XRAES

Good evening everyone. I am plagued with the dreaded Xreas system on my 2020 Limited 2WD 4 Runner. I’ve seen several posts about getting rid of this mess. Please give me some pointers on what shocks/struts I need for the most comfortable and handling replacements. Does everyone replace the entire assembly and just cap the lines off or is there some kind of engine light to worry about as well. We don’t off road, it’s 100 percent hwy travels.

 

Let me summon all the Limited/Xreas guru's on this site: @Harringbr99 @kmeeg @catbrown357

They can give you guidance on cost effective ways to replace your system.

 

Thank you. I’ve seen several things on the Bilsteins and I am pretty good with working on my vehicles but just wanted some input as it seems this is a problem but don’t want to try something that doesn’t work.

 

No check engine lights as it’s all mechanical not electrical unless something has changed. For my 2014 limited, I went with 2023 orp takeoffs up front, heavy duty bilstein shocks out back with the 2023 orp takeoff springs. Worked a charm.

and I removed all the lines as well just to get rid of the whole headache.

 

In my humble opinion. Do not ditch XREAS unless you have a leak. To me it was the best for highway driving I have ever experienced in a 4runner.

If you want to swap I would say pay the top dollar you can afford and keep closer to stock height. All the aftermarket suspension I've experienced seem to do well offroad but not very good highway. For example the $4000 Elka 2.5 with dual adjusters it was an amazing to see all the bumps and holes on the trail or forest roads but inside the vehicle you practically don't feel anything. On the first day me and Mrs was laughing with the feeling in the car vs what our eyes see. But on road I was feeling some potholes and bumps. I was scratching my head why I spend all this money to feel this on pavement. I also have experience with much cheaper Ironman foam cell pro shocks with softer 1.5in rear springs. Even though they are not good as Elka 2.5s they are decent for the money.

Last month I was talking to my 4x4shop friend and he was explaining how good the Dobinson MRR suspension are because you can dial exactly how you want your ride to be since it has 3 adjusters.

I would also consider suspension like King 2.5 with adjusters and Old man emu BP51. I was asking my friend if I can go with 550lbs spring rate with kings. But I'm sure none of these will give excellent highway ride quality. I think they all built for offroad use.

I have heard good things about Bilstien8000 series suspension. Wish I could experience them. They seem to have different ride zones to provide better highway ride and next ride zones for better offroad performance.

XREAS will not give any warning on dash. You visually will see if there is a leak.

Here in Denver CO to remove existing suspension and install new suspension cost about 750bucks at highly reputable Toyota specialized 4wd shop. XREAS cost extra 100bucks. Shop removed all the xreas lines.

In summary, I regret removing XREAS on my highway only 4runner. Aftermarket suspension with lift gave amazing look but lost the comfort. I suggest if you still decide to swap it go for a high-end suspension with adjusters and dial them to softer setting.

With suspension I got on my 4runners;

• The best - Elka 2.5DC (dial to softest setting)
• Better- Ironman FCP ( with softer 1.5in rear spring)
• Good - TRD Pro Fox
• OK - Bilstien5100
• Do not buy (for comfort) - OME Nitro Sport

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but that's the main thing the XReas system does:

It helps with body roll, right? If memory serves me right, I remember reading that the shocks are fluid/gas filled and the fluid transfers from one side to another when turning; thus reducing body roll and also helping to absorb bumps in the road during city driving.

 

That’s my problem is they are leaking. I’m curious as this seems to be a sealed system how does the fluid get refilled if the system is taken loose to replace the shocks/struts and you loose the fluid in the lines.

 

Absolutely love the XREAS system on my 18 Limited. Rides better than my wife’s X3 BMW. Have 90k miles now, only see normal weepage. Hope they never fail but of course at some point they will.

 

Yes sir. And creates a leaky mess eventually.

 

Simple answer, you cannot, it’s a dealership only thing.

 

I think so too.
I also feel like Limited is little lower than stock SR5 / TRD ORP. I don't know if they come with softer springs.

 

Found it!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owv6pyg48nI&t=2s




Here's a video showing you how easy it is to remove it:



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BdjttFvmV8

 

The XREAS system gives a good highway ride with less body roll and brake dive. Many have replaced with aftermarket systems and are happy. When my 2010 was worn out, I replaced it with genuine OEM. Expensive? Yes. But, after another 75 or 80k on the replacement system, it still rides as good as our 2023 Limited.

As to a previous post, I’ve never seen or heard of one making a leaky mess. They slowly lose fluid over time and eventually the ride gets very rough.

Also, the Limited is the same height as other models, but due to the cladding it has about .6” less ground clearance.

The dealer that replaced mine had done 4 or 5 similar replacements in the few months before doing mine. That experience caused me to opt for the OEM replacement.

 

How long have they been leaking?
If its just a little wetness on the body of the shock with some dust you might be in luck and be able to replace the shocks with new ones and fix the issue.
If they have started clunking over bumps, you have lost the nitrogen and gas charge that controls the shock and you will need to replace them.
I have replaced a bunch of shocks on the Limited models with Xreas and tried about everything on the market other than the super high dollar stuff (mainly because their life expectancy is SO LOW and they require rebuilds so often)
What i have found to be the best option on a Limited with Xreas that is leaking is to

1) catch it early before you lose nitrogen pressure and fluids and replace the shocks with Xreas shocks. The shocks come pre-assembled and gassed and have a check valve on them. You can remove the shock and line without losing more than a drop or two of fluid at each corner. If your shocks are just starting to leak, you can put a brand new Xreas shock (or low mile used) and keep the same ride quality for xxx more miles.

Here is a nice low mile set for sale non leaking
https://www.4runners.com/threads/20...port-xreas-shocks-24-000-mile-take-off.46381/

2) if your shocks are leaking and have been a while and now they are starting to clunk over bumps then they have lost too much nitrogen pressure. The fluid in the shock is important but the nitrogen gas pressure is more important. Once the nitrogen gas pressure leaks out the shock can no longer control its compression and rebound and the shock will bottom out and top out easily which is when you start hearing the clunking. The clunking is the shock topping out on pot holes, the spring will forcefully push the shock at its maximum extension on big bumps and big potholes and the clunk you hear is the internal shock piston bottoming out inside the shock body. This wont happen with the correct oil and nitrogen mix inside the shock. When they start clunking the only think you can do is swap the shocks out. Its not terribly difficult, we have talks about it around once a week here.

You will need floor jack and jack stands or cribbing to hold the vehicle up off the ground safely.
You will need some basic hand tools 10mm, 14mm, 19mm, 22mm wrenches. This is all you HAVE to have but its easier with ratcheting wrenches and an impact and sockets but if you have basic mechanical knowledge and a few wrenches you can remove the shocks and replace them.

Your options on replacement are all across the board BUT you specifically asked for the best riding. In my opinion the BEST riding is a new set of Xreas shocks. See above. If you are not clunking, a used or new set is the easiest way to keep riding good. If you are clunking then you need to replace and the best riding replacement i have found is a set of the BLUE Hitachi shocks from a newer Tacoma TRD Sport. This set of shocks is the absolute best riding shock i have found, using the OEM springs, and the BLUE Hitachi shocks you will have a ride that rivals if not beats the Xreas in every measurable way.
I have tried two common brands of aftermarket
I have tried auto zone replacement
I have tried OEM TRD Offroad replacement
I have either despised or regretted every one of those and wished i could put Xreas back on. That is until i found the Hitachi shocks from the newer 2016-2023 Tacoma TRD Sport. These shocks ride like an absolute dream on the 4Runners and have the exact same ride height when you swap the front springs over. PLUS they are pretty cheap on Ebay.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/115936622671
https://www.ebay.com/itm/157466677019

The only thing you need to do is push the lower shock bushing out of the rear shocks which can be done with a socket and a vise (or press) and push in two new bushings which are pretty cheap and takes about 5 mins for both sides. Really easy.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/386744226409
https://www.ebay.com/itm/126274615488

 

If you are just starting to see weeping you can replace the shocks now before you lose too much fluid and nitrogen pressure. There are a bunch of look-alikes on ebay that are super cheap but dont buy those, i would only buy OEM if you want to replace them with the Xreas before the system looses too much gas or oil.

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

https://www.ebay.com/itm/266940051501


If you decide to replace, the Tacoma TRD Sport shocks are the best riding in my opinion.

 

Short answer is you don't. Unless you want to invest $3500-$4000 (last I checked) to replace the entire system. When I replace mine due to leaks at all 4 corners, I simply disconnected lines at each shock/strut to drain as well as possible. Next I disconnected the lines at the distribution block to do the same. After getting rid of as much fluid as possible, I literally ripped the entire system out. All of the lines, everything. I ended up going with the OME Nitrocharger shocks and struts with OME 884X front springs and 889X rears. I went with a UCA from Rocky Road Outfitters https://rocky-road.com/. They're very knowledgable and help you with your spring choices. The OME Nitrochargers are pretty stiff compared to stock. If I do it again I would probably go with Bilstein 5100s or 6112s.

 

Its not really a necessity to remove all the lines on the frame. There is no real harm in letting them take the ride with you for the rest of the vehicles life. When you remove the large 22mm nut on the end of the rubber line on the shock, you are backing the nut off, but also closing a check valve inside that fitting as the body of that fitting is unscrewed. I have removed Xreas from 3 of my 4Runners and have always left the lines on the frame. They are not going to leak, and they are not going to hurt anything, there is no real need in making a mess cutting lines and leaking fluid or spending an extra hour or two pulling all the lines out. Just let it ride, all i do is pull the shocks and swap in whatever i want.
Two of my 4Runners now have the Tacoma TRD Sport shocks and one is still running on a set of the TRD Offroad OEM shocks with TRD Offroad springs. These replaced a set of Eibach and a set of cheap aftermarkets. The TRD Offroad spring and shock rides really well on gravel roads at speeds. Its surprisingly better than any aftermarket set on a gravel road at 30+mph. The TRD Offroad setup leans a bit towards the stiff side on the slow speed stuff like 5-20mph, especially cracks in asphalt roads. They are not harsh like aftermarket shocks on the small stuff and cracks, but they are nowhere near as smooth as the TRD Sport tacoma shocks. All i do is remove the Xreas shock assembly and swap in the new shock assembly. Its easy and quick.

 

Do you mean the 4R springs or the Tacoma springs?
TIA

 

Use the OEM Limited 4runner springs
Use the Tacoma TRD Sport blue shocks
The ride is amazing, everything, bump, and droop, huge hits, pot holes, cornering, off camber hits and wash outs, especially crappy 40 year old buckled asphalt. Best ride i have ever had on a 4runner. It rides so good i have swapped (2) of my (3) 4runners to this combo and i am not far from replacing a set of TRD Offroad shocks out for the TRD Sport shocks. I have wheel bearings, brakes, plugs and some other routine maintenance to do within the next 6 months and will probably swap those shocks out at the same time unless i have one go bad and need to do it sooner.

 

Where do you source the Tacoma Sport shocks, and I'm guessing these are from the 3rd gen Tacoma, correct?

 

eBay
There are a few links above
They get listed from time to time from junkyards but the best deals are from owners who swapped for aftermarket. I got a new takeoff set for $90 once. Just gotta watch on eBay.

 

Glwood54 do you happen to have part numbers for those since you can’t find a parts store that can cross reference anything. If it’s not in their computer by vin number it’s impossible down here to get that information.

 

If you go to a parts store to look for shocks you are going to get bottom of the barrel China knock offs. Be prepared for them to be leaking in 30,000-50,000 miles. You might get lucky and get more miles but dont expect them to last forever.

 

I’m talking about the Hitachi Blue ones that will fit the 4 runner from the TRD you mentioned.

 

@Airdam is the one who has these. I replaced my Off Road shocks with Eibach early on.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/115936622671

https://www.ebay.com/itm/157466677019

https://www.ebay.com/itm/256332924051

If you want to see what the parts counter at a dealership prices them at here are the OEM part numbers. I normally look for them on ebay because they are probably much cheaper.

48510-8Z448 x (2)
48530-8Z077 x (2)

 

You can use any regular 4runner strut or shock. I replaced mine with 5100 Bilsteins. My Xreas was leaking at 200k, but it worked. It felt clunky and low on oil in cold weather. It wasn't a dripping leak. The Xreas shocks will get oil build up and look worse than they are, but still work. Most the time it's just a little oil pushed past the seal during operation.

 

I'm helping a local member swap out my oem Off Road shocks on his wife's Sport 4R tomorrow. I'm not sure if he wants to remove the Xreas completely or just the shocks. Did you remove it all? For anyone who just replaced the shocks without removing the lines, any tips for doing that, i.e. preventing fluid leaks?

 

Just remove the shocks and short line
There is a check valve where the rubber line connects to the frame. I am pretty sure its a 22mm and you just use a normal box end wrench to loosen the large nut from the check valve assembly. As you turn the nut outward it slowly closes off the spring loaded check valve inside that silver barrel. At most you might get a drop to leak, thats about it. Put a paper towel around it if you want but most times i dont leak anything.