XREAS rear removal - what parts are required?

[RedRacer]

XREAS + Rear Air susp removal - what parts are required?

I am ditching the XREAS on my '06 V8 LTD with rear "air" suspension (pic at bottom).

Bilstein 5100s will go in at all four corners.

In the front I will be resuing the OEM springs.

For the rear I plan to buy brand new OEM Toyota 4Runner springs. My limited research suggests that all '03-'09 4Runners without XREAS used the exact same rear spring part number, regardless of whether they are V6, V8, 2WD or 4WD. Does this sound right

None of the XREAS removal posts mention adding the rear spring bumpstops and rubber top "insulators" (see pic - circled in red).
Why not????? It seems to me that these items would be required to do the conversion correctly. Perhaps this is because most 4Runners don't have rear air like mine does?

Feedback please

 

[aaronfro17]

I reused the bumpstops when I replaced my springs with FJ springs. You'd probably have some pretty awful squeaks and rattles without them!

Btw I still have my OEM springs if you're interested. They had ~35000 miles on them when I took them off.

 

[RedRacer]

I reused the bumpstops when I replaced my springs with FJ springs. You'd probably have some pretty awful squeaks and rattles without them!

Btw I still have my OEM springs if you're interested. They had ~35000 miles on them when I took them off.

I am very interested in your used springs! Can you PM me?

You were able to reuse your parts because they were present on the vehicle I don't think the XREAS-equipped 4Runners have these parts.

 

[aaronfro17]

PM sent. My 4Runner has XREAS and the parts in question were there, I'd bet a six pack you've got them too.

 

[Billf6531]

+1. You can re-use your existing springs - front and rear, when you replace the xreas.

 

[RedRacer]

+1. You can re-use your existing springs - front and rear, when you replace the xreas.

I am clearly confused. Judging by the Toyota parts diagram it looks like the XREAS V8 LTD uses rear air springs, not coil springs. Is this not true

I thought that I needed to buy non-XREAS steel coil springs for this conversion?

To recap.....I want to use Bilstein 5100s and COIL springs on all four corners.


Thanks

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

Rear air bags were an option on the limited, most have regular coils though.

 

[Billf6531]

The simplest thing is to stick your head under the rear bumper and see if you have coil springs. I've never worked on one with a self-levelling rear, so I can't comment on whether they have bags inside/in addition to the springs, or bags alone. Let me know. That'll add to my knowledge base.

 

[RedRacer]

Rear air bags were an option on the limited, most have regular coils though.

Mine has the air option.

Does this mean I need to buy the rear coil springs plus the rubber spring seats?

 

[paraordnance]

Mine has the air option.

Does this mean I need to buy the rear coil springs plus the rubber spring seats?

yes, if you have rear air you need coil springs to replace air bags, note that little fabrication will be required for this conversion since rear air option does not have a way to hold coil in place.

 

[RedRacer]

yes, if you have rear air you need coil springs to replace air bags, note that little fabrication will be required for this conversion since rear air option does not have a way to hold coil in place.

Ouch, that isn't the news I was hoping for :moping:

Have any forums members successfully converted from rear air to coil?

I would greatly appreciate any tips, hints or feedback.

I sure hope it is worth all the trouble and expense!

 

[chaz]

this has some threads u can use.. Air suspension - convert to OME? - Toyota 120 Platforms Forum

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

You can remove xreas and keep the rear air. Any reson why you are wanting to swap? The rear air system uses bags insteasd of coils, but you can convert as discussed before. Unless you are having issues with the system I would swap just shocks on the rear and hold on to the coils for later. You will want a rear shock that's about the same length as stock to prevent issues though.

 

[aaronfro17]

Mine has the air option.

Does this mean I need to buy the rear coil springs plus the rubber spring seats?

Well that's another thing entirely!

 

[RedRacer]

You can remove xreas and keep the rear air. Any reson why you are wanting to swap? The rear air system uses bags insteasd of coils, but you can convert as discussed before. Unless you are having issues with the system I would swap just shocks on the rear and hold on to the coils for later. You will want a rear shock that's about the same length as stock to prevent issues though.

My rear air is working fine but I was hoping to get better handling and ride with rear coil springs.

Bilstein says their rear 5100 is suitable for 0-2" lifts so I could try the 5100s with the air bags before moving to the rear coils.

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

5100s will extend further than stock and could cause issues with the bags. If you want to keep the bags you will want the Bilstein hd rears, they have the same specs as the 5100s but stock length.

 

[gman72]

Why are you ditching the XREAS? Let me tell you, I ditched mine recently @~80k mi. when a couple shocks were leaking ... decided to go with Bilstein 5100's all around, and I couldn't be UNHAPPIER. On the Bilsteins I went with I think the 1.5" setting on the front schocks. Sure, it leveled it out, but hindsight is 20-20 and I should have just stuck with XREAS + spacers.

Body roll is horrendously ridiculous now w/o XREAS. I can't even take freeway onramps at any decent speed. Feel like the vehicle has lost all stability. Dives on stopping are now unbearable (regular stops not even hard stops which are completely lame now), and pitch on acceleration is truly annoying as hell. Ride is also considerably rougher (granted I'll attribute some of that to the BFG AT KO's I put on, but even before I put them on it wasn't THAT bad).

Bottom line, I'm just over it. I don't know how all you 4th gen'ers survive w/o XREAS, it truly makes a HUGE difference and does more than you realize until you get rid of it. I literally feel like I'm driving a completely different vehicle, one that I certainly don't enjoy anymore.

So I've quoted out some $1300 in parts to get new tubes/absorbers/center unit and will be adding it back in soon. (my biggest mistake was telling my guy that did the switch that I didn't care how he disconnected the system 'cuz I wasn't going back, so he just discon'd at the shocks and tie wrapped up the parts going to the shocks - still leaking here and there, surely the entire system is gone).

Anyway, think about it before you scrap the XREAS, if you drive mainly on-highway (I'm probably 80/20 on/off), you'll regret it. Keep the XREAS and get spacers instead of the 5100's if you wanna add a couple inches clearance (front that is, rear 5100's won't do anything anyway). If you need addt'l lift you can put 265/70/17 tires for another 3/4". Mine barely rub at full lock, everything else stock. (although I'll probably ditch the BFG's and get some Michelin LTX AT2's due to the lame road noise and radial pull on these BFG's).

In your case w/factory air in the rear, not sure your options there but I'd look into it more b4 ditching XREAS. I have coils in the rear and will be adding AirLift bags for towing when I redo all this. Bottom line think about it before you ditch that system, you surely paid a premium for it, and the reason is because it WORKS! The rest of this aftermarket stuff is hogwash, and IMHO only necessary if you're doing some crazy lift or anything.

Food for thought.

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

I know of more people than I can count that have have the exact opposite reslts. I have a xreas equipped 4runner, a friend has the 5100s. After riding with him I'm making the same switch. The 5100s are better in every way. Something isn't right here. IF you have the own rear air you will want the bilstein hd shocks for the rear. The 5100 reads are longer than stock and can cause issues with the rear air system. The hd rest have the same specs so they will match up great.

 

[Doozi]

Why are you ditching the XREAS? Let me tell you, I ditched mine recently @~80k mi. when a couple shocks were leaking ... decided to go with Bilstein 5100's all around, and I couldn't be UNHAPPIER.

Are you still running the stock coil springs? I kept my XREAS intact, but swapped out the stock coils for 2010 FJ Cruiser coils and it made a huge difference. I think that you might want to look at some coil spring options before spending the money to put XREAS back. I'm not saying that XREAS isn't good... I like it a lot, but it could probably save you several hundred dollars. I got the entire FJ set-up for $100. Just a thought.

I'm just really surprised to hear of your disappointment with the 5100's... people have been raving about them for a while. I agree with Swamp Rider... something doesn't seem right.

 

[gman72]

I know of more people than I can count that have have the exact opposite reslts. I have a xreas equipped 4runner, a friend has the 5100s. After riding with him I'm making the same switch. The 5100s are better in every way. Something isn't right here.

Swamp Rider, "better in every way" is a bit overstatement no? The extra body roll is not a minor thing IMHO... it's extremely noticeable w/o XREAS. I drove my Aunt's stock '06 w/o XREAS last weekend just to make sure I wasn't crazy. Sure enough, body roll and nose dives are there on hers. She doesn't notice it because that's all she's used to, and drives like an old lady anyway. To each his/her own - likely I'm a more sporty driver than most, but I for one feel the huge difference, and oh what NOT a feeling!" Test your buddy's truck out again and take a freeway onramp, curvy mountain road, or enter a parking lot driveway at an angle at ~5mph or so, and do so with a full Coke in the drink holder - I bet you'll find XREAS keeping the truck amazingly level while you're cleaning up the spills in the other :. Perhaps new swaybar bushings would help some in my case, but I'm pessimistic how much.

Are you still running the stock coil springs? I kept my XREAS intact, but swapped out the stock coils for 2010 FJ Cruiser coils and it made a huge difference. I think that you might want to look at some coil spring options before spending the money to put XREAS back. I'm not saying that XREAS isn't good... I like it a lot, but it could probably save you several hundred dollars. I got the entire FJ set-up for $100. Just a thought.

I'm just really surprised to hear of your disappointment with the 5100's... people have been raving about them for a while. I agree with Swamp Rider... something doesn't seem right.

Yes, still running stock coils. When I initially switched I was going to go with FJ rear coils, figured I'd do those later when adding the air bags. But at this point I'm pretty set on just going back to XREAS. I haven't driven a full conversion (ditching XREAS / adding FJ Springs combo), but I have a hunch that adding the FJ SPrings won't do much for my main disappointments (body roll/nose dives/stiffness). Again, I guess the 5100's may be better for offroad?, but for on road I just don't see any benefit. The body roll & nose dives just kill it for me completely. Cost isn't much a concern for me. Stealership wants $2500-3k to replace the whole system, but I've searched a ton and for ~$1300 can get all 8 replacement parts, and will have a buddy help throw it in. I think I dropped $4-500 on the Bilsteins, had I known better I would've just replaced XREAS absorbers in the first place. The adjustable 5100's front are nice, but in hindsight I shoulda just gone with spacers.

Didn't mean to HJ the thread, I just hate to see here as in RedRacer's case yet another guy ditching a great system for what benefit? 5100's are really "better in every way??" Sorry I just don't see it, esp. when comparing to the benefits of XREAS. In any case, I'll probably have a set of 5100's with less than 5k mi. on 'em for sale cheap in the next couple/few months .. since everybody loves 'em so much doubt I'll have a problem getting rid of them But SwampRider's right, if you keep the factory air in rear you'll need the HD's, else ditching that too you might find a decent buyer for the pump for that system, which I'm pretty sure isn't cheap ...