XREAS suspension

[Powder_Hound]

Thanks for the input man, you're fortunate that your XRAES was still good.

I'm forced to make a decision on replacement, mine are worn out.

I had XREAS with a Daystar spacer lift for the first 110,000 of my T4Rs life and I had 0 complaints. When my XREAS started leaking I wanted a little more "true" lift and more off road capability. I went OME/Toytec and although it drives great it is much stiffer than XREAS. If your going to spend $2000 on suspension it is my understanding that most, if not all, will ride stiffer and probably have more body roll than XREAS. My suggestion would still be to replace XREAS and add a Daystar lift. Your still looking at around 2 grand after all is said and done.

 

[anotherrunner83]

ebay has oem xreas shocks for around $1200. if you can do the work yourself and add a spacer, you can get exactly what you're after. I already have the spacer, so i might be taking this route as well.

edit: partznet.com has them for a lot cheaper. $180 ea for the front and $285 ea for the rears.

 

[084runner480]

Yeah, I'm seriously considering that.

Toyota is giving me a military discount, 1100 for the parts

I've been told the XRAES may not perform as desired if I add the spacers. It's been stressed that adding a spacer may very well work, but the geometry and travel is different, therefore not allowing XREAS to provide the wonderful ride. This is why I'm considering the bilstiens, because they are designed for he application, no mods.

IDK, it's a job I could do, I just don't want to add the spacers if thhey negate the xreas system.

I've got some problems huh? Which thousand dollar suspension to install.

 

[anotherrunner83]

for what it's worth, i've run spacers for well over 100k miles now. they only limit down travel of the shocks from what i understand (could be completely wrong here, i think i recall hearing that somewhere). if you don't offroad it, it will never bother you. the ride is exactly the same, i can honestly tell you that from first hand experience. not trying to sway you either way, just arm you with data.

i also just found a 5% coupon code to partznet. NEWLOOK5

front and rear shocks and a couple of nuts for $887 + shipping ($22 to my location).

i have been hesitant to replace mine with anything other than hem because i mainly do on road driving as well. you can read 1000 reviews on the 5100s and folks are split on the ride. keep in mind, if you're comparing a worn out shock to any new shock, i imagine it will ride quite a bit better.

found this too: http://www.shockwarehouse.com/news/toyota-4runner-xreas-suspension-replacement-diy-instructions.pdf some useful information. if you're a little handy with a wrench and have some jack stands, i think you could tackle it in an afternoon.

 

[084runner480]

Please, arm me up.

I encourage and appreciate all of the input. That's why I'm here. Most people have no idea what I'm talking about when I mention XRAES.

Previously, I had an 08 Tacoma with the TRD package. The ride was okay but I would get very annoyed at how bumpy it was. The suspension, combined with the light backend did not make a comfortable ride.

Then I got the 4Runner. I couldn't believe the difference. It was silky smooth everywhere I went, but I could sling it around corners and possibly pull a few G's with out the top leaning over. (Mild exaggeration) it was perfect..

I think having the XREAS system has spoiled me a bit. I have 174k on her, tires are about done, wheels leak and cannot be fixed, and xreas is shot. I'm gonna spend some money, i just don't wanna spend money on the wrong thing.

If I can replace xreas and lift it at a low cost, that would be awesome.

 

[anotherrunner83]

funny you mention a tacoma. i was considering it as a next vehicle, but don't think i can give up the comforts and power of the V8 i've come accustomed to.

i'm in a similar boat. i have 192k on my 08. truck has been stellar. just did the second timing belt job not too long ago. my second set of michelins are quickly eating up there last few thousand miles, can't complain about them, they have over 100k on them.

i believe i got my spacer from amazon for around $40 (daystar budget boost 1" spacer, which leveled it out perfectly).

i've owned the truck since 09 and 22k miles. so far the timing belts, one wheel bearing (replaced the other as preventative), one caliper, plugs, fluids, pads, and tires, and obviously regular oil and filter changes are the only things i've done to it. i can tell the ride is starting to suffer and i don't want to give up that factory comfortable ride. i think partznet might be the answer.

 

[Inv4drZm]

for what it's worth, i've run spacers for well over 100k miles now. they only limit down travel of the shocks from what i understand (could be completely wrong here, i think i recall hearing that somewhere). if you don't offroad it, it will never bother you. the ride is exactly the same, i can honestly tell you that from first hand experience. not trying to sway you either way, just arm you with data.

i also just found a 5% coupon code to partznet. NEWLOOK5

front and rear shocks and a couple of nuts for $887 + shipping ($22 to my location).

i have been hesitant to replace mine with anything other than hem because i mainly do on road driving as well. you can read 1000 reviews on the 5100s and folks are split on the ride. keep in mind, if you're comparing a worn out shock to any new shock, i imagine it will ride quite a bit better.

found this too: http://www.shockwarehouse.com/news/toyota-4runner-xreas-suspension-replacement-diy-instructions.pdf some useful information. if you're a little handy with a wrench and have some jack stands, i think you could tackle it in an afternoon.

Spacers bolt to the top of your shock which spaces the shock downward effectively making them longer. This would make for more downtravel (usually limited by UCA or CV anyway) but it also allows for potentially overcompressing your shock by putting your shock's compressed length lower than the bumpstops on your frame. Instead of the vehicles weight on the bumpstop it will probably be on the compressed shock itself, bending the shaft. This is why spacers should be used cautiously for offroading.

 

[Inv4drZm]

Huh, I didn't know that. I guess it makes sense from a "keeping off the bumpstops" perspective.

Progressive and Digressive only considers shaft speed not shaft position.

Or did you mean for high speed offroading to keep from bottoming out?

 

[unevolved]

Progressive and Digressive only considers shaft speed not shaft position.

Or did you mean for high speed offroading to keep from bottoming out?

Yeah exactly, high speed impacts would give a higher force, but still give a "soft" comfy feeling at low speeds.

I'm used to digressive valving (or even regressive sometimes) in the road racing world where it's all about platform control.

 

[084runner480]

Anyone else have experience they'd share about lifting an xreas system or using bilstein 5100's after having xreas?

 

[grave]

Anyone else have experience they'd share about lifting an xreas system or using bilstein 5100's after having xreas?

Replaced my XREAS with Eibach Pro Truck Sport RHLs today and they feel great. I really liked XREAS so we'll see how it goes, but I'm OK losing the cornering prowess in a 4WD SUV for 2½" of lift.

 

[SluiceboxSlim]

Yeah man, it "ride quality is definitely relative"



Just spoke to Toyota and a separate off road shop



Toyota quotes:

New XREAS, $1700 parts and labor. (No lift)



Off-road shop:

Bilstien 5100 adjustable, says they can adjust the front and raise it 2-2.5 inches and add a 1-1.5" spacer to the rear if needed.

$1000 parts and labor



The shop insisted that the bilstiens will have a stiffer more sporty ride and hardly any body roll due to them being filled with nitrogen, rather than oil.

Idk, I'm kinda leaning towards the bilstiens.



Can anyone vouch for this claim? After having an XRAES?

I've gone from a stock 2005 Sport (V8) w/XREAS, then added a 3/2 Cornfed, and last year ripped it all out to install a full ICON suspension. It sounds like yours needs to be replaced, otherwise I'd heavily agree with the guys suggesting spacers with your XREAS. I thought that was a great combo, and loved how it handled on the street...you can't beat XREAS for that. The more time I spent off road made my decision to up for a new set-up. Having been in Tacomas and 4Runners with Bilst, I would never say they'd offer a more sporty ride compared to XREAS. If "sporty" is your goal in a lifted 4Runner, not much will compare to XREAS and spacers. For the end use of my truck, the XREAS lived a good life, but I never intended to keep it going due to high replacement costs, etc. FWIW, that seems to be maybe the most reasonably XREAS quote for parts and labor that I've ever seen.


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[084runner480]

I think I've made a decision.

XREAS Replacement.

Now, to figure how to lift it.

I see a lot of people have used daystar, which I believe is plastic or rubber. Then there's the metal option from cornfed or burman.

I've been told that spacers squeak and the daystar may compress over time.

Metal spacers may be the best option?

 

[084runner480]

This will be interesting.

Toyota says, " Oil bleeding and changing cannot be implemented for X-REAS. Parts exchanging operation due to the oil leakage should be done all as a set (front shock absorber, rear shock absorber, center control absorber, and tube assembly)"

Sooo, I'd imagine that the front left and rear right would be sold connected, as an assembly. But, I'm not seeing that when I look at parts. I would think there must be a way to bleed it, or get the air out. maybe it self bleeds. IDK, this may be more than I'm prepared for.

Its weird, Toyota says that first repairs you may replace components. But second repairs or leaky components require the entire system to be replaced.

Really need a service manual.

 

[anotherrunner83]

i ran both the aluminums and the polyurethane. never made a noise that i noticed.

if you're wondering why i've run both, i started with 1/2" aluminum and it just wasn't enough so i replaced it with a 1" poly (daystar). i just went and measured the spacer and it still measures right at 1", so it doesn't appear to have compressed in 5 years.

 

[anotherrunner83]

Gentlemen,

I have a 08 4runner limited with XREAS. I would like to put a small lift maybe 2-2.5"

If cost was not a factor, only ride quality.

What system or shock/lift combo would most closely duplicate the XREAS ride?

Is this even possible?

(I was having trouble getting this question out there, sorry if I cluttered the site up) I spoke to my local off road shop, they were off road knowledgeable, but not the kind of off road/XREAS/Toyota/SME knowledgeable I need. Thanks

just a question here...what makes you think you need to replace the existing xreas shocks? are they leaking or just riding poorly? if it's just a poor ride and they aren't leaking, maybe you only need the control valves for the system. just a thought.

 

[Bossman]

This will be interesting.

Toyota says, " Oil bleeding and changing cannot be implemented for X-REAS. Parts exchanging operation due to the oil leakage should be done all as a set (front shock absorber, rear shock absorber, center control absorber, and tube assembly)"

Sooo, I'd imagine that the front left and rear right would be sold connected, as an assembly. But, I'm not seeing that when I look at parts. I would think there must be a way to bleed it, or get the air out. maybe it self bleeds. IDK, this may be more than I'm prepared for.

Its weird, Toyota says that first repairs you may replace components. But second repairs or leaky components require the entire system to be replaced.

Really need a service manual.

Here are some links that may help you get your head around this XREAS system.

Toyota 4-Runner X-REAS Shocks - Shockwarehouse.com - Shockwarehouse.com

http://www.shockwarehouse.com/news/toyota-4runner-xreas-suspension-replacement-diy-instructions.pdf

 

[084runner480]

2-3 of the shocks have been leaking for about 70-90k miles now. Back then I kinda looked into replacing them but the truck still felt fine so I left it as is.

Now, the truck see-saws like crazy entering and exiting driveways or parking lots. It has tremendous nose dive on braking, and bumps and dips on the highway feel way worse than they should.

It also does not inspire confidence on switching lanes or high speed control.

And, 2 days ago I had a flat, inspected the tire and the inner portion of the tread was gone. I know the alignment is good, have had a few in the last couple of years, the tread loss is most likely due to the bad suspensions effect on wheel position.

This is why I need to get the ride fixed. (plus, when my GF's Camry can go over a set of RR tracks with out any bounce, that was the eye opening moment)

 

[084runner480]

I was all set to attempt to replace this system myself

until I spoke to the parts guy at the dealer

I inquired about how the parts will come when I buy them. He was showing that they didn't come as an assembly.

Which means they're not a sealed system.

IDK what the actual procedure is for replacement. The new parts will obviously have breaks in the line requiring fluid and or air removal. They claim it cannot be bled, it just doesn't make sense.

I'm probably going to have to purchase access to the FSM.

Doing all this myself would be pointless if I'm not able to ensure the system is air free and operates as designed.

 

[Jason B]

I think I've made a decision.

XREAS Replacement.

Now, to figure how to lift it.

I see a lot of people have used daystar, which I believe is plastic or rubber. Then there's the metal option from cornfed or burman.

I've been told that spacers squeak and the daystar may compress over time.

Metal spacers may be the best option?

I can do whatever you want. The UHMW we have been doing for the 5th gens, and its' really nice, and is as strong. Think of material in a cutting board or hip replacement.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/229041-lift-leveling-kit-holiday-season-sale.html ongoing discussion

4th gen lift & leveling kits Burtman Industries - ORDER LINK

Give me a call or text 717-319-2100 and I'll help you out.