Goodbye Bronco Queue, Hello Fun

[TerryD]

So a lot of these I have thought about pretty heavily over the last year or so,

Answer 1: My Xterra is my daily driver but it's also my adventuring rig. I want to do overland camping and some mild off-roading but the majority of it's use outside of a daily driver will get to hard to reach camping and backpacking locations. ORV parks and rock climbs and such aren't really my bag. I also intent to take it hunting when I finally start going, just haven't gotten around to finding someone to teach me yet nor having the time/money to do it.

Answer 2: I figure my budget is ~3k at the high end. OME caught my eye because of the price and seemingly good build quality. I'm not willing or able to spend more than 3k on a suspension build.

Answer 3: already have the nice steel rear bumper with spare carrier and do plan on getting an Expedition One steel bumper and winch for the front end.

Answer 4: camping/backpacking will generally be my wife, my daughter, myself, and in some cases our two huskies and all the gear that goes along with that.

Good answers! And it seems like you're on your way and picked an excellent platform for that.

OME is a great option for shocks and I think @ffxcores and others have had great luck from the Ironman4x4 stuff as well.

You already have the best of the best for front UCAs with those SPCs. The OME shocks and heavy load springs will get you around 1.5" of lift. Add a 1/2" thick (1" lift) spacer to that will allow you maximum travel and get you right at 2" of lift with the steel bumper and a winch. I think you do something similar with Ironman4x4 to get in the 2-2.5" lift range but someone can correct me on that if I'm wrong.

Then match the rears to the front and get some new bump stops for a well rounded suspension set-up. I have the inexpensive Energy brand front bumps but sprung for the Timbren Active rear bump stops.

I also added the braided S/S brake hoses all around (6 lines) and used the RayBestos Element 3 pads and slotted rotors to improve braking as well.

 

[The Offroad Jedi]

Good answers! And it seems like you're on your way and picked an excellent platform for that.

OME is a great option for shocks and I think @ffxcores and others have had great luck from the Ironman4x4 stuff as well.

You already have the best of the best for front UCAs with those SPCs. The OME shocks and heavy load springs will get you around 1.5" of lift. Add a 1/2" thick (1" lift) spacer to that will allow you maximum travel and get you right at 2" of lift with the steel bumper and a winch. I think you do something similar with Ironman4x4 to get in the 2-2.5" lift range but someone can correct me on that if I'm wrong.

Then match the rears to the front and get some new bump stops for a well rounded suspension set-up. I have the inexpensive Energy brand front bumps but sprung for the Timbren Active rear bump stops.

I also added the braided S/S brake hoses all around (6 lines) and used the RayBestos Element 3 pads and slotted rotors to improve braking as well.

I'm looking into the Foam Cell Pro Ironman system right now and they look and sound great from the research I'm doing, I might pivot into this system instead of the OME

 

[reaver]

I'm looking into the Foam Cell Pro Ironman system right now and they look and sound great from the research I'm doing, I might pivot into this system instead of the OME

I'll tell you one thing about ironman USA. They're amazing to deal with, from a customer support perspective.

I have two water tanks, a chair, and their nomad RTT, and all are fantastic products. Everytime I've called them with questions, they've been happy to answer them. Also, if they say they'll call you back in my experience, they mean it, and have everytime.

 

[TerryD]

I'm looking into the Foam Cell Pro Ironman system right now and they look and sound great from the research I'm doing, I might pivot into this system instead of the OME

I hear they are really good. I've actually used OME myself so I can say for sure they are good parts. I just haven't had the Ironman stuff on anything of my own to be able to vouch for them myself.

I think they're pretty good parts from all I've seen though.

 

[xyoverland]

I'm looking into the Foam Cell Pro Ironman system right now and they look and sound great from the research I'm doing, I might pivot into this system instead of the OME

What I really like about them is they’re user rebuildable. For $45 you can do it yourself at home. Skip to the 11:45 mark of this video to see:

View: https://youtu.be/G12zF12UnB0


And by the way for anyone else, I love that guy’s channel for learning all about IFS. Highly recommend the other videos. He also has one where he points out that the Ironman UCAs give more articulation than the SPC (at least on a 4Runner). He explains that the SPC ball joint actually has more articulation, but centered on a 90° angle from the arm. The Ironman is pitched outward so it actually ends up with more usable range.

 

[xyoverland]

I’d also love to hear impressions of the Foam Cell Pro. Nisstec told me today they’re not going to get MK2 rear shocks for anything less than a 3” lift so now I’m looking at other options for the rear.