Can I drive on stock suspension after XREAS removal?

Hi all, Im trying to figure out if it's safe(and will not damage anything) to drive on the stock suspension for about 30 miles after removing XREAS myself. Going the route of Bilstein 5100 shop install.

Long story short none of the shops in my area want to remove XREAS except one for a pretty steep charge.

So Im wondering if I can remove it myself(DIY removal seems doable from other posts) and still drive it to the shop. Or will the fluid loss in the shocks be a problem to the point of Im basically just riding on the springs.

And if that is the case, is that going to damage anything or just be a bumpy ride?

I've searched around but haven't found this question yet.

Thanks guys!

 

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1. Where you at?
2. If disconnected correctly, you will have zero fluid loss.
3. To disconnect correctly, all four shocks need to be fully extended at the same time.
4. Need any more help, let me know.

 

In Kansas City, MO
I have access to a car lift. So I can extend all four shocks.
So it sounds like your are saying if I disconnect from the shocks I should still be okay to drive. Correct? If there isn't any/much fluid loss that should be the case?

Thanks for your reply man.

 

I don't think you should disconnect from the shock . http://www.off-road.com/trucks-4x4/...ight-adjustable-shock-installation-54526.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAskv_pSmS0

 

One more link PDF file
https://bilsteinlifts.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/INST-432X.pdf

 

the XREAS system in pdf
https://www.shockwarehouse.com/news/toyota-4runner-xreas-suspension-replacement-diy-instructions.pdf

 

For each shock, if you follow the hydraulic line to where there is a bracket on the frame, there is a disconnect point in which there is a schrader like valve which closes upon disconnecting and you will have zero fluid loss.
I believe you use a 22mm wrench to loosen the fitting

 

Has anyone removed xreas themselves and driven to a local shop for suspension installation? I’m thinking the same as the original poster. I can remove the system myself and prefer to do it myself but have a 4x4 shop less than a mile away I would bring it to to have the new suspension system installed. Is this possible? I can’t see paying a shop for removal plus I prefer to do it myself keeping it a clean uninstall but don’t want to install the new suspension myself because of time constraints and my working conditions. I’ve done a few before but not interested in doing it again. Thanks

 

It only cost me $120 to remove XREAS at expensive Toyota 4x4 shop here in Denver CO.

 

I removed my XREAS with a bolt cutter, a bucket and a rag.. nice and easy. If you live anywhere with salt on the roads..good luck getting those rusted fittings to move. Simpler to cut it out and remove parts and hard lines..

 

Has your Xreas failed? Why the reason for upgrading?

 

For $120 it ain’t worth carrying the tool box out of the garage. I suspect if I’m having the job done at my shop they probably wouldn’t hit me too hard on the removal. When I’m ready I would probably have a mid price to premium kit installed

 

No it’s still good but was thinking I might do it anyway for a small lift softer ride.

I’m not worried about removing it. I was wondering if after I did remove it in the driveway would I still be able to drive it a few blocks away to have a new suspension installed. Kmeeg said it was cheap to remove at the shop and he paid $120. If it’s only a couple of hundred it’s not worth getting dirty.

 

I have 5100's and it's not softer. It's a bit bouncy.

 

I dont think any of you guys who are asking, are getting the concept of what Xreas is

Xreas is a shock absorber that has a small line connected to a hard line at the frame.
The hard lines run together to a large expansion chamber canister inside the frame rail.
Here is the point i think none of you guys are capturing
--> When you remove the "stock shocks" (xreas shock) you are removing the shock absorber and spring assembly from the corner of the vehicle in order to install a new set of shocks. You MUST un-install these shocks just the same as any shock absorber before you can put a new shock on. There is a 14-16" rubber line from the shock over to a fitting on the frame which is just a single nut you must loosen. Once you loosen the nut/fitting the rubber line stays with the Xreas shock.
As stated above when you are loosening the nut on the rubber line, as you unscrew the nut the line is being pulled away from the fitting which has a valve in it so it closes off as you unscrew the line. You MIGHT drop a few dribbles of fluid at the most but the rest of the hard lines and expansion chamber can stay with the frame you dont have to remove it. I have taken the Xreas shocks off my vehicle and left all the hard lines and expansion chambers on the vehicle, i dont need them, they are not hurting anything, just leave them there.
JUST REMOVE THE SHOCKS AND THE RUBBER LINE and you are good, put whatever you want on the vehicle and keep riding.

 

Same experience with me. XREAS was softer than OME Nitro Sports, Bilstien5100, Ironman FCP, TRD Pro Fox or even $4000 ELKA 2.5DC. IMO aftermarket suspension only shines off-pavement.

 

I enjoy the ride of my stock squishy shocks, especially when off road. I’ve had several passengers ask if I have an upgraded suspension and lift. They were impressed how comfortable it is off road.

 

5100's be like

 

Great info. Was thinking of getting rid of xreas for Dobinsons IMS to get a little lift but was concerned all the xreas pipes plumbing chambers would need to get ripped out and end up being a waste.

seems like if i would ever need to put the original xreas shocks back on should be easy and just need to remconnect the rubber hose to maine xrease pipe. Wouldn’t be too costly to do i imagine if it needed to be done.

 

Negative, just unhook the shock and keep riding. The hard lines and expansion chambers can just hang out where they are. It wont hurt them to stay on the frame rails.

 

So, what you are saying is that the Xreas shock are serviceable on it's own. For example you can replace one without needed to replacing the whole Xreas system. Read a lot on this forum regarding the Xreas and consensus seems to be its all or nothing kind of a deal, or at least in pairs.

 

Well, since they are basically "connected" to each other thru the lines and expansion chambers, when you have one go bad, you start losing nitrogen pressure and oil out of that shock, but you are losing it out of the line and expansion chamber as well which then effectively changes the oil and charge pressure on the opposing shock as well. Sure if you caught one starting to leak, you should be able to swap it out before you start losing pressure and keep things going.

 

OK, so for example if I would like to be the odd one out and drop my 4runner with customs springs, I actually could disconnect at the hard like without loosing any oil/gas, do the spring swap, reinstall and still have a properly working Xreas?

 

Well, since you put it that way, sure i dont see why not. They have a special valve where the rubber line meets the hard line, as you unscrew the cap the valve seals itself off, when i pulled mine off i think i may have had one drop of oil come out of each fitting. When the system is built i suspect the hard lines and expansion chambers are installed, filled with oil, then pressurized, and the shock absorber comes from a totally different plant pre-assembled and pressurized and the shock is fitted on assembly and as the line is installed it opens the valve and the main hard lines and shock are married and the pressure normalizes between them all. So yes, when you pull the Xreas shock off the lines seal themselves up and yes you should theoretically be able to re-install them with no issues.

 

If "custom springs" means lifted, or longer, you'd risk over extending your oem shocks if you did that. Depending on the amount of lift. If they weren't longer springs, I don't know why you would replace them.

 

Massive thank you for the info. This seems to go against the info that is posted but logically it does make more sense. When I inquired about this last year was told not possible without disabling the Xreas as it would leak out and loose the pressure. I will have to have a look again to see if it is possible to remove the spring with the rubber fitting still a the shock and instead disconnected at the hard line.

 

Yeah the rubber line comes in at the bottom of the shock. If you use a standard spring compressor it wont hurt anything

 

I'm trying to be the odd one out and actually drop the 4 runner by about 1" to 1.5". No one makes springs to lower our 4Runners but I found a company in USA that does custom springs but was stuck in my tracks as was told can not remove the shock with out killing the Xreas....

 

I see - I didn't notice the drop part in your other post...good luck with your project.