Lift Questions

[GhostX]

To the group:

Okay, I am looking to install a 2.5" lift from either Calmini or PRG.  Just shackles and strut doughnuts, as I really don't want to compromise the street ride just yet.  A couple of questions:

1.  What do the cam bolts do (it is a $69.95 option), as I understand that somewhere in mid-2005 there was a modification made that makes front end alignments with a lift challenged?  Also, how can I tell when my 2005 Xterra was manufactured, and if it requires this mod?

2.  Is it really easy to install this on my own?  I have read a few threads that stated with basic knowledge and hand tools, and the offer of complimentary adult beverages, that a "Mod Party" is not an unusual occurence?  Post lift purchase, is this an option/interest for anyone here?

Thanks in advance for your detailed help and feedback.

John

[FrankB]

John, the best place for more detailed information than you ever wanted to know for the 2nd Gen Xterra is www.thenewx.org   There is a whole forum just for suspension stuff.

I would recommend the PRG products.  I have an early version of his mild lift (Total Chaos upper control arms with Radflo coilovers in the front and Deaver mini-pack (added leafs) in the rear). It has worked very well.  I went this route not so much for the added lift but because I wanted more carrying capacity. The rear springs especially bottom out really easily when stock.  You may lose some articulation with the spacers in the front instead of replacing the UCAs and coilovers, but there is a significant cost difference too.  I have not added shackles, but from what I've seen the PRG ones are well made.  All of his (PRG) products, and his customer service, are excellent.  There are several people here who can speak to Calmini customer service, and I don't think they'll be quite as complimentary.

If you don't have the cam bolts I don't think you'll be able to align the front end after the lift. My '05 was built in the early part of the year (and then sat collecting dust in the back of a lot someplace apparently). It had the cam bolts. I think the cut off was mid-year but you can look it up on thenewx, along with probably a pic of what they look like.  Lots of people there have the PRG spacers too.

By the way, the lift that I have actually improved street ride, and that was even with removing the rear sway bar when the extra leafs went in the rear. I think it handles twisty mountain roads much better than when it was stock.  If you can afford the extra cost, and if this is to improve off road performance and weight carrying capacity, and not just for looks, I would suggest going the new coilover/UCA route for the front, and either a new spring pack or extra leafs and/or shackles for the rear now, and save yourself having to re-do it later. It will cost noticeably more money though.  I guess if you don't do it all now and want to upgrade later you're only out the cost of the spaces, so that is probably not that big of deal either, and the spacers do seem to work for a lot of people.

[GhostX]

Frank, thanks for the response.  Did you install a 3" all suspension lift?

I am now registered at the site and will check out their posts.  Thanks for the referral.

I have read a few things about Calmini on XOC, and choose to take the high road with all the stuff that has been written.  I may just order from PRG and skip all of the drama.  I will say this:  Calmini is one of the few manufacturers to be distributed through Off Road Warehouse in San Diego where I live.  4 Wheel Parts doesn't, and the sales staff there subjected me to some pretty unfair verbal comments about Xterra's, so much so that I returned my purchase and will pass on shopping there in the future.  Suffice to say VERY Jeep biased.

Is it really true that Xterra's are in the off road community minority when it comes to parts/service/custom product demand?  

I just find that hard to believe, especially with all of the great off roading advertising and Lenny Kravitz soundtracked marketing Nissan had done in the past!  But then again, I remember the first 240Z's when they were introduced, the original Datsun Class Seven Olympia beer sponsored off road racing team of the late 1970's, and Roger Mears' red white and blue Nissan's racing around the Los Angeles Coliseum.

Thanks again Frank for the help, hope to meet you and more of the SCCX folk on the trail.

John

[FrankB]

John, I went with the set up the PRG was selling a couple of years ago when he first started marketing stuff for the Xterra (he was mostly doing Titan stuff, but his wife bought an Xterra). I doubt that mine is anywhere near 3", probably barely 2".  It's the Total Chaos replacement upper control arm (PRG now has his own design instead) and a heavier spring over a Radflo shock in the front. In the rear all we did as add what he was calling a mini-pack from Deaver. It's basically 2 extra springs, and we took out the stock overload spring. The only other thing I've done, but it does not change the lift at all, is the rear shocks are now the Bilsteins that came on someone else's Off Road model (thanks John).  It's pretty simple but it works well. As I said before, on-road handling is greatly improved, as is, of course, off road handling.  As for installation, Greg at PRG installed it for me. It took a couple of hours at most, but then he designed it so he could probably do it faster than a lot of people. I think Paul may have installed the spacers at one time, maybe he can offer some guidance.

Off Road Warehouse is not bad. I think all of those places are Jeep-oriented, but at least ORW will talk to you, even if they may have much stock that will work with our Xterras. I've actually had the ORW on Balboa do some work for me when I needed a hole in the frame drilled out and tapped larger (we buggered up one of the bolt holes where the stock tow hook attaches when trying to install the Shrock radiator skid, as the hole in the skid was not quite in right spot). 

I could be wrong on this, but I think you'll find that relatively few Xterras ever actually leave the pavement. A lot of people do seem surprised a what we do with them.

By the way, I think I remember you saying you were around Encinitas or Carlsbad.  If you want to take at look at my X, I work in Encinitas in an office off of Saxony Road just north of Encintas Blvd. Just let me know, I'm generally there during the week.

[GhostX]

I could be wrong on this, but I think you'll find that relatively few Xterras ever actually leave the pavement. A lot of people do seem surprised a what we do with them.

This is truly surprising to me, as I have always associated Xterra's with off road enthusiasm.  Too bad the Jeep crowd can't seem get over themselves.  Arnold Palmer once said something that for a man of his stature really stuck with me, "Inclusive, not exclusive." when discussing who should play in a foursome.  Oh well.

[GhostX]

Frank, I live in Encinitas and work near La Costa.  Are you near the Cal Bank and Trust?  Maybe grab a slice of pizza @ Oggi's one day after work, I work from 8:30 to 5 pm off of La Costa Avenue and would enjoy taking a look at your Xterra.  Thanks for the help, much appreciated.

John

[Goldfish]

I recommend Prg products. Greg is a great guy who has spent a lot of time developing suspension parts for Nissans.

[GhostX]

I recommend Prg products. Greg is a great guy who has spent a lot of time developing suspension parts for Nissans.

Thanks for the positive feedback Don.  After burning the midnight oil on several Xterra sites scouring though lift and suspension postings, I am headed for a PRG PML to start.  As my frequency off road continues and necessity demands, more upgrades will be considered.  I am not looking to go SAS, but want to increase the off road capability of my already great X, and the PRG kit seems to be the ticket. 

[Ruination Fan]

I would also have to recommend PRG, just because Greg is an awesome guy. He really knows his stuff (especially shock valving...guru). Greg has been in the offroad scene for a long time, started with the desert scene and opened up a short course track over in Rialto (ROR) for all the local offroad guys to go an play on. Sorry for the ramble, but you wont be sorry going with PRG.

[Paul]

I went with AC rear shackles, later the Deaver mini-pack, back aft and AC replacement coils up front (which require the addition of a winch and steel bumper). I did all the work myself with jack stands, a "racing" jack, and a Sears wrench set. There's no rocket science involved, just turning nutz and boltz. I did pay the local tire and wheel shop to compress my springs over the the front shocks.

[GhostX]

I went with AC rear shackles, later the Deaver mini-pack, back aft and AC replacement coils up front (which require the addition of a winch and steel bumper).

Thanks for the laugh Paul, MANDATORY front bumper and winch install of course! 

As stated, I am opting for the "Poor Man's Lift" which after this holiday season is an apt description!   

So, I will skip the bumper and winch coil overs. (for now)

[AV Xterra]

Paul's not kidding too much.  I hear if you don't put some weight on the front of your truck with those AC coils the ride can be pretty brutal.

[Paul]

Paul's not kidding too much.  I hear if you don't put some weight on the front of your truck with those AC coils the ride can be pretty brutal.

Yes, that was the point. It took three days for AC to deliver the springs and about five months for ShrockWorks to do the same with the bumper ... parking lot speed bumpers were tragic. Now everything is smooth as I remember stock being. It takes the weight of the 200-300 pounds worth of bumper and winch to steady out the springs. Even after install give them a few weeks to settle in.

[GhostX]

Yes, that was the point. It took three days for AC to deliver the springs and about five months for ShrockWorks to do the same with the bumper ... parking lot speed bumpers were tragic. Now everything is smooth as I remember stock being. It takes the weight of the 200-300 pounds worth of bumper and winch to steady out the springs. Even after install give them a few weeks to settle in.

Well now that I think about it, that makes sense.  Five months for a bumper from Schrockworks!?!?    You must be very patient!

I think for now I will go with a PRG shackle and spacer kit and get a set of sliders to be more trail ready, and can upgrade more later on.

Thanks for the advice!

John

[Blackx]

I'll echo everything the group said about PRG.  Greg's a really nice guy and has been supportive of the Xterra community.  Yea, Calmini get's ripped by some people but they do make great products and were one of the first to offer after market products for our vehicles.  Sometime's I'll buy a little product from ORW.  My truck is by far not the most modified in the group, however, I get compliments from the shop crew on my truck mostly because there's an ignorance of what our trucks can do.  They usually see soccer mom's driving them.

I'll add one more option on the suspension.  I've been looking into getting new leaf's.  The consensus from Xterra owner's seem to be to go with Deaver or Alcan, however, I found a spring shop here called North County Spring.  They seem to do a lot of Jeep's and heavy equipment.  If you end up going with new leaf's eventually I'd look into that shop.  I hope to do this within the next 60 days.