XREAS questions

I researched XREAS before settling on a new Limited, so knew about the complaints of early failure. I also learned that it's very expensive to replace with another XREAS system but you can easily and cheaply replace it with either standard or upgraded shocks.

The availability of a simple and inexpensive replacement eased my mind about the system's reliability, while its great effectiveness at reducing body roll and nose dive won me over. Further, to me the ride felt more composed over bumps than on a TRD Off Road despite the relatively low profile tires (which seemed counterintuitive).

What I'm wondering is:

1. Are there traditional aftermarket shocks that would be close to XREAS in reducing body roll and brake dive?

2. If so, what would the downsides be? Impact on ride quality?

3. Am I nuts thinking that the Limited is more composed over bumps than an Off Road, despite the 20s? Or is XREAS part of the reason for that?

4. What would the effect on ride and handling be if you put a 17 inch wheel and tire set on a 4R with XREAS? Would that soften the ride without inducing a lot of body roll? Pros and cons?

Thanks guys!

 

Most of questions aren’t going to have concrete answers. Nobody on this forum is going to have measurement equipment to set up and give fact based answered, it’s going to be a hodgepodge of he said she said biased answers where everyone thinks whatever suspension they purchased rides the best.

It’s in your best interest to look up local owners and see if you can get in different 4Runners with different suspension setups and feel what best fits what you’re looking for.

That being said:
1- opinion based
2- opinion based
3- 20’s have 1.5” less of a tire sidewall than 17’s, it’s going to be a stiffer more direct and firm feeling ride with 20’s. XREAS also plays into that, you never see this type of hydraulically linked corners on an SUV, in fact that it’s generally reserved and an optional upgrade on performance variants of luxury cars (Audi RS7 is the first that comes to mind). I still don’t understand how this system ended up on a Toyota 4Runner.
4- As with question 3, 20’s have 1.5” less of a tire sidewall than 17’s, it’s going to be a stiffer more direct and firm feeling ride with 20’s, assuming you still with a P metric tire. If you move to an E rated 17 the side sidewalk will still be bigger but it will be significantly thicker and less prone to flex so the ride quality may actually be similar to a stock 20.

 

Thanks. Get your point about opinions! Still, would like to hear some of them

I didn't even know about XREAS until I drove a Limited back to back with an Off Road and was like, holy heck why does this Limited have so much less body roll and brake dive?? And why does it seem more composed over bumps? The difference in roll and dive in particular blew me away, which is why I started researching the differences in suspension. Until then I didn't even know there was a difference.

I'm sure there are great reasons why off roaders wouldn't want this system, but for my use of the vehicle it is an unmistakable advantage. I just want to know what my best options are if it blows up after warranty but before I'm ready to get something new. In principle I'd always prefer a simple and rugged solution, I'm just wondering if there is one that's similarly effective at reducing roll and dive.

Thanks again.

 

get an extended warranty and stop worrying about it !!

 

Sheesh who said anything about being worried. I'm not worried. I said I was "wondering." I'm curious.

And I'm still curious cause no one who's switched from XREAS to upgraded shocks (eg Bilstein Heavy Duty or 5100s) has chimed in yet with their experiences.

 

20s reduce ride quality but probably feel like they handle better on roads. But you can swap to 17s and you may like that better. You're not going to change body roll with 17s, and they'll be softer.

The XREAS definitely improve ride quality--think of them as an alternate to shocks with external/remote reservoirs. If you replace XREAS you might want to consider something like these (still same price or cheaper than new XREAS).

I think due to the nature of the XREAS, you might notice a good ride on smaller bumps but less performance on more serious off road conditions than beefier shocks w/resevoirs.

 

IMO 5100s would be a downgrade from XREAS, although many love these. They're a different setup, however. 6112s might be a better direct comp, and probably an improvement, but these have quality control issues I understand. King OEM should be an upgrade (same with Fox, depending on your preference).

 

4th gen Runner 2008 and tore out my XREAS at about 120k miles. Replaced with 5100s. I had no problem with my XREAS but I was overdue for new shocks.

Ride was smoother with XREAS, but not enough to make me regret replacing it with the 5100s. The XREAS will eventually leak and it's stupid expensive to replace.

I offroad every summer in the mountains, lots of bumps, ruts, fallen trees, hills, and rocks, but not the super hard core crawler type conditions. Also go snowboarding every winter and drive up in blizzard conditions usually.

https://www.4runners.com/threads/4runner-limited-buyer-beware-x-reas-suspension-fails.7894/

 

I’d be very happy to get 120k on mine!

 

Wonder if they will keep the XREAS for the new hybrid 4Runners coming in 2023.

Always skeptical of some 'amazing new tech' when they end up discontinuing it.

 

One of the things I really like about the 4R is how relatively simple it is mechanically -- especially compared to modern alternatives. Big old school V6 and tranny. No turbo. No cylinder deactivation. No electronically controlled "adaptive suspension" etc. The XREAS certainly goes against the grain when it comes to simplicity, but it's actually a pretty elegant design. I like that it doesn't rely on computerization and electronic sensors. It's a fully mechanical system dependent on hydraulic principles. And as I've noted, it sure does do what it's supposed to do when it comes to preventing brake dive and body roll. It's really impressive how flat this top-heavy (and just plain heavy) truck goes around corners.

For those who have had theirs leak after relatively few miles -- they have good reason to be pissed. And the rest of us have good reason to be concerned that Toyota didn't do a good enough job making this system reliable. But we also seem to have a lot of reports of people getting a ton of miles on theirs. So it's not clear how unreliable the system actually is. Shocks in general are consumables. Like brakes, you expect to replace them after a certain amount of use. Why this system is so expensive to replace, that I can't quite figure out.

Anyway, I like having it and hope for the best re reliability. But if they fail early but after the warranty expires, no big deal. I'll either pay the high Toyota price for a new set of XREAS shocks or probably buy Bilstein or Fox or something with reservoirs in order to try to get a similar effect. Again, no big deal. Just started the thread to collect recommendations and experiences of those who replaced their XREAS.

 

By "amazing new tech" do you mean XREAS which Toyota has had on 4Rs since 2002?

 

Hi There! Pass on the Limited. Get the TRD or SR5. I have 2017 limited at 40120 miles. My brother and I were working on doing some mods to my car when we came upon threads about issues with XREAS system. During my recent 40K service visit I mentioned the failure and told the SA to check on it. Guess what... my front suspension is leaking. Side note, I did purchase a platinum warranty package when I bought the car. Thank god for that! I got a call from them yesterday mentioning they will replace all four under the warranty. So saying that I wish I knew XREAS system when I purchased the car, I would have gone with the TRD or SR5 model. Anyway hope this helps =)

 

That seems like sound advise.... get the base model and miss out on all the nice features and comfort options, because one day you will need shocks.

 

The big question is, did the Off Road you compared rides with have KDSS? If it didn't, you might as well have compared it to an SR5, as the suspension would be the same. An Off Road with KDSS would have had a difference with body roll and brake dive.

 

LOL, kind of a harsh way of putting it but it's a very fair point. The important thing is that Limited buyers know the risks going in, and also that the system can be replaced cheaply with shocks that are even better than what comes stock on the SR5 and ORP.

 

I drove the Limited back to back with a Venture (no KDSS) but had previously taken a 2019 ORP with KDSS on an extended test drive. So while I did not have a back to back with KDSS and XREAS, I was a bit concerned with the amount of dive and roll on that ORP with KDSS when I drove it. So that's one of the reasons I was really surprised by how little I experienced that with the Limited. So my sense was that the KDSS didn't do as much in this regard as the XREAS.