Lift options

[csprinkle]

Hello, I've been wanting to get into a bit of off-roading/lifting my pathfinder. I've read through a bit of posts on here and realized that maybe spacer lifts aren't the best option, but it's the only thing I'm able to comfortably afford at the moment. If I were to continue down the path of spacer lifts, what is the most viable height for front and rear that wouldn't require me to do too much other handywork on the car (shocks, springs, etc)? I'm not really too sure where I should buy from, but I see that sfcreation still sells front spacers, not sure about rear. Apologies if I have the wrong idea about this or if I've posted the hundredth identical post asking about lifts. Thanks!

[R50JR]

5 hours ago, csprinkle said:

Hello, I've been wanting to get into a bit of off-roading/lifting my pathfinder. I've read through a bit of posts on here and realized that maybe spacer lifts aren't the best option, but it's the only thing I'm able to comfortably afford at the moment. If I were to continue down the path of spacer lifts, what is the most viable height for front and rear that wouldn't require me to do too much other handywork on the car (shocks, springs, etc)? I'm not really too sure where I should buy from, but I see that sfcreation still sells front spacers, not sure about rear. Apologies if I have the wrong idea about this or if I've posted the hundredth identical post asking about lifts. Thanks!

 

Any type of lift will require a bit of work. For the struts, you will have to disassemble the the front suspension, which requires a spring compressor, hand tools, a way to press out the original top hat studs.

 

A spring lift without spacers is essentially the same as spacer lift, you just don't need to press out the studs. I guess a spring lift is easier just more expensive.

 

 

[csprinkle]

Good to know, I'll probably refrain from touching anything related to a lift/suspension until I run into any difficulties in my infrequent off-road drives. Thanks for the reply!

[Skelten]

Hey! I figured I'd add to this post in case you do want to add a lift to your Pathfinder, and because it sounds like exactly what I did last summer.

 

From what I read it seemed like a 2-inch lift was the absolute max for spacers on the Pathfinder. So, I went with a 2-inch spacer from Supreme Suspensions off of Amazon. The installation of the spacers did require the struts to be disassembled and I ended up pressing the top hat studs out using a c-clamp with a socket over one end of the stud. However, with the 2-inch lift, I came across a couple of issues.

 

First, I noticed that my CV boot had torn (not sure if this happened before or after lift installation) so I decided to replace them with ones from Autozone, which ended up binding due to the increased angle of the lift. Eventually, I bought TrakMotive Extended Travel CV axles from RockAuto which have worked great so far with no binding. Second, the camber on my front wheels was very positive after the lift, but I was able to nearly (+0.5 camber) correct with camber bolts, maybe getting a full alignment could solve the issue completely.

 

Overall, they definitely will require some work to install, but I was extremely happy with the outcome!

[R50JR]

55 minutes ago, Skelten said:

Hey! I figured I'd add to this post in case you do want to add a lift to your Pathfinder, and because it sounds like exactly what I did last summer.

 

From what I read it seemed like a 2-inch lift was the absolute max for spacers on the Pathfinder. So, I went with a 2-inch spacer from Supreme Suspensions off of Amazon. The installation of the spacers did require the struts to be disassembled and I ended up pressing the top hat studs out using a c-clamp with a socket over one end of the stud. However, with the 2-inch lift, I came across a couple of issues.

 

First, I noticed that my CV boot had torn (not sure if this happened before or after lift installation) so I decided to replace them with ones from Autozone, which ended up binding due to the increased angle of the lift. Eventually, I bought TrakMotive Extended Travel CV axles from RockAuto which have worked great so far with no binding. Second, the camber on my front wheels was very positive after the lift, but I was able to nearly (+0.5 camber) correct with camber bolts, maybe getting a full alignment could solve the issue completely.

 

Overall, they definitely will require some work to install, but I was extremely happy with the outcome!

A 2 inch puck will destroy any standard cv axle. We have documented that the original cv axles have the greatest operating angles. 

[hawairish]

On 2/1/2025 at 10:41 PM, Skelten said:

Hey! I figured I'd add to this post in case you do want to add a lift to your Pathfinder, and because it sounds like exactly what I did last summer.

 

From what I read it seemed like a 2-inch lift was the absolute max for spacers on the Pathfinder. So, I went with a 2-inch spacer from Supreme Suspensions off of Amazon. The installation of the spacers did require the struts to be disassembled and I ended up pressing the top hat studs out using a c-clamp with a socket over one end of the stud. However, with the 2-inch lift, I came across a couple of issues.

 

First, I noticed that my CV boot had torn (not sure if this happened before or after lift installation) so I decided to replace them with ones from Autozone, which ended up binding due to the increased angle of the lift. Eventually, I bought TrakMotive Extended Travel CV axles from RockAuto which have worked great so far with no binding. Second, the camber on my front wheels was very positive after the lift, but I was able to nearly (+0.5 camber) correct with camber bolts, maybe getting a full alignment could solve the issue completely.

 

Overall, they definitely will require some work to install, but I was extremely happy with the outcome!

 

There's definitely a snow-ball effect as you've noticed.  The CVs see the most of the impact, though.  One thing to check on the TrakMotives is at the bottom of the strut on full droop.  Seen a few guys on FB end up busting the TMs, which they think is due to their angles after adding spacers, but to me it looks like they're contacting the strut body and then snapping.

 

I had to run two sets of camber bolts to get close on my setup, but my setup was a little different anyway.

[Carl_99QX4_yeww]

Moral of the story, 2in suspension lift in the front is totally good to go. 2in suspension lift with 1in strut spacer - pushes your CV Axle out of it's threshold and isnt reliable.

 

4 years ago I installed a suspension lift in the front and rear of my 1999 Infiniti QX4. I went with 2in AC springs with KYB stock travel struts in the front. I went with heavy duty Land Rover Springs and Bilstein 33-185552 extended travel shocks in the rear. After several years, the setup still felt pretty good (have driven about 80k miles). I got a solid 2.5inches out of the rear suspension lift, potentially 3inches (never accurately measured). The front AC springs lifted about 1.75inches. The QX4 always had a rake, with the rear being noticeably taller than the front. Never really bothered me.

 

From the start, the front would top out if I hit a bump or dip going too fast. This caused parts of the shock mount/tower, strut bearing, and strut to need replacing, but after at least 60k miles of pretty rigorous driving on dirt roads and the occasional (somewhat) gritty trail. The rear did not have any issues until recently, when I noticed the rear shock bushings were worn out - the top eyelet on both rear shocks had "ovaled" itself over time since I had installed them without fabricating/modifying the shock mount or bushing to be able to install the bushing sleeve the bilsteins came with. I ordered and installed new eyelet bushings to both shocks, installed the bushing sleeves, bought 0.5in bolts with a nut (and some washers) and drilled out the shock mount so the bolt would fit snuggly in the sleeve and also through the shock mount. The rear feels great again. 

 

Recently, for some stupid reason, decided to install a 1inch strut spacer (from SF creations) in the front to level the rake. Successfully installed the dumb spacers and the QX4 not longer has a rake. QX4 drove fine, but I did need to install camber bolts (1 on each side, could probably use 2 on each side to really dial in the camber) to get the alignment straight. Wheels are within camber spec but from a visual they look like they could be more level if two camber bolts on each side were to be installed. Today, while making a turn on flat asphalt, I heard a loud pop and then non-stop popping, clunking coming from the front right side. I had a guy in a parking lot look while I turned the wheel slowly, and also drove slowly. We pin pointed the noise, its a totally exploded CV axle outer joint. I have the Trakmotive "high articulation" CV axles, which I ran for the 80k miles leading up to this with no issue (one torn boot at about 60k mi). But within about 5k miles of installing the 1in spacer, the boots started looking like they were suctioning (not accordion-ing properly). Now the CV has exploded. 

 

Moral of the story, 2in suspension lift in the front is totally good to go. 2in suspension lift with 1in strut spacer - pushes your CV Axle out of it's threshold. 

[hawairish]

That's very unfortunate.  But sounds about right.  Don't the TMs still have a lifetime warranty?

[Carl_99QX4_yeww]

5 hours ago, hawairish said:

That's very unfortunate.  But sounds about right.  Don't the TMs still have a lifetime warranty?

Yes, they do have a lifetime warranty. I ordered a new one from Rock Auto right before I posted the story above ^^ lol. It should arrive friday. Should be all good, just a pain in the ass since I have to ship a CV axle. Hopefully they issue me a refund. The Trakmotive CV "for lifted vehicles" actually worked super well until I put the extra 1inch strut spacer on. No issues until now. I think I'm going to remove the 1in strut spacers. Even though its nice not having a noticeable rake, I didn't have any CV axle problems for years. As I mentioned, within 5k miles of driving (about 30% on dirt roads with some trails - and the rest on paved roads) I totally f'd a CV axle. I don't think it's a coincidence. 

 

If anyone else has anecdotal information regarding the maximum lift, or lift combinations, I'd be curious to hear. Would be sweet if a 0.5inch strut spacer existed and also didn't cause issues with CV angles. Would like to get rid of the rake. 

 

Sorry to slightly hijack the thread here, just figured suspension options and anecdotes are worth mentioning. 

[R50JR]

5 hours ago, Carl_99QX4_yeww said:

Yes, they do have a lifetime warranty. I ordered a new one from Rock Auto right before I posted the story above ^^ lol. It should arrive friday. Should be all good, just a pain in the ass since I have to ship a CV axle. Hopefully they issue me a refund. The Trakmotive CV "for lifted vehicles" actually worked super well until I put the extra 1inch strut spacer on. No issues until now. I think I'm going to remove the 1in strut spacers. Even though its nice not having a noticeable rake, I didn't have any CV axle problems for years. As I mentioned, within 5k miles of driving (about 30% on dirt roads with some trails - and the rest on paved roads) I totally f'd a CV axle. I don't think it's a coincidence. 

 

If anyone else has anecdotal information regarding the maximum lift, or lift combinations, I'd be curious to hear. Would be sweet if a 0.5inch strut spacer existed and also didn't cause issues with CV angles. Would like to get rid of the rake. 

 

Sorry to slightly hijack the thread here, just figured suspension options and anecdotes are worth mentioning. 

There are several threads regarding maximum lifts and lift combinations. It's very interesting that these extended axles failed. Aren't they advertised for lifted vehicles? That means they should be perfectly fine for a 1 inch spacer.. The original axles work fine with any spring lift so an extended axle is pointless in that combination.