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Changing from a 3" spacer to adjustable struts

Discussion in 'Suspension' started by the_trooper08, Dec 2, 2017.

  1. Dec 2, 2017 at 8:44 AM
    #1
    the_trooper08

    the_trooper08 [OP] New Member

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    Ok, so I just picked up a 15 Limited. Found out after I got it home it looks to have a procomp 3/2" lift. I like where it sits, there is. 1.5" rake which is good because we will be pulling a camper with it.
    When I got it home I found 2 shocks are leaking. It has X-REAS. I am taking it back to the dealer as it was a certified used vehicle and they should have caught that.
    With the price of new X-REAS shocks it will be cheaper for them to replace all 4 with either bilstein 5100's or eibach adjustable struts.

    My question is. What is the actual lift with Billy 5100's on the 2.5" setting and will the ride go to hell. Then I can get rid of the front spacer.
    Or am I better off just keeping the spacer and running them at 0?
    Thanks everyone. Really liking this new unit!
    I was a Toyota tech for 7 years but last worked there is 2011.be764e21b3c9f064cf1ac0350e2fbf40_ab0aca13f83db8451bf23c8b8291428c23b88203.jpg
     
  2. Dec 2, 2017 at 3:52 PM
    #2
    the_trooper08

    the_trooper08 [OP] New Member

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    Thanks for the info!
    Those coilovers look pretty nice. Little pricy but would be a good option.
    With setting the 5100's to 2.5 That gonna compress the spring quite a bit right? So it's gotta get harsher
     
  3. Dec 3, 2017 at 6:41 AM
    #3
    the_trooper08

    the_trooper08 [OP] New Member

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    Hmmm , ok so maybe it's a better idea to run an adjustable at 2.5" up front. I have no problem doing that. My only hold back is my rake may be steeper than I'd like. So it may be worth it to drop the back to a 1.5" spacer I guess.

    I got complimented on the lift by a random person in a same year limited with no lift today on the road. So now I have to be sure to keep it lifted. It's an attention grabbed!
     
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  4. Dec 3, 2017 at 7:39 AM
    #4
    Texoma

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    Just bought dat bish
    Give Marie at Headstrong Off-Road a call. She has the best prices and is super knowledgeable on which lift you'll need. Tell her Texoma sent you.
     
  5. Dec 3, 2017 at 7:43 AM
    #5
    the_trooper08

    the_trooper08 [OP] New Member

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    Will do!
     
  6. Dec 4, 2017 at 9:57 AM
    #6
    brochacho

    brochacho New Member

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    If you do anything outside of a spacer lift on a Limited you will need to ditch the XREAS suspension. May want to read up on XREAS and make sure you are willing to get rid of an expensive piece of technology you just spent a good amount of money on.
     
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  7. Dec 4, 2017 at 10:47 AM
    #7
    the_trooper08

    the_trooper08 [OP] New Member

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    That expensive piece of technology is the reason I'm doing this!
    Shocks are leaking and need to be replaced. And not spending 3000$ on parts when I can spend under a grand and get really good shocks.
    Don't get me wrong X-REAS sounds like it would ride great. I've never experienced it as I bought this thing with blown shocks. And that's on me haha
     
    brochacho[QUOTED] likes this.
  8. Dec 4, 2017 at 4:49 PM
    #8
    Texoma

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    Just bought dat bish
    You're not still under warranty? Should be covered under the 3/36.
     
  9. Dec 4, 2017 at 6:02 PM
    #9
    the_trooper08

    the_trooper08 [OP] New Member

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    Bought it with 92000km really hard to find low mileage used in the praries. Other than us I guess. Only put 60,000km on our rav in 7 years.
    We traded in the wife's rav and my Dakota on the runner. Only needed one vehicle but it has to pull the camper
     
  10. Dec 5, 2017 at 3:28 AM
    #10
    Texoma

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    Just bought dat bish
    Ok, guess you're way past warranty then. Put some Kings on that bish then.
     
  11. Dec 5, 2017 at 10:03 AM
    #11
    the_trooper08

    the_trooper08 [OP] New Member

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    Haha don't think the wife would appreciate that. She's already said a few nasties about buckling the kids in the back.
    When we got it home she kept saying it's taller than she thought it would be (we test drove a couple different ones in the summer) and I kept telling her naw.
    Then I looked under it and was like, shit. I don't dare tell her it's lifted or she'll want to take it out haha.
     
  12. Dec 5, 2017 at 1:22 PM
    #12
    Texoma

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    Just bought dat bish
    It can stay the same height, just Kings will look so much better with the white body, n a set of TC uppers.
     
  13. Dec 7, 2017 at 5:09 AM
    #13
    Gramps

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    Just some stuff to make mall crawling easier.
    More then likely the spacer kit is what killed your XREAS shocks up front. Spacers on top of the coilover are simply a bad idea. Bilstien is a much more pocket friendly option but you will sacrifice ride quality over the XREAS system in total. I have read up some on XREAS before we bought our new SR5 Premium, thats quite a bit of work to remove that system properly and bypass it in the computer.

    So what it comes down to is what did you ultimately buy your Limited for? The luxury and comfy ride, or you gonna turn it into an exploring/off roading rig? If you want a comfy ride but not the $3000 to repair your XREAS shocks, I would suggest taking a look at the Toytec Lifts BOSS 2.0 adjustable coilover along with their superfex rear lift springs. I had this system in my 4th gen and loved it. It will most likely be the system I put on this new one down the road. I also ran this system for a while in my 2nd gen Tacoma.
     
  14. Dec 7, 2017 at 10:01 AM
    #14
    the_trooper08

    the_trooper08 [OP] New Member

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    As far as I know there is nothing that has to be done with the computer when removing the X-REAS? You know something I don't?
    The deal is I'm not paying for any of this. Tomorrow I take it back to the dealer I bought it from as a certified used vehicle. They are going to be fixing it as the shocks should have been caught in their Inspection.
    I am going to put it to them to pay less and go with an aftermarket option. As you said the X-REAS failed because the previous owner put the lift In. But blown out shocks should have been caught in an inspection. So we will see what they say tomorrow and how much fighting in going to have to do with them. I' not driving there again after this, different town couple hrs away.
     
  15. Dec 7, 2017 at 10:07 AM
    #15
    brochacho

    brochacho New Member

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    Let us know how it turns out, good luck!
     
  16. Dec 7, 2017 at 10:17 AM
    #16
    the_trooper08

    the_trooper08 [OP] New Member

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    Thanks, will do. I' taking my wife with me, and she can be a monster so I'll just unleash her on them if they get difficult
     
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  17. Dec 7, 2017 at 10:26 AM
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    brochacho

    brochacho New Member

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    LOL...go get em' Wifey!
     
  18. Dec 7, 2017 at 11:17 AM
    #18
    Gramps

    Gramps New Member

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    Just some stuff to make mall crawling easier.
    I was told by a Toyota Tech that it will throe up a light and a code when it malfunctions. I am sure there is a bypass, just not certain what is involved to do so.

    I agree the dealer should correct this so bedt of luck to you on that and I will be curious to see what they say.
     
  19. Dec 9, 2017 at 11:33 PM
    #19
    the_trooper08

    the_trooper08 [OP] New Member

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    They wanted to do just one rear shock. They didn' believe the front was a problem. So after some pressure we convinced them to do both rear, as one rear would have 92000kms on it and one would be new. Shocks should be replaced in pairs. That's always the case.
    Then when they saw what the parts and labor were to do that I convinced them to just pay me the same for me to change all four with after market ones and be done with it. So I just have to send them the bill for 4 shocks and they will cut me the cheque! Shopping time!
     
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  20. Dec 26, 2017 at 10:37 PM
    #20
    the_trooper08

    the_trooper08 [OP] New Member

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    Ok I have a set of eibach adjstable front struts and boss rear shocks on the way.
    Question:
    Can I go the no spring compressor route to change the struts if the are set at 2.5?
    Or will it be too tight to reassemble and I'll have to break out the spring compressors?
     
  21. Dec 27, 2017 at 5:04 AM
    #21
    Texoma

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    Just bought dat bish
    Weren't you a Toyota Tech for 7 years? You know the answer to this question. Do you know the method to disassemble coil overs using the lower control arm?
     
  22. Dec 27, 2017 at 7:42 AM
    #22
    the_trooper08

    the_trooper08 [OP] New Member

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    Yes I do know both ways. What I don' know is how much the spring will compress having the struts set to 2.5 and if I will be able to accmplish this with the weight of the vehicle and a floor Jack.
     
  23. Dec 27, 2017 at 7:47 AM
    #23
    Gramps

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    Just some stuff to make mall crawling easier.
    Are you trying to get it to the top setting for a 3 inch lift in front? Just curious. It sounds to me if that is what you are trying to accomplish the spring compressor would be your best course of action.
     
  24. Dec 27, 2017 at 8:17 AM
    #24
    the_trooper08

    the_trooper08 [OP] New Member

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    Yes that' right. Want it to sit like it did with the spacer but use the adjustment on the strut doing the lift
     
  25. Dec 27, 2017 at 8:35 AM
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    Texoma

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    Just bought dat bish
    Ok, what coil overs are set at 2.5 right now? New ones you are receiving or the one currently on your truck?
     
  26. Dec 27, 2017 at 9:13 AM
    #26
    the_trooper08

    the_trooper08 [OP] New Member

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    I currently have 3" strut spacers. Changing struts out to eibach adustable struts set to 2.5". Using factory coils
     
  27. Dec 27, 2017 at 10:01 AM
    #27
    Buggs

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    Little late to the conversation, but thought I'd add some information for future readers. The XREAS system does not have an electrical component. It is all done through cross connecting tubes and oil.
     
  28. Dec 27, 2017 at 10:13 AM
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    brochacho

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    You should be able to. I don't think it would be any different than doing it with a taller coil. I would just make sure you are using a good quality jack floor jack. Last thing you want to happen is the jack fail and kill yourself. Or you can just take the whole assembly to a local shop and have them do it, shouldn't cost you more than about $50.

    I would avoid the hand spring compressors at all cost, I used them to do my Tacoma with 5100's set at .85 w/1.6" Eibach lift coils and it was a pain in the ass! It looked like the compressors were about to explode and they ended up bending. This was before I knew about the no compressor method. I have used the no compressor method without issue 3 times now.
     
  29. Dec 27, 2017 at 10:24 AM
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    Gramps

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    Just some stuff to make mall crawling easier.
    With the Eibach Adjustable Shocks set at 2.5", that is the top setting. With you stock coil springs you can only net 2.5"s of lift and that's assuming the spacer lift hasn't somewhat killed the coil spring itself(chances are slim of this happening). If you want a full 3" front lift you would need to do 1 of 2 things:

    1. Get new Eibach 512600 springs and set the C clip to the bottom setting on the shocks. This will get you approximately 3"s of lift.
    2. Or get the .5" top plate spacers and install them on top of the Eibach shock set at 2.5" with your factory coil spring.
    To note my information is directly from one of the technical advisors at Toytec Lifts. They have some great people over there.
     
  30. Dec 27, 2017 at 10:42 AM
    #30
    the_trooper08

    the_trooper08 [OP] New Member

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    I' only looking to get 2.5" lift, going to be pulling the camper so some rake is good. The spacers that are currently in are on top of the strut not in the coil so the coils should be ok.
    Ok good to know it's doable with longer coils in the future.
    And yes the hand compressors aren't great. Haha
    When parts come in I'll be doing it all one night at my works shop then taking it for the alignment the next day. I' still a mechanic but doing oil field work now so I don't have access to an automotive shops tools anymore. I really miss that.
    Shocks and struts are 3 weeks put I guess so I have some time to make plans.
    Thanks everyone for the feedback!
     

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