Ado Launches Recessed U-bolt Plates For 2nd Gen X

[ffxcores]

If you're not familiar, AllDogsOffroad are great people, and just launched a recessed ubolt plate ($145) that offers even more ground clearance than a flip kit! https://www.alldogsoffroad.com/alldogs-offroad-recessed-ubolt-plates-for-2nd-gen-nissan-xterra

They also have a replacement leaf pack coming soon. Still begging them to make some sliders.

 

[AlbatrossCafe]

I'd like a pic of them installed. My brain is having a hard time visualizing it....

 

[ffxcores]

I'd like a pic of them installed. My brain is having a hard time visualizing it....

Via Reddit - (he hasn't yet cut off the excess length). Looks like it gives about 3/4" or more clearance vs my PRG bash plate:

 

[Prime]

I dig it.

 

[kryter]

I see a purchase coming, Bashed the stock plate this last weekend at red cone.

 

[JeffPro4x]

Still leaves bolt and nut exposed. Not that you can ever get them off without cutting anyway.

 

[kryter]

Cut the swaybar brackets off. It will hit the shock skid before the leaf plate... I hope

 

[Survey20]

I have one of these on right now.
Right side installed with their Broverland leaf packs and new bilstein 5100’s. Waiting on the left spring front eye bolt to come in before buttoning it up

the u bolts seem to hang a bit lower than the shock bracket, but I could trim them.
They were somewhat difficult to install, as I was glad to have the extra length in doing so. So I am hesitant to trim if I have to disassemble/reassemble in the future. Any shorter and it’d be a huge bitch. Granted, I don’t know anything about this stuff. Everything I do to the X is the first time I’ve done anything to vehicles. Aside from oil changes and brakes.

 

[Survey20]

So take it with a grain a salt

 

[TerryD]

I have one of these on right now.
Right side installed with their Broverland leaf packs and new bilstein 5100’s. Waiting on the left spring front eye bolt to come in before buttoning it up

the u bolts seem to hang a bit lower than the shock bracket, but I could trim them.
They were somewhat difficult to install, as I was glad to have the extra length in doing so. So I am hesitant to trim if I have to disassemble/reassemble in the future. Any shorter and it’d be a huge bitch. Granted, I don’t know anything about this stuff. Everything I do to the X is the first time I’ve done anything to vehicles. Aside from oil changes and brakes.

Once you get them torqued (with weight on the axle) you'll want to trim them. The excess sticking down will get hung up and bent then there's no way to disassemble them but cutting them. No more than an 1/8-1/4" of thread showing below the nut is what is recommend. This isn't something you have to take apart all that often and u-bolts can be bought from NAPA easily.

 

[ffxcores]

Once you get them torqued (with weight on the axle) you'll want to trim them. The excess sticking down will get hung up and bent then there's no way to disassemble them but cutting them. No more than an 1/8-1/4" of thread showing below the nut is what is recommend. This isn't something you have to take apart all that often and u-bolts can be bought from NAPA easily.

Agree. The threads can stretch and I wouldn't reuse u-bolts. And if you're not going to cut them there's not much of a point in getting recessed ones.

I will say it's really important to get them evenly tight. In my experience, the slightest bit of unevenness and you'll have one or two that will loosen constantly. My last ones I wasn't careful and every time I checked to retorque one or more was almost a 3/4 turn loose. And my shim was out of place.

 

[Survey20]

Thanks for the info.
I didn’t know that , to trim the excess but it definitely didn’t look right otherwise. No point in the recessed plate if I don’t trim.

And I’ll try to tighten them as evenly as possible. It was tricky as hell getting the one together.

is there anything else with the leaf packs that I should look out for? I’ve read somewhere that they “settle” and loosen up somehow. I’m assuming the whole pack needs to be tightened together. As in the center bolt holding them all together. The bottom flat leaf on mine can be moved side to side by hand with a little effort.
Should I crank that Down?

 

[jsexton]

Those u bolts will still get bent if you play in the rocks. I don’t see the benefit of these with the nut still exposed like that.

 

[ffxcores]

Thanks for the info.
I didn’t know that , to trim the excess but it definitely didn’t look right otherwise. No point in the recessed plate if I don’t trim.

And I’ll try to tighten them as evenly as possible. It was tricky as hell getting the one together.

is there anything else with the leaf packs that I should look out for? I’ve read somewhere that they “settle” and loosen up somehow. I’m assuming the whole pack needs to be tightened together. As in the center bolt holding them all together. The bottom flat leaf on mine can be moved side to side by hand with a little effort.
Should I crank that Down?

Yeah, if one of your leafs can move, it's not torqued correctly or something isn't lined up properly. I would ask Chad or somebody at ADO if you should torque any differently than stock. Those u-bolts are likely thicker than stock and would have a higher torque.

 

[TerryD]

Thanks for the info.
I didn’t know that , to trim the excess but it definitely didn’t look right otherwise. No point in the recessed plate if I don’t trim.

And I’ll try to tighten them as evenly as possible. It was tricky as hell getting the one together.

is there anything else with the leaf packs that I should look out for? I’ve read somewhere that they “settle” and loosen up somehow. I’m assuming the whole pack needs to be tightened together. As in the center bolt holding them all together. The bottom flat leaf on mine can be moved side to side by hand with a little effort.
Should I crank that Down?

I run them a week and retorque, then about a month later. That usually gets them right.

 

[Xterrorista]

Those u bolts will still get bent if you play in the rocks. I don’t see the benefit of these with the nut still exposed like that.

I went with the flip kit from ADO for 20 or 40$ cheaper.

 

[Survey20]

I run them a week and retorque, then about a month later. That usually gets them right.

Cool, thanks for the info