Suspension Advice

[Subsport]

Planning on installing a 2-inch lift this summer. Before I start buying everything I think I may need I’d like to get some ideas on what makes sense. It’s for a 2006 Off Road with a manual. It will be used mainly for overlanding but would like it capable for moderate rocks and light towing. Eventually want 33s. Thinking now about radflo and spc up front with 4x2 dobinsons, adjustable shackles and Bilstein in the back. Is there any reason I would ever need reservoir shocks in the rear for what I plan to do or is that overkill and waste of dough? Thanks!

 

[xyoverland]

Personally I think for what you're describing reservoir shocks would be overkill. Are you doing extended travel or a top-hat spacer in the front? If not, you may not need the SPC arms unless your current ones are worn. I had the SPC upper arms without a top spacer, and due to their increased height I had to put taller bump stops on the LCA and as a result it limited up-travel. I tried a couple others but eventually ended up with the AllDogsOffroad uppers, which allowed me to go back to the stock bump stop and get my full compression back.

 

[Subsport]

Appreciate the feedback. Yes to the 2-inch ext radflos. I’m trying to stay away from spacers.

 

[TerryD]

Reservoir shocks on a 4wd are for desert racing where you need to move mass to the chassis and reduce unsprung weight. There is some added shock cooling as well but if you're not constantly cycling your suspension the way a desert truck would, you'll really see no benefit from it.

I have been happily running the 2.0 Rads on all four corners of my Xterra for nearly 60k miles now.

 

[Prawn]

I'm not sure what type of hobbyist/enthusiast you are but I did something similar (2" lift/33") at first and ended up having to spend a bunch more money to do it over again. I say go straight to the Titan Swap, 4.10 gears, and 35"s. Buy once cry once.

 

[Subsport]

I would love to do that, and drop in a 5.6 while I’m at it. But my budget doesn’t match that vision, so I just have to upgrade what’s already there.

 

[Subsport]

Reservoir shocks on a 4wd are for desert racing where you need to move mass to the chassis and reduce unsprung weight. There is some added shock cooling as well but if you're not constantly cycling your suspension the way a desert truck would, you'll really see no benefit from it.

I have been happily running the 2.0 Rads on all four corners of my Xterra for nearly 60k miles now.

I kinda figured it was overkill. Thanks for confirming it.

 

[Prime]

I would love to do that, and drop in a 5.6 while I’m at it. But my budget doesn’t match that vision, so I just have to upgrade what’s already there.

Here is a hill I'll die on.

It's cool to VK swap an X.

However, it's dumb.

The power output of the VQ40 is the butter zone for the Titan driveline. The VK is too much. If we had a readily available 1-ton swap, it'd be a different ballgame.

 

[Subsport]

Here is a hill I'll die on.

It's cool to VK swap an X.

However, it's dumb.

The power output of the VQ40 is the butter zone for the Titan driveline. The VK is too much. If we had a readily available 1-ton swap, it'd be a different ballgame.

You have crushed my dream. And I was only a lottery win away thanks for being sensible. I’ll think about the titan swap.

 

[Prime]

You have crushed my dream. And I was only a lottery win away thanks for being sensible. I’ll think about the titan swap.

I don't like crushing dreams.

But let's look at this logically. The early Titans were blowing rear diffs on the street. Nissan had to have Dana build a new stronger M226 diff just to make it streetable.

I've seen fully swapped VK Xterras shatter the casing on the front 205 while wheeling.

The VK is just too much for the 226/205 combo. Especially if you're going to wheel it.

 

[Prawn]

I would love to do that, and drop in a 5.6 while I’m at it. But my budget doesn’t match that vision, so I just have to upgrade what’s already there.

I started buying my TS parts in 2016 and finally got it swapped last year so I totally feel your situation. In my case I don't buy anything I don't have the money for. If there was anything my old man instilled in me it's that you don't want to owe anyone anything!

Speaking of which, if you would like to start collecting parts for your swap (you know you're going to do it eventually), I have Titan UCAs for ya if you want them.

 

[Prime]

I was in the same boat. I ran stock uppers with 2" lift rads and a body lift on 35s for years till I got my swap done.

 

[Subsport]

I was in the same boat. I ran stock uppers with 2" lift rads and a body lift on 35s for years till I got my swap done.

I ran 285/75/16s TrXus (essentially 33s) on my stock suspension for several years and loved it, though they sometimes rubbed a tad turning off-road. They got me every place I needed, and I ran some fairly tough trails with that setup. I figure two inch lift and some heat gun work on the inner wheel well plastic will cure that. I’m not sure about dropping the money for a titan swap. I looked over your thread about full front and rear titan swap and it is certifiably badass. Admittedly, just installing a two-inch ext setup will likely stretch the limits of my technical Know-how. It’s like Oddball said about tanks in Kelly’s Heroes: “I just drive ‘em, man. I don’t know what makes ‘em run.”

 

[Subsport]

I started buying my TS parts in 2016 and finally got it swapped last year so I totally feel your situation. In my case I don't buy anything I don't have the money for. If there was anything my old man instilled in me it's that you don't want to owe anyone anything!

Speaking of which, if you would like to start collecting parts for your swap (you know you're going to do it eventually), I have Titan UCAs for ya if you want them.

Thank you for the offer. That’s really cool of ya! I’m going to hold off for now on the swap. Maybe down the road. Save them for someone with an immediate need.