MichiganAve

Thanks guys. And thanks to Alex for picture-proof! 15x8 on 97 QX4: Now, to find myself some 33x12.5 BFG MTs on some light black 15x8 alloys...

No, infinitiqx4me had 285-75-16 SSRs (33.9"). 16s, not 15s.

Because "people" on the boards used to say for many years that newer model Pathfinders that don't come with 15" rims stock, and all QX4s, can't run 15s. And I'm pretty sure there are now people running 15s on newer pathfinders that came with 16s stock... so I think its worth asking. As far as I know, nobody ever tried on a QX4. If somebody actually tried and failed or was successful, then it saves me the trip to a tire store this weekend.

Anybody tried 15x8s on a 1998 or other early QX4? I'm hoping it is a long-running myth that they won't clear the brakes, but I don't know anybody who has tried.

Also to point out, rocky road changed their description on their webpage to 2" lift, not 1" lift. Of course the spec sheets from ARB for the Old Man Emu's still say 0.5" lift... Is it possible that there are two versions of OMEs out there?

ahhhhhh, yeah, misunderstood.

Tyler! I thought I remembered seeing pictures of your vehicle with the long 5254 shocks with the sway on and off and it travelled WAY further with the sway off!

Any updates? I noticed the blackpanther site has been down.

Anybody want to recommend an impact wrench for me? I don't have air. If cordless is good enough, that would be more convenient. Hand tools just aren't cutting it! I need enough power to change the suspension, CVs, drop the differential, etc. Thanks.

an egg underneath the accelerator pedal...

hahahahahaha

Now that we have the 4" drop brackets coming from Prado the options are relatively endless. I personally am planning on just using some AC coils in front and rear with approximately 3" strut spacers, aiming for 5" lift in front and rear with minimal angle on the CVs. I would prefer longer coils in all corners but I already got brand new AC coils and that certainly is easier than waiting on custom coils.

Me neither, they are ugly. I spoke with them earlier and you can save $45 by not getting the signals. Some Pathy's seem to come wired with turn signals into the corner lights if they don't have turns in the bumper. In my QX4 I have fogs and signals in the bumper but I don't see any reason I couldn't rewire my turn signals to the corner lights and NOT get signals in the bumper.

Hard to tell in these pics, but is that an integrated skid plate?

That drop in mpg was compared to a stock all season tire? If so, that's not bad.

Sounds great, be sure to keep us all updated with your progress!

that is a VERY large picture! looks great.

In short: System F is keith, who made the first 4.5" lift and gave test kits to Matt (infinitqx4me) and Colopathy. Matt in particular abused his on the trail with 34x10" tires and an addition 2" AC lift in the front, and had no problems. Tyler Morgan then redesigned the basic lift idea since Keith wasn't going to produce it. Another guy also made a 4.5" lift that was essentially a copy, but as far as I know he didn't continue to develop it for mass production. Tyler is close to releasing his kits although he still wants to do further testing first. His website is http://www.pradolifts.com/index.html I will be getting one of these lift kits, they are exciting. It uses 4" subframe drop brackets. You then use longer springs and/or strut spacers to get 4.5" lift at the corners.

What mpg were you getting before, and what are you getting now?

With some of us planning on pushing unfamiliar territory with the 4.5" lift, I thought I'd open a discussion about durability issues with 33 to 35" tires. I know that Colopathy ran 33x12.5s and Matt ran 34x10.5. I don't know what Keith has. There are quite a few 2-3" lifted guys going with 33x10.5s now. I don't think anyone has seen consistent problems with this limited experience. Are the likely weak points the tie rods and the double universal joint steering extension? It seems to me that the increased wear on components and reduced gas mileage/acceleration is a product of radius*weight. This is why I am aiming to save weight in the rolling mass. I have purchased ProComp alloy 8023s that weigh 26lb in 16x8. I also have done some research on tire weights: Stock size 245/70/16: Bridgestone Revo 36 Michelin Cross Terrain 31 Pro Comp AT 31x10.5R15 C 39.9 Pro Comp AT 32x11.5R15 C 44.6 Pro Comp AT 33x12.5R15 C 50.1 Pro Comp AT 35x12.5R15 C 60.5 Pro Comp AT 285/75/16 D 53 Pro Comp AT 305/70/16 D 57.5 BFG AT 31x10.5R15 C 41 BFG AT 32x11.5R15 C 45 BFG AT 33x10.5R15 C 47 BFG AT 33x12.5R15 C 52 BFG AT 35x12.5R15 C 53 BFG AT 265/75/16 D 51 BFG AT 285/75/16 D 55 BFG AT 305/70/16 D 56 Pro Comp Xterrain 31x10.5R15 C 41.2 Pro Comp Xterrain 33x12.5R15 C 53 Pro Comp Xterrain 35x12.5R15 C 65 Pro Comp Xterrain 285/75/16 D 54.8 Pro Comp Xterrain 305/70/16 D 56.8 Dunlop MT 31x10.5R15 C 40 Dunlop MT 32x11.5R15 C 45 Dunlop MT 33x12.5R15 C 50 Dunlop MT 35x12.5R15 C 58 Dunlop MT 265/75/16 D 46 Dunlop MT 285/75/16 D 51 Dunlop MT 305/70R16 D 56 BFG MT 31x10.5R15 C 43 BFG MT 32x11.5R15 C 50 BFG MT 33x10.5R15 C 48 BFG MT 33x12.5R15 C 51 BFG MT 35x12.5R15 C 58 BFG MT 265/75/16 D 51 BFG MT 285/75/16 D 56 BFG MT 305/70/16 D 56 Goodyear MTR 31x10.5R15 C 46 Goodyear MTR 32x11.5R15 C 51 Goodyear MTR 33x12.5R15 C 57 Goodyear MTR 35x12.5R15 C 65 Goodyear MTR 265/75/16 D 55 Goodyear MTR 285/75/16 D 55 Goodyear MTR 305/70/16 D 58 Yoko MT 31x10.5R15 C 42 Yoko MT 33x12.5R15 C 51 Yoko MT 35x12.5R15 C 59 Yoko MT 265/75/16 C 48 Yoko MT 285/75/16 C 52 Yoko MT 305/70/16 D 57 Super Swamper SSR 33x12.5R15 67 I am pondering a BFG MT 305/70/16 which weighs 56lb, only 5lb more than the 265/75/16 BFG ATs in my living room. I couldn't find many weights for interco tires but they are rumored to be a very heavy brand, so I am no longer considering a Trxus MT, I will instead sipe another MT tire myself.

Do we have a final price yet?

36" front, 36.5" rear. I measured to the metal part of the fender underneath my flares, but I posted pictures of other measurements at http://www.nissanpathfinders.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=11211 which will be more consistent to compare across vehicles. I have 29.5" tires (measured, 30" by specs).

So it would appear that for me the AC coils resulted in 3-3.5" in the front and 2" in the rear compared to stock coils on a stock Pathfinder. I didn't take measurements on my own truck before the lift as my stock rear coils were so sagged I didn't think it would be worthwhile for comparison. Oh well. I believe the reason my rear is getting less lift is that I have a trailer hitch, large subwoofer box, amplifiers, etc in the rear. My truck actually sits really level for the moment, I hope the AC rear coils hold up to this weight well over time without sagging.

And measurements for two pathfinders written on this one:

I parked on level ground next to two Pathfinders today. I have had my AC coils for a few weeks so I figure it has settled by now. There are a few notes about the measurements as the fender flares are inconsistent places to measure for those without flares, Pathy's with flares, and the QX4. So I measured to what I thought was the metal fender underneath the flares. Note that all three cars measured 29.5" tires. To take tires out of the picture I measured fender to hub center. The easiest place on the car to measure consistently to may be the corner of the windows as drawn in the picture, but for those of you with non-stock tires this will be reflected. For me the most important measurements are overall clearance as my parking garage is 79" tall and has one low point at 76"... we'll see if I can still manage the 4.5" lift with 33x12.5s! (obviously this picture of the QX4 is before the AC coils, just using it to show where I measured).