my installer tighten that nut down so I didn't think anything of it. We finished up, installed the wheels and off I went. After a 3 hour drive from Long Beach to Lancaster my 4R felt off. I heard a lot of metal on metal. All these things I brought up to my installer. Mind you, I didn't think anything of it since I had a metal carrier attached to my hitch with my spare wheels I just replaced. I assumed on the metal on metal was the carrier bouncing up and down. After I got home I excitedly started checking things out.

I drove 3 hours in LA traffic to find that the bolt on my driver's side rear strut came out. I'm not sure what the worse case scenario would have been but it's a scary thought nonetheless. Luckily, I was by myself at the time. Anyway, today I took out the strut and noticed the threads were stripped pretty bad. My installer didn't mention anything wrong with this. I understand I should have did a thorough inspection however I'm not familiar with how these struts are suppose to look and function. My installer suggested I take it to a machine shop and have them thread it. I have not found anyone in the Antelope Valley area to rethread these struts. He said he'll cover the cost of machine work so I don't want to burn bridges just yet.

Question, is this repairable (rethreading)? Should I just get my money back and get a different set up? Can I or Toyota remove the stud and replace it? What should I do?

The picture with the rear strut was after my 3 hour drive.

I had to purchase rear struts from Autozone just to get my car back to my house. FYI, X-REAS is currently disconnected.

 

[2barevo]

Let me be the first to ask who the installer is.

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[Space King]

Question, is this repairable (rethreading)? Should I just get my money back and get a different set up? Can I or Toyota remove the stud and replace it? What should I do?

Looks like you'll need to have the shock rebuilt and the entire shock rod replaced.

 

[Jetboy]

Any machine shop should have no problem fixing those threads. Next time install with a nylock nut. The shaft is usually a hard alloy but a good die should still cut threads.

The damage is minimal so I would just re thread top the same size. A tool called a thread chaser may be the best bet. They're designed for this exact situation to clean up threads.

Any general mechanic shop should have a set of metric dies and thread chases too. Just make sure they know it's metric.

Good luck

 

[llDemonll]

I'd get your money back. That looks like it was cross-threaded or the wrong size nut used or something. It's going to be a bunch of money to get that fixed and suddenly your good deal is a terrible deal.

 

[nb rob]

I don't think the rod is damaged, just that stud at the top of the shock right?
FWIW, that's a shock, the fronts are struts. Just for the sake of clear communication. You need the top stud on your rear shock repaired, if I am interpreting this correctly.

I agree with Jetboy, get those threads cleaned up, and get a nice new taper put on the end.

The torque on that nut on the top stud in the rear is only 18ft-lbs, or 1/4" of thread showing beyond the nut (nylock should be used here for sure)--- because it's extremely difficult to get an accurate torque on here. It only needs to bring all of the plies firmly in to contact. A repaired thread on the top stud of that rear shock would be an acceptable fix for me, given it's task.

However-- I would double check the bushing and washer orientation. I'm doubtful that the installer wasn't aware that the stud was stripped or that he was stripping it. If he was unaware, well.... I'd double check his work with the bushings and washer orientations.

 

[Grug556]

When you get a tap, make sure you get correct thread pitch. It may be salvageable, but its pretty chewed up. If you can get them to replace it, I would go that route, but again maybe fixable..but still

 

[MKIVGuam]

Thanks for all the suggestions and feedback. The installer is willing to settle for a full refund so I don’t want to put him on blast. I know it may be acceptable to rethread the shocks but my wife and daughter are the main drivers so safety is a big concern for me. I’m a little stubborn and still want to run this setup but for the sake of their safety I’ll have to go a different route. Thanks again!!

 

[4gambler]

Which red shocks are those? From what trim? Red ones OEM?

Those red shocks considered an "upgrade" over OEM SR5 shocks?

 

[IanB]

Which red shocks are those? From what trim? Red ones OEM?

Those red shocks considered an "upgrade" over OEM SR5 shocks?

Red ones are factory XREAS shocks that came on the Limited trim trucks, they are all tied together with hydraulic lines, wouldn't consider them an "upgrade" per se, just different than the standard shocks package.

 

[4gambler]

Was the installer one of those impact gun trigger hungry dudes? Lazy mofo i bet didnt start the nut by hand to let it grab onto a few threads. Hand tools still best than impaxting the krappp outa stuff stretxhing fastnerz.

 

[Grug556]

Which red shocks are those? From what trim? Red ones OEM?

Those red shocks considered an "upgrade" over OEM SR5 shocks?

XREAS is garbage..possible other uses include

1. Stump post digging tool
2. Christmas tree ornament
3. Something to leave on the highway to test puncture resistance...:bounce:

They really are total...shitt

 

[Jetboy]

Was the installer one of those impact gun trigger hungry dudes? Lazy mofo i bet didnt start the nut by hand to let it grab onto a few threads. Hand tools still best than impaxting the krappp outa stuff stretxhing fastnerz.

Not in this case. You can't put an impact on those nuts unless you remove the body first. The only way to install them is with a good old fashion open end wrench. The installer just used the wrong nut. The torque value is low and you need either loctite or a self locking type nut to stay on.

 

[Grug556]

Not in this case. You can't put an impact on those nuts unless you remove the body first. The only way to install them is with a good old fashion open end wrench. The installer just used the wrong nut. The torque value is low and you need either loctite or a self locking type nut to stay on.

Open end is ok, crows foot head seemed abit easier.

 

[MKIVGuam]

Was the installer one of those impact gun trigger hungry dudes? Lazy mofo i bet didnt start the nut by hand to let it grab onto a few threads. Hand tools still best than impaxting the krappp outa stuff stretxhing fastnerz.

Yes he was one of those guys unfortunately. He probably stripped the bolt for my sway bar after I told him it wasn’t aligned properly. That’s why I do my own work unfortunately I didn’t have the necessary tools to install the coil overs at the time.

 

[MKIVGuam]

Is it possible if Fox could rebuild this suspension. It probably doesn’t need a whole lot of rebuilding but I’m interested to see if they can make it “almost new”. I’ve messaged the Fox service in El Cajon, CA but they haven’t replied.

 

[Jetboy]

Is it possible if Fox could rebuild this suspension. It probably doesn’t need a whole lot of rebuilding but I’m interested to see if they can make it “almost new”. I’ve messaged the Fox service in El Cajon, CA but they haven’t replied.

There's nothing to rebuild. Literally all you need is to clean up the threads and re-install. It should take most competent mechanics about 30 minutes to fix the threads and whatever additional time to re-install. I'd guess it would take me about 2 hours total.

 

[Ak1m0to]

I wouldn't see why a rethread kit couldn't fix your problem and just reinstall it?
Go rent one from Autozone or O'Reilly's.

 

[Jedi7Taco]

Have you had a chance to fix this yet, I’m interested to see what you did. I'm in a similar situation, my XREAS on my 2013 is started to die, rear shocks are leaking. I've enjoyed them but I picked up a full set of TRD Pro fox suspension. I was looking at one of the rear shocks and it looks like there is some damage to the threads, would like to address this before I install them. Got a really good deal on them so can't complain.

One question I had is did you change the rear spring as well, I know the limited springs are different. I know you only had the fox stuff on for a few hours but how was the ride compared to the XREAS, stiffer, did the nose dive under braking go away.




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[MKIVGuam]

Have you had a chance to fix this yet, I’m interested to see what you did. I'm in a similar situation, my XREAS on my 2013 is started to die, rear shocks are leaking. I've enjoyed them but I picked up a full set of TRD Pro fox suspension. I was looking at one of the rear shocks and it looks like there is some damage to the threads, would like to address this before I install them. Got a really good deal on them so can't complain.

One question I had is did you change the rear spring as well, I know the limited springs are different. I know you only had the fox stuff on for a few hours but how was the ride compared to the XREAS, stiffer, did the nose dive under braking go away.




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I had the studs rethreaded but the previous owner(s) may have cut/modified it as it seems a little short. I didn't have all the hardware like the bushings or washers. I had to modify some bushings so I could catch a couple of threads with the nylock nut. Thread pitch was 14 x 2.00. I called RideFox and they said the studs are threaded into the shock so I could have gotten new studs if I had the time to wait for it. I'll just have it serviced once it starts to fail. So far the ride is a little stiffer than XREAS. Nose dive was not noticeable as much as the XREAS. I removed the XREAS completely from my 4Runner. It drives nice and so far I'm liking the "upgrade".