suspension upgrades
Submitted: Friday, Jun 26, 2009 at 20:53
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Member - Daniel M (QLD)
Hi all... I'm looking into raising the pathfinder a little bit. Partly, (ok mainly) because i don't like the low rider look it has at the moment but i'm also thinking it might help me out off road a little. i understand a lift won't help much as i'm only thinking somewhere between 30 and 50mm. My question to all you intelligent folk out there is this. Would simply fitting a set of coil spacers do or should i go for a coil lift kit? If i fit spacers would i have to change my shocks for longer travel? Any ideas or words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated....
Thanks in advance
Dan
P.S. Please don,t be offended if i don't get back to you straight awayish, shift working sucks like that.
Reply By: Member - shane (SA) - Friday, Jun 26, 2009 at 21:11
Friday, Jun 26, 2009 at 21:11
Hi Dan, when i had my pathfinder i did what you are think for the rear and also added polly air bags. For the front I put in after market torsion bars, all up i had 50mm lift and quite a nice ride. I also got away with the original shocks.
cheers
Shane.
AnswerID:
372016
Follow Up By: Member - Daniel M (QLD) - Friday, Jun 26, 2009 at 21:18
Friday, Jun 26, 2009 at 21:18
Hi Shane, thanks for that. The poly airs, were they fitted for comfort or towing purposes? The reason i'm asking is we tow a camper trailer and i was leaning towards those in the future maybe.
FollowupID:
639284
Follow Up By: Member - shane (SA) - Friday, Jun 26, 2009 at 22:16
Friday, Jun 26, 2009 at 22:16
Yes for towing, I had this setup for five years with no problem.
cheers Shane.
FollowupID:
639294
Reply By: chisel - Friday, Jun 26, 2009 at 22:00
Friday, Jun 26, 2009 at 22:00
I did the
suspension all round on my pathy - tough dog springs and shocks - but they couldn't get the tough dog "comfort" springs for the back so put king springs in which I thought were the same thing. Anyway, judging by the ride I think they put in heavy-duty springs and it was too harsh around town. Great when loaded up but not for general use. In retrospect I should've just gone with polyairs for my purposes (mostly beach and touring). Sold the pathy in the end anyway. Buyer was going to tow a van so would've suited him ok.
AnswerID:
372023
Follow Up By: Member - shane (SA) - Friday, Jun 26, 2009 at 22:19
Friday, Jun 26, 2009 at 22:19
Exactly what i was told about the rear, thats why i left the standard coils in.
cheers.
FollowupID:
639295
Reply By: Graham & Ann - Saturday, Jun 27, 2009 at 11:03
Saturday, Jun 27, 2009 at 11:03
On our R50 Pathy we fitted Poly Air bags to the rear, with 25psi raised it 40-50mm, great for carry loads in the vehicle. We left the front std, but the bash/splash plate sure took a beating.
cya
Graham
AnswerID:
372069
Reply By: rowdy31 - Saturday, Jun 27, 2009 at 19:59
Saturday, Jun 27, 2009 at 19:59
Gday Dan.
I have a 2000 pathfinder and have the Tough Dog Gas shocks and the medium/comfort springs on the rear . Still have to get around to doing the front.
Found it lifted the pathie by about 40mm. The ride on and off road/beach is 100% to what it was, thought it would be rough empty but empty or loaded it is smooth.. I steered clear of the foam shocks as from reports they were a lot firmer/harsher on road when empty, which is the majority of time for
mine.
cheers
regards
Rod
AnswerID:
372121
Reply By: Member - Daniel M (QLD) - Sunday, Jun 28, 2009 at 10:28
Sunday, Jun 28, 2009 at 10:28
thanks everyone for the input. It was interesting about to hear about those rear coils.I'll keep it all in mind.
Cheers
Dan
AnswerID:
372168
Reply By: Member - Daniel M (QLD) - Sunday, Jun 28, 2009 at 10:29
Sunday, Jun 28, 2009 at 10:29
thanks everyone for the input. It was interesting about to hear about those rear coils.I'll keep it all in mind.
Cheers
Dan
AnswerID:
372169
Reply By: Member - Ingo57 (NSW) - Monday, Jun 29, 2009 at 12:07
Monday, Jun 29, 2009 at 12:07
Image Could Not Be FoundG'day Dan,
We had an 2002 R50 Pathfinder and found fitting a lift kit made it a much better mannered 4by.
I fitted heavy duty 2" Rancho springs and shocks all round and new Mcpherson struts to the front (Rancho as
well)
The extra lift then allowed my to put larger than standard tyres on which gave additional ground clearance again.
I later added polyairs to the rear to help with the touring loads to stabilize the rear a bit more. Old Man Emu do a pretty good
suspension lift for the pathy as
well, after fitting this to my Patrol I would think It would work great on the R50.
IMHO stay clear of spacers, save the money and do it right the first time. With the right
suspension setup on the Pathy they will go anywhere.....Great 4By!!!!!
Cheers
AnswerID:
372300