To titan swap or not to titan swap

njnewb

Test Drive
Location
US
So this is sort of a run on from my last post about the leaf springs. Thinking of going with 3in alcans, and trying to decide what to do with the front. Spend a lot of money to redo the front, or spend some more and do a titan swap. Are they as complicated as they seem? And is it even worth it. My xterra is my daily driver and to the mountains and back roads on the weekends. What are your guys opinions?

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Muadeeb

Nissan al Gaib
Admin
Location
Dallas
How is this a question? If you considering doing a TS, just jeffing do it! Better diff and kick ass stance.

Now, if someone has actual reasons other than appearance, let's hear it.
 

njnewb

Test Drive
Location
US
How is this a question? If you considering doing a TS, just jeffing do it! Better diff and kick ass stance.

Now, if someone has actual reasons other than appearance, let's hear it.
Haha I guess I should be asking if the juice worth the squeeze? How much more difficult/spendy is it than just doing a normal suspension lift


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JeffPro4x

Hot Pipe
Super Moderator
Supporting Member
Location
Glenside, PA
So this is sort of a run on from my last post about the leaf springs. Thinking of going with 3in alcans, and trying to decide what to do with the front. Spend a lot of money to redo the front, or spend some more and do a titan swap. Are they as complicated as they seem? And is it even worth it. My xterra is my daily driver and to the mountains and back roads on the weekends. What are your guys opinions?

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Increase track width for stability? Check.
Increase wheel travel? Check.
Stronger diff? Check.
Easier to change axles? Check.
Just badass looking? Check.

sent from a crawlspace...
 

njnewb

Test Drive
Location
US
I wish I had just gone TS, instead of fiddling around.

sent from a crawlspace...
I just watched a video and the suspension parts seem easy, but that diff. Change seems like a bit of a challenge. Just seems like way more I'd have to buy

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Fromfrontier2Xterra

I bought a Taco
Super Moderator
Supporting Member
Location
All over PA
Real questions are;

Budget?

TS isn't cheap. Depending on route look to spend 2 to 5k if not more depending on various choices.

Reasoning?

If you're looking to crawl with the big boys on a semi regular to regular basis, justified. If you just use it for easy to semi difficult trails or over landing, it's not justified IMO. You can build an extremely capable x with out doing TS. Give us more insight on what exactly you're looking to do with it and we can point you in the best direction.
 

njnewb

Test Drive
Location
US
Real questions are;

Budget?

TS isn't cheap. Depending on route look to spend 2 to 5k if not more depending on various choices.

Reasoning?

If you're looking to crawl with the big boys on a semi regular to regular basis, justified. If you just use it for easy to semi difficult trails or over landing, it's not justified IMO. You can build an extremely capable x with out doing TS. Give us more insight on what exactly you're looking to do with it and we can point you in the best direction.
My apologies should of justified, I think a TS might be a little out of my zone, while it would be badass, I don't think I'll use it to its potential. My x I just want it to be a reliable daily driver, and then able to hit the woods when needed. No major rock crawling I plan on, but it would be nice if I needed to, then again, a normal x suspension lift with some wheel spacers would give me (generally) the same wheel distance without the TS travel right?

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njnewb

Test Drive
Location
US
My budget is kind of what ever right now, living at home with no rent for a while so I have some disposable income

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Fromfrontier2Xterra

I bought a Taco
Super Moderator
Supporting Member
Location
All over PA
My apologies should of justified, I think a TS might be a little out of my zone, while it would be badass, I don't think I'll use it to its potential. My x I just want it to be a reliable daily driver, and then able to hit the woods when needed. No major rock crawling I plan on, but it would be nice if I needed to, then again, a normal x suspension lift with some wheel spacers would give me (generally) the same wheel distance without the TS travel right?

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It will give you wider stance but not TS stance. Don't get me wrong or think I'm shooting down the idea. TS's are the tits. However, if just occasionally wheeling or basic trails for camping, it's a bit much.

If you have alcan 3" in rear already you can get radflo extended travel coilovers up front with uca's, wheel spacers, and have a bad ass rig for what you want to do. I'd also recommend armor. An "easy" trail can turn into a "oh my gobble what did i do" and you'll regret not having it.

Check out builds and pics. Currently mine and jeffs are similar to what I mentioned in paragraph 2.
 

njnewb

Test Drive
Location
US
It will give you wider stance but not TS stance. Don't get me wrong or think I'm shooting down the idea. TS's are the tits. However, if just occasionally wheeling or basic trails for camping, it's a bit much.

If you have alcan 3" in rear already you can get radflo extended travel coilovers up front with uca's, wheel spacers, and have a bad ass rig for what you want to do. I'd also recommend armor. An "easy" trail can turn into a "oh my gobble what did i do" and you'll regret not having it.

Check out builds and pics. Currently mine and jeffs are similar to what I mentioned in paragraph 2.
No I totally agree, I get caught up in these pages and say "that looks rad I can do that!" But then reality sets in and I think maybe I don't need it. I already plan on 3in alcans in the back, looking for a good deal on coil overs and ucas for the front. And plenty of armor lol. Thank you for helping bring me back down to reality lol

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njnewb

Test Drive
Location
US
It will give you wider stance but not TS stance. Don't get me wrong or think I'm shooting down the idea. TS's are the tits. However, if just occasionally wheeling or basic trails for camping, it's a bit much.

If you have alcan 3" in rear already you can get radflo extended travel coilovers up front with uca's, wheel spacers, and have a bad ass rig for what you want to do. I'd also recommend armor. An "easy" trail can turn into a "oh my gobble what did i do" and you'll regret not having it.

Check out builds and pics. Currently mine and jeffs are similar to what I mentioned in paragraph 2.
For those alcans, I'm in the process of ordering them now, if I plan on running just a bumper with a tire, and a little bit of gear in the back, what added weight should I get?

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Fromfrontier2Xterra

I bought a Taco
Super Moderator
Supporting Member
Location
All over PA
For those alcans, I'm in the process of ordering them now, if I plan on running just a bumper with a tire, and a little bit of gear in the back, what added weight should I get?

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Everyone varies. Tire size will play a role too. I went 450#. But I carry a lot when wheeling or camping and always have tools in back. Talk to Bob at alcan. Tell him your armor/bumper/tire plans and what you carry as well as how often. He will tell you what you need.
 

njnewb

Test Drive
Location
US
Everyone varies. Tire size will play a role too. I went 450#. But I carry a lot when wheeling or camping and always have tools in back. Talk to Bob at alcan. Tell him your armor/bumper/tire plans and what you carry as well as how often. He will tell you what you need.
Ok awesome thanks a bunch for the help, hope to have pics up within the next few weeks

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RikRong

Bought an X
Location
NoDak
There is also the option of using V8 Pathy axles so you can swap to an M205 without changing the suspension.

As for the swap, I did mine for less than $2K and I used more expensive UCAs. I ended up selling my SAW extended axles and CV boots, nearly breaking even on the front diff. It's also not too hard, we got my swap done in under 5 hours, to include adjusting the rear shackles and installing the rear wheel spacers.

2b116da6c58d4f5c68e2269c8b90f239.jpg


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njnewb

Test Drive
Location
US
Wow awesome thank you for the info, so you are saying I don't have to do the diff swap if I get the extensions for my axles I have now?
There is also the option of using V8 Pathy axles so you can swap to an M205 without changing the suspension.

As for the swap, I did mine for less than $2K and I used more expensive UCAs. I ended up selling my SAW extended axles and CV boots, nearly breaking even on the front diff. It's also not too hard, we got my swap done in under 5 hours, to include adjusting the rear shackles and installing the rear wheel spacers.

2b116da6c58d4f5c68e2269c8b90f239.jpg


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RikRong

Bought an X
Location
NoDak
Wow awesome thank you for the info, so you are saying I don't have to do the diff swap if I get the extensions for my axles I have now?



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Correct, but you'll have to swap the CV ends onto the extended axles. Also keep in mind, the Toyota suspension is perfect for crawling and medium speed stuff, but it won't be the best for high speed off-road shenanigans.

Oh, and about that travel...

5d2113a5208c728f9cc04dda43df779d.jpg


Here, you can see compressed v. extended. The bump stop is limiting up travel a little.
0ffcf62ba43a0e859dff184a7e2fe21d.jpg


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njnewb

Test Drive
Location
US
Correct, but you'll have to swap the CV ends onto the extended axles. Also keep in mind, the Toyota suspension is perfect for crawling and medium speed stuff, but it won't be the best for high speed off-road shenanigans.

Oh, and about that travel...

5d2113a5208c728f9cc04dda43df779d.jpg


Here, you can see compressed v. extended. The bump stop is limiting up travel a little.
0ffcf62ba43a0e859dff184a7e2fe21d.jpg


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Yeah ill probably end up doing just the extensions. After pricing it out, without a diff swap it's almost the same price. I'm not going to be using it as a crawler, just a day to day vehicle, but if it's around the same price, why not!

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GPD605X

Lockers Installed
Founding Member
Location
Gulfport, MS
@RikRong what made you go w/ the 4Runner springs instead of the Tundra ones? I'm pulling the trigger on these and with my shrock and soon to be winch in there, I would think the Tundra spring would be better due to the weight.
 

RikRong

Bought an X
Location
NoDak
@RikRong what made you go w/ the 4Runner springs instead of the Tundra ones? I'm pulling the trigger on these and with my shrock and soon to be winch in there, I would think the Tundra spring would be better due to the weight.
I went with the 4Runner spring because it was shorter. I don't have the custom top hats or the notches cut in the Bils. I'll probably be doing that in the near future, and then I'll switch to heavier springs.

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GPD605X

Lockers Installed
Founding Member
Location
Gulfport, MS
@RikRong Oh ok. I gotcha. I've been reading hard about it all. I plan on getting the custom top hats made too. Do you have to notch cut the bills to do that? I saw where he cut for extra snap rings but wasn't really sure why or what the purpose was. I did see that the Tundra springs were longer but when he mentioned that their spring rate was around 650 versus the 4runners at about 500 -/+, I figured with the heaviness of the Shrock bumper it would be better to have a heavier spring rate. I do plan on getting a winch here in the near future so that's more weight to be added too
 
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RikRong

Bought an X
Location
NoDak
@RikRong Oh ok. I gotcha. I've been reading hard about it all. I plan on getting the custom top hats made too. Do you have to notch cut the bills to do that? I saw where he cut for extra snap rings but wasn't really sure why or what the purpose was. I did see that the Tundra springs were longer but when he mentioned that their spring rate was around 650 versus the 4runners at about 500 -/+, I figured with the heaviness of the Shrock bumper it would be better to have a heavier spring rate. I do plan on getting a winch here in the near future so that's more weight to be added too
You'll need the notches to use the custom top hats. They are designed to bring the top hat lower on the shock and increase payload, without sacrificing stroke length. The spring will sit lower, but the top nut still sits pretty high.

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Prime

Shut up Baby, I know it!
Admin
Location
Denver Adjacent
I understand that using the Toyota coilovers is cheaper than buying purpose built ones for the Titan swap. But I don't get it. Is it really worth saving a few hundred dollars if you have to re-engineer and customize everything? Personally, I'd rather take advantage of the R&D done by somebody with deeper pockets than me.
 

GPD605X

Lockers Installed
Founding Member
Location
Gulfport, MS
Well in my case, it's about saving money. I can get the tundra shocks and coils with the custom top hats for half of what a set of Titan swap Radflo's would cost me. Plus I need new rear suspension too. Once i get those put in, I'll send off all the Radflo's to be rebuilt. Then I'll either sell them or keep them until I need new suspension again. With the savings, I can get some nice UCA's and new rear shocks


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RikRong

Bought an X
Location
NoDak
I understand that using the Toyota coilovers is cheaper than buying purpose built ones for the Titan swap. But I don't get it. Is it really worth saving a few hundred dollars if you have to re-engineer and customize everything? Personally, I'd rather take advantage of the R&D done by somebody with deeper pockets than me.
I didn't re-engineer anything. I took stock springs, a common aftermarket strut, and my stock top hats and bolted everything together. No, this isn't the greatest setup for running at speed through the desert, but it is great for everything else. Yes, it also saves a ton of money over any other setup out there.

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