XREAS retrofit on SR5

Q

Quentin

Senior Member
I've gone through the TIS documents for the non-XREAS and XREAS suspensions, and it seems like a retrofit wouldn't be terribly difficult short of a few questions. Maybe you limited guys that have removed the XREAS (Harper as far as I know) can help out.

1) Are the lines for the XREAS rigid or flexible? If rigid, I don't see any possibility other than actually disconnecting at the fittings. If flexible, were you able to fish the shocks, controller, etc through the frame to keep the system fully connected?

2) Are there checkvalves in the fittings that prevent the fluid from leaking when you disconnect (think of a quick release on a compressed air drop)? Basically, if you disconnect, are you going to have to somehow re-prime the fluid in the system?

3) In the TIS, it notes that you shouldn't disconnect and reconnect the fittings more than once. It doesn't really elaborate from that.

4) Is it worth the hassle over the standard SR5 suspension? I'm pretty happy with the handling of my SR5, but if the retrofit was inexpensive and painless enough, I'd definitely consider it. I have no real intention in dropping $1000 on a new aftermarket suspension, so it is pretty much narrowed down to SR5 or Limited suspension for me at the moment. When my T4R starts getting up in mileage and suspension components start wearing (5 ~ 10 years), I'll look into something more performance oriented in the aftermarket, but I'm OK with OEM for now.

Thanks!
 
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Unless you can get someone who has taken it off and kept it in functional order to give it to you, it is going to be very expensive to buy.

The lines are hard and connected to the frame with brackets. There are check valves.

Buying a set of Bilstein's would be a lot cheaper and simpler.
 
4RBob said:
Unless you can get someone who has taken it off and kept it in functional order to give it to you, it is going to be very expensive to buy.

The lines are hard and connected to the frame with brackets. There are check valves.

Buying a set of Bilstein's would be a lot cheaper and simpler.
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I have no intention of buying new. It would be a used from a Limited owner that upgraded. So, it sounds like I'd have to disconnect the fittings and install it 100% correctly the first time since the TIS recommends disconnecting only once. Probably not worth the hassle.
 
eskimochaos said:
Is this a joke?


X-REAS is not that great....
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I had someone offer the whole setup for $100. It would have been a good deal for getting rid of some of the pitch and roll in the standard SR5 suspension if not for the issues of connecting and disconnecting the whole system. Some of us like staying with OEM parts, too.

Frankly, I'll deal with the standard suspension, as it has generally been fine by me anyway, before I dump $350 into new shocks. I figure you'd want a different spring rate with the Bilsteins too, so toss in another couple hundred bucks for new springs. Not worth it.
 
If you don't want to do anything too expensive yet, I would just wait. In the end it would be best to get the Toytec Coilover kit, Overland Warehouse kit or the Icon Kit. All of which will enhance the ride significantly and also allow you to adjust the front height as often as you please. (ex. to compensate for Coil Springs settling.)

I'm pretty sure the stock XREAS has hard lines going from corner to corner, and quite a few people on here with Limited's got rid of XREAS for a reason I'm sure. Doing this XREAS transplant would be just a waste of time, money and patience IMO.

In the end you can do what you want, but I don't think any one of us that has spent a little more for a decent suspension has any regrets. Just save and do it RIGHT the first time!
 
Ryan_S said:
Not sure you can consider it OEM if the system is now hacked onto a vehicle that didn't originally have it.
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OEM = original equipment manufacturer... i.e. Toyota. I wouldn't call it hacked. It appears that all the hardpoints on the frame and suspension are the same, so it would be like bolting a TE hood on an SR5 or Limited. It is essentially plug and play because the system is completely mechanical and requires no "hacking", electrical or mechanical.

Dispense said:
I'm pretty sure he means he wants to stay with OEM parts. See above..

Parts chosen and used by Toyota in their manufacturing process.

Not stay OEM as a whole.
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Yup. On a new vehicle still under warranty, I tend to go for the OEM offerings. There is far more testing behind them and for general usage, you'll get better reliability/longevity and you don't have to worry about other problems cropping up due to things you change.

Anyway..... I decided several posts ago to not bother with it. I care about keeping my 4Runner as roadworthy as possible because it has to pull double duty in my household (get to remote places for mountain biking plus get my wife to Columbus for concerts while returning 22mpg), so a badass suspension for the soft stuff isn't really in the cards.... yet. Down the road when my 4Runner no longer has to be as civil for my family needs, I'll put a proper suspension under it. I was just thinking that the XREAS might be a cheap, easy way to keep doing the current jobs well while improving the onroad handling a bit. At $100, it was pocket change so I figured I'd ask questions about the capacity to quickly and easily remove and install it. But since it will be a pain in the rear, I have no motivation to do so. Case closed, if you will.
 
Quentin said:
I've gone through the TIS documents for the non-XREAS and XREAS suspensions, and it seems like a retrofit wouldn't be terribly difficult short of a few questions. Maybe you limited guys that have removed the XREAS (Harper as far as I know) can help out.

1) Are the lines for the XREAS rigid or flexible? If rigid, I don't see any possibility other than actually disconnecting at the fittings. If flexible, were you able to fish the shocks, controller, etc through the frame to keep the system fully connected?They lines are rigid and had to be fished thru parts of the frame to take them out after they were separated at the check valve unions. Not that big of deal.

2) Are there checkvalves in the fittings that prevent the fluid from leaking when you disconnect (think of a quick release on a compressed air drop)? Basically, if you disconnect, are you going to have to somehow re-prime the fluid in the system?They have check valves and I included a pic of the of the male and female coupling to show you. The system cannot be re-charged except at the manufacturer as far as I know. Tech at Toyota said dealerships can't even do it.If pressure is off the system by having all 4 wheels in the air, during removal and installation,you can open the lines at the check valves and not lose hardly any fluid. I didn't even lose a drop when I took mine off.

3) In the TIS, it notes that you shouldn't disconnect and reconnect the fittings more than once. It doesn't really elaborate from that. Probably because they are afraid 1-2 drops here then 1-2 drops the second time and they will add up to being low on fluid

4) Is it worth the hassle over the standard SR5 suspension? I'm pretty happy with the handling of my SR5, but if the retrofit was inexpensive and painless enough, I'd definitely consider it. I have no real intention in dropping $1000 on a new aftermarket suspension, so it is pretty much narrowed down to SR5 or Limited suspension for me at the moment. When my T4R starts getting up in mileage and suspension components start wearing (5 ~ 10 years), I'll look into something more performance oriented in the aftermarket, but I'm OK with OEM for now. Yes they are better then regular SR5 suspension. Easy as pie to see,go to a dealership and test drive both and see or feel for yourself. Alot of internet experts here badmouthing the X-Reas system need to go and see for themselves.It's actually a tried and true system that has been around and a oem suspension upgrade from Toyota for years
Thanks!
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I drove both as I test drove a 2010 SR5 for 25-30 miles as that was the only thing they had at first at the dealership. When my Limited came in I noticed the difference in less sway and brake dive immediately.The SR5 I test drove felt very soft and floaty to me being used to X-Reas.My last 4Runner Sport that I drove for the last 5 years before that had X-Reas .

Are they better then Icon ,Toytec or OW coilover suspension systems? Hell no!
Are they better then just adding Bilstein front adjustable shocks. IMO ,X-Reas would be better unless you change the front/rear springs and rear shocks too which would cost alot more then a used X-Reas system. Plus if your going to spend that much money. Get a real coilover suspension for a little more.

The problem with swapping systems is they are so big and irregular shaped and they would be a nightmare to box up and ship. A couple of people wanted to buy mine and told them I would check into it. But after seeing all the parts together, I would not attempt ship.
I will sell them local for cheap if somebody wants to pick them up and they do already have the Toytec leveling spacers installed.I took some pics of all the components on a 4x8 sheet of plywood so you can see how awkward it would be to ship. These are all the lines and such minus the bunch of plastic clips that attach to the frame and hold the lines in place.
Excuse the shadows......lol
Picture044.jpg~original


The check valves and how they work. When the lines are tightened, the nipples on the check valves push each other open to let hydraulic fluid flow.
Picture046-1.jpg~original
 
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My point was that you are still modifying the vehicle. If you end up having issues and try to claim warrantee on your OEM parts I don't believe you will get much help.

As others have said, get something aftermarket which will be cheaper and better in the end.
 
Ryan_S said:
My point was that you are still modifying the vehicle. If you end up having issues and try to claim warrantee on your OEM parts I don't believe you will get much help.

As others have said, get something aftermarket which will be cheaper and better in the end.
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As I've said around 4 times now, I'm going to leave it with the stock SR5 suspension. I think it would be pretty obvious that you give up any rights to warranty coverage on a suspension if you change the suspension, OEM or not. The simple fact is that the XREAS suspension has been durability tested with the 4Runner and aftermarket suspension have not been tested to that extent.

Harper - thanks, that was exactly the info I was looking for and exactly what I suspected. The person that offered it is local (TN), so it could have been picked up, but according to the TIS, the check valves are only good for about 1 disconnect. I have no interest in screwing up the install accidentally, having to disconnect again, and having to buy replacement components in the XREAS. Thank you for the pictures. You're a great resource for those that toss around crazy ideas because you have so much experience tearing into the 5th gen. :)
 
Getting ready to install my bilstein 6112/5160 and will have to deal with the X-REAS. I have never driven any other model so don't know the difference in handling, but I'm hoping that the Bilstein will provide the same if not better handling on the road.

Should I remove the entire system including the lines? or leave the lines and cover the connections and just remove the X-REAS shocks at the check valves?
 
sigbrown1297 said:
Getting ready to install my bilstein 6112/5160 and will have to deal with the X-REAS. I have never driven any other model so don't know the difference in handling, but I'm hoping that the Bilstein will provide the same if not better handling on the road.

Should I remove the entire system including the lines? or leave the lines and cover the connections and just remove the X-REAS shocks at the check valves?
Click to expand...

I yanked the whole thing. I went to 5100s from XREAS and was happy. I was even happier going to the icon LT.
 
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