Jmac's 2002 Xterra

[Jmac289gt]

Oh yeah sorry, I thought I posted that in here...

As for the first issue of it feeling in a bind unless your moving: Loosening and retightening the nuts did not stop it at all...im just living with that for now as all it takes is just the slight movement for you to be able to start turning the wheel.

The squeaking metal to metal sound: Justin from Calmini said the bushings and the bolt sleeve are the stationary part and you just have to use an air powered grease gun to get grease in there....a hand held pump style will not do the job. So that squeaking noise has gone away and is all good at this moment.

 

[NMTerras]

Interesting. I think it would be hard to get used to a binding feeling starting a turn. Good idea to let calmini know about it from the start in case it turns into a bigger problem

 

[The Chech]

Jmac did you have to get longer brake lines since you did a SL and a BL?

 

[Jmac289gt]

Chech:

No sir I have not yet but I do remember when I finally added the shackle to the rear I bent some brackets back the for something because they were stretched tight but can't remember what it was. I know it would be best to extend them if you do add a leaf and shackle or at the least re-adjust some brackets and use zip ties to keep things in place that you un hook completeley like I did.

What are you thinking you want to do? I only added the leaf first but later added the shackle cause the back tires would hit the fender sometimes and the hitch to which I was not about to remove.

 

[kgbanddrb]

Put a cheap little CB in it...but never get to use it cause no one I wheel with now has one.

If you came wheeling with us, you could go with folks with CBs

Good looking rig!

 

[yellowx16]

Nice x, i love those tires on there. Definitely one of my favorite xterras ive seen

 

[Jmac289gt]

Thanks yellowx, that really means a lot to hear coming from other X owners.

 

[Jack Stilts]

x2 on those wheels & tires. They look so natural on the X.

 

[Jmac289gt]

But now Im leaning towards 33X12.50's this time. Not real sure how much worse it can make the power and gas mileage compared to the 32's.

I should have been able to get more mileage out of these tires but I messed 2 of them up running them with a busted up stock steering system while waiting for the calmini HD setup to come off backorder, now they are so bad I just want them off.

 

[Jmac289gt]

Okay guys so for a little story: A guy at my job has a 4Runner and he ordered a tube bumper from a place in California, they sent him the wrong one and was going to have to pay to have it shipped back so I got his number and called to ask him if he wanted to make a deal on it I would take it off his hand and he did and I got it.

Fab time with one of our Techs and a fellow off roader, 2" thick square tubing:


Same square tubing going accross just for extra support and place to weld too:


Then this happened cause I was not wearring gloves and the grinder didn't care:


This is some really think angle iron for mounting the bumper so it could be bolted on:


Another side shot after a little bit of painting to show the thickness and extra plate welded to the back to make it stronger:



The bumper mounted on and primed:


Took it back off today to finish up on the painting:


Some random shots:






The gentleman doing all the hard work cause I can't weld...I tried and it didn't look good:


This is his buggy:

 

[Roadwarrior]

Love it. I think that's the same style Luke has, he was saying that it will deflect trees and obstacles (zombies) very well.

I love the tube style. Any plans to put a stinger or anything on it?

 

[NismoFire]

That bumper looks like it was made for a Gen 1.5...seriously. I mean, look at the bends!! Goes right along with the grill.

 

[AZhiAZiAM]

looks like a marlin crawler bumper for a runner. but i can say. buddy i like your tube keep up the good work.

 

[Jmac289gt]

Any plans to put a stinger or anything on it?

Thanks guys and yes, I do think I want to put a small loop but just not sure of what style yet.

 

[AZhiAZiAM]

Thanks guys and yes, I do think I want to put a small loop but just not sure of what style yet.

if your looking for a stinger i'd recommend looking at some baja trucks or some prerunner sites. those guys are creative as hell with the tube bumpers.

 

[xearth]

Awesome bumper man! It really brings the x together

 

[Jmac289gt]

Went with the Goodyear Duratracs in a 33X12.50 from the KM2's in a 32X11.50, I have to say these are a lot softer or bouncier type of tire with a lot less steering response. They are a lot quieter and maybe they might last longer since my X is a daily driver too but they are not that great in mud, I got stuck in a rut I'm sure the KM2's would have made it through, they did do good in the loose sandy stuff though. The extra inch and weight really killed what little power I had left, it struggles to go over 60 MPH now and going over a tall bridge isn't even fun at all.

Over all they are nice tires for prolly most people but I will pay the extra and sacrifice a little life and go back with KM2's I'm sure.

 

[drbandkgb]

They are ok.. I do like the km2s bettwr

 

[gorillamel]

Making a good tire choice is hard to do. I originally hated my tires when I got them. But now, after 2 years, they have grown on me, haha! Good luck with yours.