Suspension / Lift to Pathfinder

Submitted: Sunday, May 12, 2002 at 00:00
ThreadID: 1121 Views:3976 Replies:9 FollowUps:5
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I need to get a 2 inch lift / suspension for a '96 Pathfinder. I do a bit of off-road and would like to do more.

I don't want to spend too much but need some guidance re options and price.

Any contacts South Sydney / Sutherland area?
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Reply By: Greg - Sunday, May 12, 2002 at 00:00

Sunday, May 12, 2002 at 00:00
Brother , the best way to lift Pathfinder is to get it on the back of the car trailer and take it to the rubbish tip where it belongs.
AnswerID: 3485

Follow Up By: Royce Moncur - Monday, May 13, 2002 at 00:00

Monday, May 13, 2002 at 00:00
Hmmmm that could hurt a man's feelings. Many a 'dodgy' vehicle has done amazing things when loved and encouraged. So how about some constructive ideas on how to lift and improve the Pfinder?
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Follow Up By: Stephen - Monday, May 13, 2002 at 00:00

Monday, May 13, 2002 at 00:00
Royce, you're expecting a bit much. From Greg's reply he's never had a constructive idea in his life and is never likely to.
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Reply By: Ken - Monday, May 13, 2002 at 00:00

Monday, May 13, 2002 at 00:00
Here we go again! Firstly there is nothing wrong with Pathfinder all the 4x4 mag tests and many comments on another forum put the Pathy as the best of the small-medium waggons and quite cpable off road. Suspension lift can be done by replacement of the rear spring [lovells, kings or ARB] 50mm max. The front torsion bars can be ajusted up to level out the vehicle This ajustment to the front will increase ride height but NOT wheel travel. Regards Ken.
AnswerID: 3488

Reply By: jono - Monday, May 13, 2002 at 00:00

Monday, May 13, 2002 at 00:00
mccoy, i have a 1992 Hilux Surf and a good mate has a Terrano, from those i have spoken to in the 4WD industry, i have basically come to the conclusion that the best you can hope for is a 50mm lift at the front from an adjustment of the torsion bars and longer coils at the rear. Although with enough money anything is possible and i have seen a Surf lifted many inches, but it really isn't nescessary to go extreme. I have to say that most of the time the factory articulation etc is not all that bad and in most situations it is O.K. Having said that i am getting into a bit more serious off roading and am looking at selling my Surf and getting a SWB cruiser to do some modifications. Anyway, if you decide to go down the lifting process, it seems it will probably cost you about $1,000 (well thats about what it would cost for me to lift my surf 50mm)
AnswerID: 3496

Follow Up By: Slunnie - Monday, May 13, 2002 at 00:00

Monday, May 13, 2002 at 00:00
I'm almost certain the Pathy doesn't have torsion bars at the front. Its set up with Macpherson struts which is a little more complex than the typical IFS 4WD front end. Its design is actually along the same lines as many road cars (not bagging it here). To raise Macpherson struts you will need to replace the springs and the strut inserts which are the shocks. It is a little more complex to change these bits over in comparison to doing an axle or torsion bar set up, but can still be done at home. DYI will be about $400 for 4 springs and shocks about $100 - $200 per corner depending on what you want.
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Follow Up By: Jono - Tuesday, May 14, 2002 at 00:00

Tuesday, May 14, 2002 at 00:00
slunnie,
thanks for correcting me, i was of the impression the pathy had your average IFS, but now i stand corrected. Sorry if i mis-informed anyone, I'm here to learn too. as much as i love my Surf, i am soon going to sell it and purchase a SWB landcruiser/patrol, and i will probably go for the beam axle setup simply for the purpose that it can be modified more and is a better bet off road. Do you know if mid to late 80's model SWB pajeros are beam axle?
Cheers all.....
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Reply By: mccoy - Monday, May 13, 2002 at 00:00

Monday, May 13, 2002 at 00:00
Thanks for the replies chaps - Slunnie, you are correct re McPherson struts. Sounds a bit more complicated!

AnswerID: 3506

Reply By: datman - Monday, May 13, 2002 at 00:00

Monday, May 13, 2002 at 00:00
NO 1.. buy yourself a tape measure
NO 2..find a friend who knows how to use it
NO 3..visit car yards
NO 4..talk to people experienced and find a decent vehicle 2" higher than a pathy.. shouldn't be too hard, and would include many dozens or even hundreds of vehicles out there.
Q?... did u upgrade from a datsun 720 recently?
AnswerID: 3507

Reply By: mccoy - Monday, May 13, 2002 at 00:00

Monday, May 13, 2002 at 00:00
Datman ..... and Greg

If you've got no sensible advice,
1) stay off the board
2) go surf elsewhere
3) shut up
4) get a life!

Not everyone has a Patrol or Cruiser. There are limitations re $ and medium-size vehicles are more suitable for spouses to drive in town and are far better / more car like.

I'm looking for a bit more flexibility with what I've got/can do with the Pathy. I'm not going to shop around for something else - and nor are the other 80% of viewers on this site who own something else.
AnswerID: 3512

Follow Up By: Alreadytaken69 - Thursday, May 16, 2002 at 00:00

Thursday, May 16, 2002 at 00:00
hi mccoy, welcome to the world of the cyberspace idiots . there is a few of them on here and it should'nt take you long to recognize them. all they seem to accomplish is to to give toyota drivers a bad name. as for your pathy, sorry cant help, but i hear they're quite a capable 4b with a pretty good rep. I'd check out some of the better known 4b suspension shops . cheers
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Reply By: Vog boy - Monday, May 13, 2002 at 00:00

Monday, May 13, 2002 at 00:00
Good way of improving Pathy clearance is to undo all body mounts , wiring etc. Ditch the engine and the rest. Hire a small crane , lift the Pathfinder body and lower it on 80 Series Landcruiser chassis and engine gearbox etc assembly. You will end up with a decent 4WD . You can buy Toyota badges from any dealers for about $49.99
AnswerID: 3516

Reply By: Ken - Tuesday, May 14, 2002 at 00:00

Tuesday, May 14, 2002 at 00:00
Hey ! mccoy asked for some help with his vehicle not a lot of biased crap from people that woul'nt know, if you have nothing to say regarding his query, BUG OFF!
AnswerID: 3523

Reply By: Axel +Karen - Tuesday, May 14, 2002 at 00:00

Tuesday, May 14, 2002 at 00:00
SO much BIAS /// nothing wrong with the question ,hard to answer,,best we can sugest is try the yellow pages,,,you will find some one in your area who can and will do the mods WITHOUT claiming that a tojo /pistrol are the ONLY worthwile 4x4s ///// it would seem that this forum is slowly but surely becoming a place only for the toyota cruiser /nissan patrol user,,, a sad day for australian ingenuity,,does japan rule OUR world,,,long live the victa lawn mower and hills hoist. ..axel
AnswerID: 3542

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