IndyTyler Posted February 7, 2010 Share Posted February 7, 2010 Hi, I am new here, and have a 2002 pathfinder. It is all stock. I use this thing for everything. love it! My question is..It seems really easy to squat this thing under load. I would say a couple hundred pounds in the back, it looks like it it full of cement blocks or something. example. basic hitch bike rack with 3 light weight BMX bikes on it, and it squats. I have had small 4cy cars that werent this bad. I love this car and it is awesome, but this seems crazy. I went ahead and replaced the rear shocks. not much better. i also do very light wieght towing.(stand up jetskis). are the rear springs shot? i know there are spring blocks and air systems, for leveling issues, but this seems too weak, for the amount of weight. I do alot of bike racing/ jetskiing, so any input on this would be great. does anyone have this issue, with aftermarket lifts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howie Posted February 7, 2010 Share Posted February 7, 2010 I noticed the same thing when I towed or loaded up on cargo with my stock springs. The R50 Pathfinders have soft rear coils. I guess it adds to the ride quality when unloaded, or with just a few passengers in back, which is how most people probably use it. But if you do anything more than that, you should replace your springs with stiffer ones. Going with the OME or AC coils would probably be sufficient for your needs. It will also lift your vehicle by 1.5" to 2". An air leveling kit might be overkill. Of course, you'll want to replace the fronts too, or your truck will be lower in front. I drove around like that for a few days because I replaced my rear coils first. I didn't think it looked too bad, but some people hate it. By the way, replacing shocks would do nothing for the problem you describe. It's the springs (and their spring rate) that determine the vehicle's stiffness, or ability to support a load. The shocks dampen oscillations only. But if yours is a 2002, the shocks probably needed replacing. --Howie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IndyTyler Posted February 7, 2010 Author Share Posted February 7, 2010 thanks for the reply. yes i know the shocks, wouldn't do much. They were toast, and needed replaced. although I would love to lift my pathfinder, and give it the aggressive look, I hoping there was something i could do at stock height. This thing doesn't see much mud. we use it to do a lot of traveling, with bmx racing.I would like to be able to weigh it down a little more. any other seggestions?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shift220 Posted February 7, 2010 Share Posted February 7, 2010 You could go with a set of stock replacement springs. Yours might just be worn out. A couple BMX bikes and a rack shouldn't make it sit that low. But on the other hand, just because it's sitting low in the back doesn't mean its to heavily loaded. When I go on camping trips, I usually have two people in the back, probably 300 lbs of cargo and a boat on the hitch. Sure its lower in the back but no where near unsafe. It's just how coil sprung vehicles are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IndyTyler Posted February 7, 2010 Author Share Posted February 7, 2010 (edited) yes, i agree. it performs fine, just bothers me more than anything.it isnt unsafe. just seems to squat too soon, under light load. truck now has 110k btw. Edited February 7, 2010 by IndyTyler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
02silverpathy Posted February 7, 2010 Share Posted February 7, 2010 (edited) I think that it has a lot to do with how much you stack behind the shock mount. In a PU truck the rear suspension is pretty close to the back (the leaf springs go almost all the way back), the pathy has cargo space behind the spring/shock mount. your passengers are closer to the mounts than your cargo will be. I have AC spring and carry a 100 lb sub box in the back behind the seats...this brings the back down to meet the front level. If I add my rack and 3 bikes it goes down a bit...I really think it is due to how far behind the suspension everything is. Edited February 7, 2010 by 02silverpathy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
180sx Posted February 7, 2010 Share Posted February 7, 2010 I think that it has a lot to do with how much you stack behind the shock mount. In a PU truck the rear suspension is pretty close to the back (the leaf springs go almost all the way back), the pathy has cargo space behind the spring/shock mount. your passengers are closer to the mounts than your cargo will be. I have AC spring and carry a 100 lb sub box in the back behind the seats...this brings the back down to meet the front level. If I add my rack and 3 bikes it goes down a bit...I really think it is due to how far behind the suspension everything is. Beat me to it! That's exactly what I was going to say!! And as far as the AC springs go. I would just get them. It's not that much more of a lift (2", c'mon now!) and just because you don't take it off road doesn't mean it can't be lifted. My friend has a 28" lift on his truck. Drives it everyday. It has never been off-roading. Been that way for a year now. Just upgrade! OME springs are good to and don't lift as high as the AC springs do (~1.5"). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
02silverpathy Posted February 7, 2010 Share Posted February 7, 2010 Err uhh, I am the biggest louse on here...almost 0 off road time. I have a Fleuries front skid, lift, 32's, and sliders...yep louse. Love my path though, has been a blast in the snow! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MY1PATH Posted February 7, 2010 Share Posted February 7, 2010 my pathy is about an inch higer in the rear that the front and nobody seems to notice but me. when I loaded the back up with over 500lbs of steel scrap it went to about .5" lower than the front. most other lesser loads seem so level it out just fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IndyTyler Posted February 7, 2010 Author Share Posted February 7, 2010 its not that i dont want a lift, I do. just didnt want to spend the cash if i dont have to yet. The lift i was looking at at 4x4parts.com, says i must buy aftermarket wheels, is this true? I also see that most people are switching to manual hubs etc. If i was going to do it, i would do it right. I have had many modded cars, and currently have a modded vw. stock is not my norm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
01silvapathy Posted February 7, 2010 Share Posted February 7, 2010 its not that i dont want a lift, I do. just didnt want to spend the cash if i dont have to yet. The lift i was looking at at 4x4parts.com, says i must buy aftermarket wheels, is this true? I also see that most people are switching to manual hubs etc. If i was going to do it, i would do it right. I have had many modded cars, and currently have a modded vw. stock is not my norm. Dont listen to those newbs! You dont have to get manual locking hubs, its just recommended but they can wait a year or so post lift. And if you're not wheelin that much its even better. And as far as stock wheels well I sure as hell didnt need them. Heck im better off on stock wheels than aftermarket wheels, they allow me to fit 33's on the 2in lift and still be able to turn and flex with very minor rubbing only while parking in reverse with the wheel cranked. And dont let the pic fool you, the rear is higher than the front, it has a rake when sitting on level ground. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
01silvapathy Posted February 7, 2010 Share Posted February 7, 2010 (edited) Found a pic of it sitting on level ground and clean....you can clearly see that with the lift and my 33's its still has a rake (front lower than back)With a few ppl in the back, or some bikes or some gear it would lower out nicely. I have hauled about 10 40lb bags of mulch with this set up and it didnt look or feel lower in the rear at all. It handeled it very nice. Edited February 7, 2010 by 01silvapathy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IndyTyler Posted February 7, 2010 Author Share Posted February 7, 2010 Your truck looks pretty good. makes me want to do it bad. Thanks for the info. What size tires do you have 33?(actual)? seeing pics makes e want to lift it thats for sure... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldSlowReliable Posted February 7, 2010 Share Posted February 7, 2010 Well part of it could be with the leverage of the bikes being on a hitch attachment, so 150lbs that far back could actually be more like 300lbs as if it were directly on the hitch receiver, or like 800lbs directly above the axle.... If you got a buck to spend I'd get some air helper things, the kind that just sit inside the spring until you turn em up, then they repel some of the load for the heavier towing, or even that And slightly stiffer springs....or air helpers and a 1/5" lift? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
01silvapathy Posted February 8, 2010 Share Posted February 8, 2010 Your truck looks pretty good. makes me want to do it bad. Thanks for the info. What size tires do you have 33?(actual)? seeing pics makes e want to lift it thats for sure... Yeah, the springs that come with the AC 2in Lift are def alot stronger...the pathy rides alot more like a truck after a lift. And the acutal tire size is 285/75/16 they measure 32.9 brand new, mine are used and measure 32.7 in the middle and the outer is 32.5. So its close to a 33. Helper bags are more for towing. And honestly I dont think that what you're hauling and towing doesnt warrant the use of helper bags. From the ppl I have talked to when you're not using the helper bags they are more of an annoyance, really squeaky and stuff....just my 2cents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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