automotive customizers 3" lift

[Ditchfinder]

I got my 3 inch lift installed, rear coils ,rear shocks ,front control arms (upper),
front shocks,the torsion bars and idler arm brace with new bushings. I also added the ball joint spacers for the lifted arm. I am now having problems, if I raise up the torsion bars so the truck sits even, or even close to it,it sits on the bump stops. If you lower it off the bump stops I am stuck with positive camber, way to much to correct especially since I removed the shims behind the arms ,as I am getting ready to align it at work the only thing I can think of is to remove the ball joint spacers and try it from there. Why would they make the spacers if you cant use them? doesnt make sense I have the whole kit. any ideas? thanks , James (88 pathy)I have yet to talk to 4x4parts...

[ChefTyler]

Well, Allen is the magic man when it comes to aligning Nissan IFS but he's in Hawaii with his wife and Ryan and his wife until...uh...I don't know what day they fly back but he might answer here when they're taking a break from paradise back at the house (bastards).

My first thought, get some extra low bumpstops...the sad thing about IFS lifts is you don't gain any travel, you get more up travel at the sacrifice of down travel, so with your lift you will be close to the bumpstops, and those extra low bumpstops will give you the clearance you need to not be riding directly on them.

[Ditchfinder]

hey thanks for the input chef, I thought about the bumpstops to, it just does not make much sense that they would sell the kit and the ball joint spacers for the lift? Then have fitment issues? I think I will contact automotive customizers and ask. I also noticed that the Axles are about maxed out everything is just being pushed down as you said I am not very happy with this lift I should have spent more money and gone with a kit that lowers diff and lower and upper control arms.

[JayRyan]

You know, I'm riding really close to my bumpstops but don't have any complaints at all. I'd rather things up higher. I did install the Energy Suspension Ultra-low bumpstops.

[DamnHippie]

My opinion: lose the BJ spacers. If you don't, you're gonna break other things anyway, starting with your CV joints. If you use ultralow bumpstops the CVs will break even faster.

If you changed to aftermarket lift UCAs, they already incorporate a BJ spacer of about a half inch, just from the angles they're constructed with. Adding more spacers beyond that is gonna take your CVs way beyond the angles they're designed for. Then they overheat, the metal gets brittle, and they break. Like this:

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/207/10021739fb.jpg

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/5632/10021648nf.jpg

[Ditchfinder]

I think I will try the bumpstops and then if the angle looks real bad I will loose the ball joint spacers 4x4parts still has not emailed me back and Im sure that they wont take the spacers back. thnaks for your input guys.

[Mike Maxwell]

BJ spacers are best used on 2x4's. Just because they're made doesn't make them good.

You might get lucky if you made some form of diff-drop to help on the cv angles. Also, your halfshaft travel will be maxed out, and it will pop off the c-clip on the axle like It did on my old 720.

If you want/need more lift and keep the IFS, try the old trailmaster kits...

[Packman5280]

speaking of trailmaster kits, I saw a hottie blonde the other day driving a red wd21 pathy with a TM lift. about drove off the road checking her out.

[Ditchfinder]

According to the E-mail I just got form 4x4 parts, the spacers should be fine with the arms. I still have my doubts. I think your right Mike ,I dont like the drive axle angle at alll .I may just remove them. I may Email trailmaster and ask if they will sell me the diff drop, have you ever put on a body lift with the suspesion lift? I heard it was a no no? I may put the spidertrax wheel spacers on. I have some tire rubbage,I scarred an old lady pulling out of safeway today. she used the death glare as I was driving away .... Ya you know the look.

[Ryan Gee]

I had the spacers. Had to losen the bolts on the BJ while the trucks was on wheels in order to get the camber correct. Then in order to keep them from moving I had to weld them to the UCA. The CV axles were at such an angle we had to change boots once a month.... they blow!

[Nissanclay]

Well, I guess I am very lucky. I have the BJ spacers have zero issues with them. But now I know just because I said that, something will happen.

[Ryan Gee]

Clay are you using them along with the A/C arms?

[Nissanclay]

Clay are you using them along with the A/C arms?

Yes. They have been on since I put the lift on over 3 years ago.

[tmorgan4]

http://npora.ipbhost.com//index.php?showtopic=2598&hl=bj+spacer

[Nissanclay]

I saw that link a while back and thought about taking them off then but decided against not to because I don't have the 1" spacers and Mine are .5" I think. I also don't have the stock UCA's like in the link.

[Nissanclay]

See now look what everyone did. I just got my truck aligned today so its not all over the road anymore (thanks again Ian for all the help) and now after reading through that link, I'm thinking I want to pull out the spacers. See, thats why I don't read, nothing good ever comes of it!

Well crap......
http://daimyo.org/files/images/8dddc25afac097f8582fc424096df2ad-186.jpg

[DamnHippie]

I think I will try the bumpstops and then if the angle looks real bad I will loose the ball joint spacers 4x4parts still has not emailed me back and Im sure that they wont take the spacers back. thnaks for your input guys.

There's actually a pretty easy way to diagnose this: put the truck up on jackstands under the frame at all 4 corners (make sure it's nice and stable and secure), put it in 4lo and first gear and let it idle while you watch and listen to the front end. If the CVs are at or beyond their limits they'll make noticible noise and the front end will be jumping around a bit. You can't mistake it.

I actually have some movies of mine doing it, then I took out the ultralow bumpstops and went back to oem height stops and it runs smooth as silk. But the movies are mac quicktime format and they're huge and I've never puzzled out how to re-encdode them at a reasonable bitrate to post online.

[Nissanclay]

Final cut and imovie are both capable of resizing your videos.

[Ditchfinder]

Hey thanks everyone, thats a good test Damnhippie, mine does it on the ground I have the .50 ball joint spacers. they over extend the drive axle angles dont use them if you have the aftermarket arms. I got an email back from AC they say I should have a 1/2 inch away from the stock bump stops sitting at this hieght, the camber (positive) is over excessive even after I adjusted the toe on our alignment rack. AC says I should be at 1.1* its straight to the point a *uckin lie. I followed there instructions to the point, had two of the master techs at work plus two other 4x4 guys look at it with me. The truck will not align at there specs. The link Tmorgan left is straight to the point avoid the ball joint spacers. If I could do the whole lift over I would have gone with the trailmaster ,as it lowers the transfer case feasably giving you more lift. hope this thread helps others. James (this is for a 88 pathy )

[Allen Cox]

I've got a 3" body lift on mine and a suspension lift as well. I'm spring over in the rear, just about maxed in the front with low profile bump stops too. I've got my alignment pretty close, but I don't use factory specs at all. You can't use stock specs on an un-stock vehicle. Won't work because you can't get it there.

I just get the camber as close to 0.0* as possible and then get a decent caster split (about a 0.5* lower setting on the left side, or as close as possible) and set toe. She'll be good to go. I've been setting 'em up like that for years.

I still have a lower front end than the back, about 2.5" lower in the front, but I did a custom front diff drop to solve the issue of the CV's. I dropped the front diff crossmember down 1 bolt hole and redrilled it to get the bolt to go through. Then I re-welded the member back into place (the '02 Xterras started to get welded from the factory, so I welded it back into place).

That accomplishes a couple of things. It get's the driveline pointed a bit upwards and then get the CV's down closer to the LCA's, keeping me from blowing any axles to date. I don't have any BJ spacers, just the low profile bump stops and stiffer t-bars.

[Nissanclay]

Hey, Allen, How much to do that custom diff drop drop? I've looked into buying the SLR kit but I know that there is a better/cheaper/easier way then the bushings. Could you do it before GONE and how long would you need my truck?

[Ditchfinder]

I've got a 3" body lift on mine and a suspension lift as well. I'm spring over in the rear, just about maxed in the front with low profile bump stops too. I've got my alignment pretty close, but I don't use factory specs at all. You can't use stock specs on an un-stock vehicle. Won't work because you can't get it there.

I just get the camber as close to 0.0* as possible and then get a decent caster split (about a 0.5* lower setting on the left side, or as close as possible) and set toe. She'll be good to go. I've been setting 'em up like that for years.

I still have a lower front end than the back, about 2.5" lower in the front, but I did a custom front diff drop to solve the issue of the CV's. I dropped the front diff crossmember down 1 bolt hole and redrilled it to get the bolt to go through. Then I re-welded the member back into place (the '02 Xterras started to get welded from the factory, so I welded it back into place).

That accomplishes a couple of things. It get's the driveline pointed a bit upwards and then get the CV's down closer to the LCA's, keeping me from blowing any axles to date. I don't have any BJ spacers, just the low profile bump stops and stiffer t-bars.

Hey Allen I can't even get the camber to the 1.1* mark with the instructions AC gave me. unless I raise the torsion bars back up. which puts my drivelines at a bad angle and the A arms sitting on the bumpstops. would you be willing to fabricate me a front diff drop I will pay you $$$. let me know,thanks James

[DamnHippie]

I still have a lower front end than the back, about 2.5" lower in the front, but I did a custom front diff drop to solve the issue of the CV's. I dropped the front diff crossmember down 1 bolt hole and redrilled it to get the bolt to go through. Then I re-welded the member back into place (the '02 Xterras started to get welded from the factory, so I welded it back into place).


Wow, I never thought of that. I was looking at my freshly-empty engine bay last night and thinking "If I was ever gonna do a diff drop, now would be the time." I just wasn't sure I wanted to spend another couple hundred bucks when I know this is probably my last year wheeling on IFS. But if I can do it on the cheap.... hmmmm....

[ChefTyler]

Hey, Allen, How much to do that custom diff drop drop? I've looked into buying the SLR kit but I know that there is a better/cheaper/easier way then the bushings. Could you do it before GONE and how long would you need my truck?

Screw the diff drop, go solid!

[Nissanclay]

Screw the diff drop, go solid!

I hate you! :crazy: You know whats going on there. The way I look at it I have another season of IFS and next winter is SAS time.

[ChefTyler]

I hate you! :crazy: You know whats going on there. The way I look at it I have another season of IFS and next winter is SAS time.

Well, in that case, start buying parts now :) if your end goal is to go SAS why drop another couple hundred bucks on a suspension system that's going to get cut away? :D

[Nissanclay]

Well, in that case, start buying parts now :) if your end goal is to go SAS why drop another couple hundred bucks on a suspension system that's going to get cut away? :D

So I can make it throught the summer without Fing crap up.