thorpe991 Posted September 30, 2013 Share Posted September 30, 2013 i have a 1997 pathfinder Le i would like to lift it 3 inches so i can put 33"s under it but am having a hard time finding aftermarket struts and shocks and coil springs if somebody could give me a part number with a website to order from that would be great would. right now i have 31s under it with no lift Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96Pathfinder4x4 Posted September 30, 2013 Share Posted September 30, 2013 First look here for tire size and lifts. http://www.nissanpathfinders.net/forum/topic/19867-max-tire-size-vs-lift-kit-used-vs-custom-or-oe-wheels/ Then go here and look at a SFD. http://www.nissanpathfinders.net/forum/topic/23821-subframe-drop-for-r50/ Welcome! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thorpe991 Posted October 1, 2013 Author Share Posted October 1, 2013 (edited) everything i have read is that you need a 2 ich lift to fit 31s but i have no lift and i was able to fit 31s with very minimal rubbing which dosent bother me i want to put 33s on but im having a hard time finding where to buy the coil springs shocks/ struts that will give me the two inches at first i thought all i would need it 4 coil springs (2 front 2 rear) and 2 shocks for the rear but then it acurred to me that i would need struts that are two inches longer also so i started looking and i cant find them so do you guys use ones from other trucks/suvs or am i just completely overlooking them and then i realized i couldn't find shocks that are made for the pathfinder that are 2" longer ether so my ? is where do you guys buy your taller suspension components? Edited October 1, 2013 by thorpe991 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96Pathfinder4x4 Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 You need a 2 inch lift to fit 31s without rubbing or cutting. It's a spring lift, so you don't need longer front struts. I went with KYBs from other's advice. I like 'em. You will need longer rear shocks for the 2" lift springs. Again, I went with OME rear shocks. I think someone is selling an AC lift in the classifieds... I think this is where I ordered mine. I ordered OME springs. (Old Man Emu) With some time on google you can find other vendors and shop around. http://www.rocky-road.com/pathfindersus.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96Pathfinder4x4 Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 (edited) http://www.nissanpathfinders.net/forum/topic/32349-ordered-my-sfd-today/ About 3/4 down the page is my '96 with 2" spring lift (no spacers) and 31" BFGs. I went with the SFD, because of ground clearance issues...keeping up with Jeeps...I could keep up with them, except for ground clearance limitations. From the 2" lift to the SFD, I only had to change the rear springs and shocks. (sold them here a while back). I kept the front 2" springs and KYBs. Edited October 1, 2013 by 96Pathfinder4x4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thorpe991 Posted October 1, 2013 Author Share Posted October 1, 2013 i have 31s on now with out cutting or a lift ill post a pic when i get home if i can figure it out but.... thank you for the site i think that is exactly what i was looking for and what is a "ac lift" iv looked online for them and cant find them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devonianwalk Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 You don't really have to replace your struts if they are in good shape. The KYB replacements are stock replacements. I have the Automotive Customizers (AC) 2" spring coils on all four corners. I am running 31's currently but, I believe others have installed 33's with a narrow (10.5" or 11") tread. Here is the el'linko to the AC package .. https://www.4x4parts.com/nissan/pathfinder-19962004-pathfinder-c-435_437_341_8.html 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96Pathfinder4x4 Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 (edited) It's just a brand, like OME. Just googled to find an example and found TJM springs. That's a new one to me. http://www.andysautosport.com/nissan/1996_1999_pathfinder/suspension/lift_kits/lifting_coil_springs/tjm_equipped/ 35mm = 1.38 inches. bleh. Just ensure that when you're buying springs, that they are for a 2" lift....not a 1" lift. Both are available. Edited October 1, 2013 by 96Pathfinder4x4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thorpe991 Posted October 1, 2013 Author Share Posted October 1, 2013 (edited) You don't really have to replace your struts if they are in good shape. The KYB replacements are stock replacements. I have the Automotive Customizers (AC) 2" spring coils on all four corners. I am running 31's currently but, I believe others have installed 33's with a narrow (10.5" or 11") tread. Here is the el'linko to the AC package .. https://www.4x4parts.com/nissan/pathfinder-19962004-pathfinder-c-435_437_341_8.html so i dont have to replace my struts just the coils and rear shocks? man this is getting confusing right now im running master craft courser at2 that are 31x10.5x15 and there on after market 15 inch rims that i think are 10.5" wide and they stick out about 3-4" past the wheelwell i want that same stance just with 33s Edited October 1, 2013 by thorpe991 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devonianwalk Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 so i dont have to replace my struts just the coils and rear shocks? man this is getting confusing right now ... Welcome to caR50 ownership! We have all been in your position. The rear shocks do need to be changed out for longer travel. Here, I'll link you to my build thread from a couple of years ago. Maybe this will help you to determine what you are getting into .. http://www.nissanpathfinders.net/forum/topic/30077-devonianwalks-995-r50-stock-to-lift-pics/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebelord Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 As you are running and other's have said. With a pre facelift you can run 31's on stock suspension most of the time. For 2" lift, your looking at AC coils. Otherwise there is OME and IronMan which give 1-1.5" of lift. Do some searches in this R50 section. Lots of discussion about the AC coils. Some like em. Some hate em. Because of the top out issue. I am running IronMan springs with strut spacer and Gabriel Ultra Struts and Shocks and love the setup. Gabriels have a lifetime warranty from Autozone. Plus they are ~60 each strut and ~30 each shock. With the AC coils and its full 2" of lift, you can run 33s. Just have to watch width and change the wheels for different backspacing. Plus you will have to do a lot of trimming. Here are some pics of a 2001 with AC coils and 32" tires. He had to do quite a bit of trimming to keep from rubbing. Link: http://www.nissanpathfinders.net/forum/topic/35746-mastersryans-2001-r50/?p=671633 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96Pathfinder4x4 Posted October 2, 2013 Share Posted October 2, 2013 For 2" lift, your looking at AC coils. Otherwise there is OME and IronMan which give 1-1.5" of lift. I disagree. I don't remember the exact numbers, but my OME springs gave me well over 2" of lift. Maybe because I went with stiff upfront and medium in the rear and used OME shocks. They didn't sell stiff rear before, but I would have went with that. My WJ springs can make my truck rock a bit. Especially after a big bump or ditch in the road. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thorpe991 Posted October 2, 2013 Author Share Posted October 2, 2013 (edited) As you are running and other's have said. With a pre facelift you can run 31's on stock suspension most of the time. For 2" lift, your looking at AC coils. Otherwise there is OME and IronMan which give 1-1.5" of lift. Do some searches in this R50 section. Lots of discussion about the AC coils. Some like em. Some hate em. Because of the top out issue. I am running IronMan springs with strut spacer and Gabriel Ultra Struts and Shocks and love the setup. Gabriels have a lifetime warranty from Autozone. Plus they are ~60 each strut and ~30 each shock. With the AC coils and its full 2" of lift, you can run 33s. Just have to watch width and change the wheels for different backspacing. Plus you will have to do a lot of trimming. Here are some pics of a 2001 with AC coils and 32" tires. He had to do quite a bit of trimming to keep from rubbing. Link: http://www.nissanpathfinders.net/forum/topic/35746-mastersryans-2001-r50/?p=671633 So do you think with the two inch coil lift I would be able to put 33s with out cutting since the 31s with out lift barley rub or would I be better off doing sfd if I didn't want to cut the body Right know its my Dailey driver and not a toy haha got a 92 gmc for the mud so the lift would be mostly for looks but I do some trail driving on the weekends with friends and I bottomed out last weekend in a ditch that my gmc that the 31s came off from cleared with no issues (gmc out of commission at the moment do to a bad transmission) I first put on a set of 32" muders that were on the gmc also but they rubbed at quarter turn and the 31s don't rub till full turn and only in the front of the wheel well The muders are actually about a 1 1/2 " bigger than the 31s Edited October 2, 2013 by thorpe991 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebelord Posted October 2, 2013 Share Posted October 2, 2013 I disagree. I don't remember the exact numbers, but my OME springs gave me well over 2" of lift. Maybe because I went with stiff upfront and medium in the rear and used OME shocks. They didn't sell stiff rear before, but I would have went with that. My WJ springs can make my truck rock a bit. Especially after a big bump or ditch in the road. Quite possible. I think with lift springs its more along Your Mileage May Vary (YMMV). Stock springs I was still sitting at 33" front, 34" rear. So I didnt gain much. Yes, I looked back up the OME and they are stated at 1.75" using the spring packers, aka lil spacer. So, 2" is very easy for them as you stated. Thorpe991: If you want to run 33". Then just do a sub frame drop. With springs only, I believe you will still rub and will need to do trimming. But doing a quick search on this forum can provide many threads about trimming. Most just have to trim or used a heat gun to reshape the plastic fender liner and bumper part. Only a few that I remember have trimmed metal. But some have and had excellent results. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96Pathfinder4x4 Posted October 2, 2013 Share Posted October 2, 2013 I must have gotten lucky. No spacers here. I have the SFD with springs and I only rub at full turn on the rocker side. The tires rub on the plastic near the back that was behind the mud guards. (fender guard?) I figure it will wear down....eventually. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thorpe991 Posted October 2, 2013 Author Share Posted October 2, 2013 So today I seen a pathfinder at Walmart that had 31s with the coil lift and it had about 4 inches between the bumper and the wheel so I think that's what I'm going to go with Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96Pathfinder4x4 Posted October 2, 2013 Share Posted October 2, 2013 So today I seen a pathfinder at Walmart that had 31s with the coil lift and it had about 4 inches between the bumper and the wheel so I think that's what I'm going to go with No offroading at all? 2" doesn't give a whole lot of room for wheel travel.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thorpe991 Posted October 2, 2013 Author Share Posted October 2, 2013 No offroading at all? 2" doesn't give a whole lot of room for wheel travel.... i like to off road but i have to make the pathfinder last me at least 4 - 5 years so im not doing any serious mudding or trailing as i have a habit of pushing them too hard iv blown up a 125 2 stroke dirt bike iv tore the gears apart in a 300ex and blown the motor up in my truck once and now the tranny went so im trying to baby the pathfinder cuz i cant afforded to break it anytime soon and the trials me an my friends drive you dont need much wheel travel just ground clearence mostly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thorpe991 Posted October 2, 2013 Author Share Posted October 2, 2013 ok so i have decided that im going with the 2 inch coil lift my main confusion is do i use stock length struts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devonianwalk Posted October 2, 2013 Share Posted October 2, 2013 Stock length struts are our only option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thorpe991 Posted October 3, 2013 Author Share Posted October 3, 2013 So i have to get stock length struts coils that are 2" bigger all the way around and shocks that are 2" bigger? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CNAM Posted October 3, 2013 Share Posted October 3, 2013 Automotive Customizers out of Florida sells a kit. Its basically all (4) 2" lift springs, struts for the front and you can choose from three different shocks for the rear. https://www.4x4parts.com/nissan/pathfinder-19962004-pathfinder-c-435_437_341_8.html https://www.4x4parts.com/nissan/pathfinder-suspension-package-p-1551.html You will need the camber alignment kit x2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96Pathfinder4x4 Posted October 3, 2013 Share Posted October 3, 2013 You sure you need the camber alignment kit? I never installed anything like that on my truck. I've had it aligned a few time since then. I bought the 3 year alignment package, so when I get my oil changed, they check the alignment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devonianwalk Posted October 4, 2013 Share Posted October 4, 2013 The bolts only correct the camber. The tow is easily corrected by the alignment guru's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96Pathfinder4x4 Posted October 4, 2013 Share Posted October 4, 2013 The bolts only correct the camber. The tow is easily corrected by the alignment guru's. As I assumed by "camber" alignment kit. My camber doesn't seem to be a problem. A full alignment checks camber and toe. I have the printouts that say my Pathy is within Nissan specs after the 2" spring lift (had on about a year...3 or 4 alignments....and after the SFD install...only 1 so far.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now