PLEASE HELP WITH LIFT QUESTIONS

[Guest weavey]

I am getting more and more confused as I research body lifts. I have a 95 SE V6 4X4, and I want to lift it in order to go from stock 31 X 10.50 X 15's and 7" wheels to 32 X 11.50 X 15's and 8" wheels. I want a minimum change in ride characteristics. I was recommended to a 4 wheel place here in Jacksonville by a friend - the guy at the shop told me that he doesn't do the 95 Pathfinder because they had so much trouble with them - something about the steering, and dash(?). Then I call Automotive Customizers and THEY tell me I can do it myself! The questions I have:

IS there a potential problem with the steering, shifting, overall ride, etc.??? What modifications need to be done? I saw one site that said the radiator needed to be moved, but the others don't mention that - and on and on. I really want to do this, but I DO NOT want any problems or undue stress on the truck (or on me).

 

Thanks for any help!!!

[88pathoffroad]

Hey man, if you want to go this route you're going to have to accept that modifications will have to be made and that it will be a different vehicle afterwards. It all depends on what you can accept and handle.

 

Here's a writeup I made on installing one on a two-door Pathy. Installation should be very similar to a four-door. http://www.damagedreality.com/tmaster.html

 

Installing your own body lift isn't all that hard, and more than a few people on this board have done their own already. If you have your own hand tools and a place to do it, you should be set. It doesn't require a lot of complicated procedures, just a lot of careful steps and unbolting things, then bolting them back together. If you ask a shop to do it for you, they will generally answer like the shop you've already been to, ie, "It's too hard...we've never done one before and don't know exactly what needs to be done...we're inexperienced and can't give you a straight answer...we've "heard" other people have had problems with one...we'll have to empty your wallet if you want it done..." So, you've got a good start by coming here and asking questions.

 

First off, search the board here and read everything you can find on the subject. Go to the AC BBS and read posts there about it. There's been enough discussion of this subject already to warrant searching for the info rather than rehashing it all over again.

 

On a 95, installing a body lift will require the transfer case shifter (and the manual tranny shifter, if so equipped) to be modified to that it will clear the floorpan. This usually involves removing the shifter, heating it and bending it forwards. If you have an automatic transmission, there's no problem. The auto is shifted via cable and it has more than enough slack in the cable to allow for 3" of body lift. EVEN IF the kit says "manual transmission only".

 

The only thing that needs to be done to the steering is to slide the stock steering shaft out an additional 2-3". That's it on that part. No additional modification needed.

 

The radiator should probably be dropped down to match the fan on the engine, but some people have left it alone and it has worked fine for them. If you left the radiator alone and bought an electric fan instead of using the stock plastic engine-driven fan, you'd get a little bit more HP from the engine and it would probably cool better afterwards. An electric fan generally costs about $80-$125 and is very easy to install yourself. Otherwise, the radiator should be dropped down with a bracket kit, or the fan shroud will need to be trimmed so that the fan will clear it.

 

Anything else?

[Guest weavey]

Tom, thanks much for the quick reply. I accept that mods will need to be made, I just couldn't get a straight or consistent answer before on what they were. If I could trouble you to elaborate on something you said - that it will be a different vehicle afterward. I assume that it will be stiffer, which I don't care. Do you recommend adding new shocks when this is done - does it improve the ride? I'm actually just doing this for the looks of the larger tires and wheels. Thanks again for your help!

[Mr. Pickles]

I'm thinking he means "different vehicle" as in different handling. It will have a higher center of gravity, which could lead to more lean in corners, and of course you'll be looking down on other vehicles.

[88pathoffroad]

Yup. The suspension stays the same, but the overall height increases, which changes the way it handles a little. New shocks would be a great idea if you still have old stock ones on it. I swapped shocks on mine when I did the 3" BL and I'll never regret it.

 

And on the larger tires note...you're going to have to trim the front fenders to get 32's to fit without rubbing with a 3" BL. My 33's rubbed (not too much, but enough to piss me off) with 6" of lift until I severely trimmed the front fenders. I suggest cranking up your torsion bars a bit to level out the front end as well. That'll stiffen the front end up a skosh and make the tires less prone to rubbing.