Replacement Struts and shocks for X-REAS

Has anyone used Detroit Axle P/N 149166-02640739 struts w//springs and shocks to replace the X-REAS system

 

Why would you? There are SO MANY better choices out there.

 

Cost and it seemed to be a bolt in direct replacement.
What would you recommend. I seen the Bilstein's but has having a hard time finding them as a complete kit Strus with the springs and shocks.

 

There are a few places out there that will assemble your front springs / struts and they come ready to bolt in. Some good videos on YouTube to tear out XREAS.

 

I got my assembled 4600s from SuspensionLifts.com. Install was pretty simple.

 

Unless you have a ton of miles or your X-reas shocks are already leaking, it sure seems too soon to need replacing on a 2020 Limited.

 

What springs do they provide with 4600s?

 

They listed 81090 on the invoice. This comes back as Moog 1996-2004 4Runner but it’s not what they used. When I saw the part number on the invoice I added a note to the order and they gave a different part number, but I don’t have a record of that. I haven’t measured since installing but they initially raised the front 3/4”. This was last November and my 4Runner was at 100,000 miles at the time.

 

If you look, at the full break-down of a lot of the aftermarket shock/spring (complete strut assemblies) almost all of them show the exact same parts across models from 1996 to 2024. Many like the Rancho quick strut only have one part number for any of the year models. I really wondered if the suspension is "that" close across all those models that one single shock would work on all of them, or if its just the easy way to go and say that they are close enough"
I have swapped a few different shocks from a few different models and the tacoma shocks on a 4th gen 4R will give them lift, but the tacoma shock on a 5th gen 4R is the same height as a a stock 4R. If this is the case, then either the suspension geometry changed with the lower shock mount, or overall strut tower height between the 4th and 5th gen 4R. So, how are these shock companies listing the same part number for front shock assembly across so many years of 4R? I have not been able to figure it out but i can say there are plenty of options out there that are good choices.

OP shameless plug, if your Xreas is leaking i have a great set of low mileage shocks you can swap in hopefully before you lose all the fluid out of your system. I really like the ride of the OEM Xreas and if you are keeping it stock these ride the best in my opinion. If you have the ability to pull the shocks, and plan to do the work yourself, you can pull the fronts and take them to pretty much any auto garage / shop and they'll have a spring compressor usually mounted to a table or the wall that can swap the shock/spring assemblies out in 10 minutes. The coil spring on the drivers side is wound so tightly that the auto zone clamps wont fit between the coils, so finding a local shop that will either let you use their clamping device for 10 minutes, or even handing them the shocks and paying them for a half hour labor isnt a bad deal. I gotta relatively local shop, i take my impact, 17mm, and both sets of shocks and drive over and they let me walk in and use their compressor. Only tool needed is the impact and socket for the top shock bolt. I just carry my battery impact and i dont have to borrow anything but the compressor. I am normally in and out in 10 minutes. Its quite easy and fast once you figure the compressor tool out.

https://www.4runners.com/threads/20...port-xreas-shocks-24-000-mile-take-off.46381/

I saw a 2020 for sale recently in Houston with 180,000 miles, and it already had a cheap set of auto zone shocks on it that were also already leaking. Typically the Xreas will last 140,000-200,000 its just a roll of the dice. My 2008 with Xreas started leaking around 170,000 and was totally crapped out at 185,000 miles. My 2012 got to somewhere around 140,000 before they were replaced due to seeping. They hadnt gone bad yet but they were not terribly far from starting to go. I have seen people on the 4R forums complain about starting to see them leaking as low as 75,000 miles, and i have seen people say they were still on the stockers well into the 200,000 miles. I saw a 2013 once that had the stock Xreas shocks, non leaking around 230,000 once. You just never know how long they are going to last.

 

Is replacing the xreas shocks with takeoffs from an SR5 or OR a viable solution? They're all over the for sale thread with very low miles often. Heck, I have a set with probably 1500 miles on them in storage.

 

That is typically the cheapest, easiest thing to do.
If you swap over the Xreas setup to a stock SR5, TRD OR, or anything else then you are putting standard stock shock and spring assemblies on it. Yes they work, yes they ride good, yes they are typically available for pretty cheap used from people who upgraded. I bought a set from someone on Craigslist a few years ago for $250 for front and rear with springs. I more recently bought a set from Ebay for $120 for front and rear shocks that were new take-offs no springs. You can find great deals if you look and are willing to think past the cheap auto zone parts.

 

If I was looking to replace an xreas setup with no lift intended, I'd go down the oem takeoff road before even considering anything Detroit Axle branded. They just sound like they're in the Rough Country / Rancho Suspension class.