Front coilovers

Bluegrassen

Bluegrassen

Test Drive
Founding Member
Location
Knoxville TN
Its getting about time on the old 05 to get a front end upgrade. What is everyone's opinion on these bad boys. Bilstein Coilover kit from 4x4parts I checked the price on getting the shocks and coils separately and they were like $100 more but thats beside the point. I want to stick with the Bilsteins but I'm open to suggestions. I have a Shrock bumper (no winch), full set of skids and sliders so I'm heavy up front. I just installed a 2" spacer and shackle lift not to long ago but now I need fresh struts and I want something with a little bit more travel. I'm not wanting to replace the UCA but may need fresh bushings soon also.
 
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drbandkgb

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
HAve you looked at what Nisstech offers? They are new to Nissan but a few people are running there lifts.. Im sure they sell just the coilovers too
 
J Everett

J Everett

Suspension Lift
Founding Member
Location
Houma, LA
I messed around with the Bilsteins (it's what I'm running now, with the 2" spacer lift from PRG), and they're not bad. If money was no object, I'd have Radflo's. But for not much more than the Bilsteins, I'd go Old Man Emu. My buddy has them on his Frontier and they are excellent. They're my next major purchase for the Xterra.
 
civicjoe

civicjoe

lone wolf mod
Founding Member
Location
Nevada
J Everett said:
I'd go Old Man Emu. My buddy has them on his Frontier and they are excellent. They're my next major purchase for the Xterra.
Click to expand...

And with EMU you can get heavy springs for all that armor you've got. Nisstec has all kinds of options. It just kinda depends on what you want to spend. If you do decided to go with the adjustable bill's tell the installer if its not you to read the freaking instructions. other wise odds are they will forget to put in the factory washer form the stock shocks and the bushing will push thru the coilbucket and you will have a clunk from hell everytime you hit any bump in the road, including seams. I've experienced this and it sucks. Now that they are installed correctly they are great. No coilbucket contact from what i've experienced. Gorilamel has them as well and she says she had CB contact so this maybe that every truck is different.

"Cause Knowledge Is Power" LOL
 
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ryandavenport

Guest
Im running the HD ome springs and ome shocks up front along with the ome lead pack for the rear. I love the setup, but there isn't enough rake for what I do, so when the ome extra leaves come in, I will be purchasing them and installing in my leaf pack.
 
Bluegrassen

Bluegrassen

Test Drive
Founding Member
Location
Knoxville TN
All Right, I bite the bullet and just ordered the Radflo 2.0 coil overs and Light Racing UCAs. I'm happy with my rear setup for now. Told them I used Xterranation forum and got a modest 5% discount but thats better than nothing.
 
ymbhonk

ymbhonk

First Fill-Up (of many)
Location
Puyallup, WA
I just checked out the F-O-A coilovers they seem to be nice, ive got 700lbs Eibach coils in my basement so i may be giving them a call.
 
ymbhonk

ymbhonk

First Fill-Up (of many)
Location
Puyallup, WA
Where would you get the upper mount from? i know we need the strut type mounting hardware and thier shocks are the eyes.
 
Peck

Peck

Bought an X
Location
Texas
You don't. You'd either have to build one, get someone to build one, or get Radflo/SAW/King to get you one -- and that last option isn't an option.

At best, you get a suspension/off road shop to get it all done for you and by then it's just throwing good money away. Go with what is already out there.
 
TheFauxFox

TheFauxFox

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Location
Huntsville, AL
Peck said:
You don't. You'd either have to build one, get someone to build one, or get Radflo/SAW/King to get you one -- and that last option isn't an option.

At best, you get a suspension/off road shop to get it all done for you and by then it's just throwing good money away. Go with what is already out there.
Click to expand...

... I don't know much about 2nd gens, so forgive me, but what do you mean an upper mount?

You don't just mean one of these do you (minus the tubes)?
http://www.trail-gear.com/shock-hoops
 
J Everett

J Everett

Suspension Lift
Founding Member
Location
Houma, LA
TheFauxFox said:
... I don't know much about 2nd gens, so forgive me, but what do you mean an upper mount?

You don't just mean one of these do you (minus the tubes)?
http://www.trail-gear.com/shock-hoops
Click to expand...

Yes and no. The coilovers from F-O-A (and from SAW/RadFLO/King) have the same upper mount as our shocks have on the lower mount, which is just a bolt eye like on both ends of these motorcycle coilovers:
MVC-715S.JPG



But 2nd gen coilovers have a strut type mount at the top, like this:
stock-strut-mount-front-upper-mb949423-03-500.jpg



So, you have to have a top mount that bolts into where the strut type mount bolts into the coil bucket on the truck but offers a place to slot a bolt through the upper bolt eye of the coilover. Kings and Radflos sold for the Xterra come with these mounts, as seen on the left here:
productimage-picture-radflo_xterra_fabtech_calmini_lifted_coilovers-3999.jpg


You would need to find or fabricate a mount like that in order to use F-O-A coilovers on the 2nd gen Xterra, or cut out the coil buckets and weld in shock hoops.
 
Bluegrassen

Bluegrassen

Test Drive
Founding Member
Location
Knoxville TN
Yeah, I've never heard of them either (Light Racing UCAs). I guess they are new to the market, thought I'd give them a try anyway. What I liked about them is they have fully adjustable heavy duty Toyota ball joints and anything with Toyota parts has to be good. Right?
I'm wondering if I can still use my spacers with the coilovers to give me that much more lift. If not I may just give them away to some luck person at the NXM.
 
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ryandavenport

Guest
Total amount of lift that you can use with Nisstec's upper control arm is like 3.5-4 inches. You can realistically get 3 inches out of the coilover. So what you could do is put the spacer on there and just crank the coilover an inch and a half. This would give you a good ride, and ensure that your front is never lower due to your front bumper. Just make sure that ball joint doesn't rest on the coil bucket at full droop. If it does then it will tear up quickly. What are you doing for your rear suspension.

Sent from my DROIDX
 
Bluegrassen

Bluegrassen

Test Drive
Founding Member
Location
Knoxville TN
Thanks for the info. For my rear I'm just going with what i have right now. 5125 Bilsteins, stock springs, longer shackles and of course sway bar removed.
 
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ryandavenport

Guest
Those are cool. Let me know how those UCAs work out for you, I have wanted some.
 
Bluegrassen

Bluegrassen

Test Drive
Founding Member
Location
Knoxville TN
I'm debating on doing it myself or letting the alignment shop do it. It would be a shame paying $200 to $300 for something I can do myself. I'm just worried about getting it way out of alignment and having to drive it ti the alignment shop. I guess if I take some measurements before I start I should be able to get it close. I'm gonna do some research but if anyone knows of a good write up please let me know.

Oh yeah the ball joints that came with the arms are beef. They look like really good quality stuff.
 
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ryandavenport

Guest
PM Tommyboy or add him on Facebook as Tom Ball. He did my temp alignment after helping install my lift. It was good enough to get me to the alignment joint.

Sent from my DROIDX
 
Bluegrassen

Bluegrassen

Test Drive
Founding Member
Location
Knoxville TN
After reading over the instructions that came with the upper control arms it really doesn't seem all that difficult. The only hard part it is to get one the rear bolt out on the driver side you have to undo the steering shaft. The ball joints have a star pattern and you just place the square washer where your want you caster to be. Should be close enough to drive it to the alignment shop. These bad boys are going on Saturday.
3f9113f3.jpg

91890fcf.jpg

d6aabff1.jpg
 
Peck

Peck

Bought an X
Location
Texas
I cut that bolt off when I did mine, but I have PRG Titan uppers and Greg includes a new bolt.

Unless your alignment shop is 500 miles away, I wouldn't worry about it being off for the short drive there. If I can drive across the country with a screwed alignment then you can drive to your shop.

It's a really easy process IF, and only if, you have plenty of beer around. Without it, it gets harder. :D
 
Bluegrassen

Bluegrassen

Test Drive
Founding Member
Location
Knoxville TN
It doesn't look to hard to undo the steering. Just mark it and get it lined up right when I put it back. Why would they stick that bolt in that direction anyway? Nobody needs to answer that.
Yep, plenty of beer and someone to hand me tools and I should be done in no time. I started to do it the other evening but decided to wait.
 
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