Body Lift? how complicated is it?

[SnoViking]

Hey guys... i just ordered a 3 inch body lift for www.4x4parts.com and I was wondering how complicated it is? ive heard stories of it taking people 5 straight days and stuff. are there any good web sites with good picture directions? or better yet... would anyone want some free food and beer? if youre in the York PA area let me know. Any help and experience would be great. thanks guys.

[statikuz]

I'll be the first one to say it.

 

SEARCH! USE THE SEARCHY BUTTON AND DO SOME SEARCHING!

 

*whew

 

http://www.damagedreality.com/tmaster.html

 

Lots of people around here have done their own. Just wait until it shows up, start installing it, and as you hit problems or questions, just ask. I did mine a couple of weeks ago and it wasn't any super-big deal. I'm working on a pretty comprehensive writeup, so it might be done right around the time your kit arrives. :cool2:

[sw]

took me, by myself, one weekend to do it

 

it was easy!

if you were prepared and had help of a mate, you could do it in a day

[Mookie]

Helps to have a buddy around. A second set of eyes watching the engine compartment for any thing that is being 'pulled' while you lift a side of the body up is always a bonus. That way they can yell 'stop!' so you can undo whatever line you forgot to disconnect

[Guest Freaknasty]

I got to the part regarding the steering shaft and was lost...a comprehensive guide would be awesome for us ambitious yet little skilled mechanics

 

-alcohol-

[statikuz]

It's different on your year of Pathfinder. Here's a snippet from my work-in-progress guide:

 

Steering Shaft:

 

Don't worry, this isn't nearly as hard as it seems. You don't need to modify your stock shaft, just coax it out a little bit to accomodate for the lift. Around the middle of your steering shaft, you will see a short rubber boot. Slide this up and WD-40 the hell out of that joint... there's a little hole in the lower section that you can spray into, soak the joint good a couple of times and that should do the trick. While you're raising the body, have someone in there with a hammer to bang on the shaft to get it to loosen... as the body rises up, the top shaft will slide out of the lower shaft. Mine slid out about a grand total of 5/16" or so.

[mudfinder]

i really want to get a body lift, but i'm kinda worried about it, i know you guys say it isn't a big deal, what about the engine, transmission, the radiator and all that stuff, i mean i don't really wanna mess with that stuff, Hey statikuz i think i'll wait till you get your write up up and then i'll lift.

[k9sar]

my wife needs a body lift. (hears rimshot in the background)

[88pathoffroad]

i really want to get a body lift, but i'm kinda worried about it, i know you guys say it isn't a big deal, what about the engine, transmission, the radiator and all that stuff, i mean i don't really wanna mess with that stuff, Hey statikuz i think i'll wait till you get your write up up and then i'll lift.

You don't need to do anything to the engine or transmission. You're just lifting the body off the frame 3". Since the radiator is attached to the body, it goes up with it. Therefore the hoses need to be changed a bit and the fan shroud needs a bit more clearance unless you use a drop-bracket kit to lower the radiator back to where it was before the body lift was installed. That's about it. No mystery, just a lot of careful work and making sure you get everything put together right.

[statikuz]

Yeah, if you're lucky, you won't have to cut any off the fan shroud, you can just unclip the bottom plastic part and that gives the fan enough room.

[mudfinder]

see what i mean, bracket this bracket that, does all that stuff come with the kit, those the kit include everything for the front and rear bumper as well as the brackets for the radiator? does the kit come with every thing i need? do i have to buy anything seprate? i've seen some truck with body lifts and they look ugly, the rear bumper is like 10ft. below the body. i don't want it to look like that.

[statikuz]

Yep, everything comes in the kit except for a few hoses and hose clamps you may or may not need. The radiator drop down kit is generally unnecessary unless you start having severe cooling problems.

 

Back bumper: http://npora.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtop...&hl=rear+bumper

 

The kit includes brackets for the front bumper as well but they can be a PITA to get in and have them fit right.