Suspension lift questions

Jollygreen6456

Test Drive
Location
Virginia
So I've read just about all I can find on here about lifts. Was trying to stay under 1k but for what I'd like to have seems far fetched.
My xterra is my dd with 190k on the odometer and with maybe 30k on the suspension can't remember what carfax said. But was looking for maybe 3inches of lift for moderate trail rides nothing to serious probably more overlanding than anything.
What would be the best route because I literally feel like I'm losing my mind trying to piece everything together in my head because I'm thinking about what I needed to do on my 98 4runner. It all just seems to simple but I'm racking my brain on it. I'm going to be doing the lift myself so any tips and tricks or directions to point me in would be greatly appreciated.
 

Prime

Shut up Baby, I know it!
Admin
Location
Denver Adjacent
2 inches is about the cheapest way to go. Upper control arms, lift spacers in the front and shackles / AAL in the rear. To go higher requires new coilovers, probably replacement leaf packs, and other expensive things. The real deal is to Titan swap. You can get 4-4.5" of lift but it's a lot of scratch to spend on the front end.
 

Jollygreen6456

Test Drive
Location
Virginia
Yeah I not into spacers and shackles would rather do the titan swap but would like to go ahead and replace the front and rear since I do plan on light towing and possible overlanding with it weighed down with camping gear and a dirt bike on a hitch rack that
 

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
And ride like poop.

If you want a nice riding vehicle, you'll want to stick to the 2" lift area. This maintains enough down travel so when your tire drops into a pot hole, off a speed bump or rock off-road, your suspension absorbs it like it should instead of quickly topping out your shock and jerking the vehicle to that side.

I've been playing with changes to my OE set-up for several years, trying to get the maximum travel and best quality ride while maintaining 2-2.5" of lift.

With that said, if you want a Titan swap, just spend the money once and do it. It doesn't cost much more than a good OE width set-up and you can still set it low, run 33s and stock gearing while you save up to regear and go up to 35s in the future with no further changes to your suspension other than a few adjustments to pick up the extra clearance for the larger tires.
 

Zack.

Has been dubbed Arnold
Supporting Member
Location
Livermore, CA
If you’re set on 3 inches over 2” then just go for the Titan swap. If you can do 2” and be happy long term, you can save a few dollars. But if you’re not okay with spacers and shackles it will place you within a couple hundred of TS cost anyways, so may as well just go big.
 
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