4x4 Pathfinder Locked and Loaded: Off-Road Tested -UPDATED!

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rragpaoa
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Postby rragpaoa » Tue Jul 27, 2010 7:56 pm

pawjr74 wrote: Where was this picture taken? I grew up in San Diego.
Well, it's a little place called Sloan Canyon off of Dehesa road going from El Cajon to Harbison Canyon (torwards Sycuan reservation). Good place to test stuff out.


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rragpaoa
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Postby rragpaoa » Tue Jul 27, 2010 8:10 pm

dieselfan wrote:rragpaoa for the rear travel did you have to disconnect your sway bars? My order going through next week... :twisted:

I'm going to go with standard emulsion 2.5 / 2.0 upfront. Should I get Eibach rear coils while I'm at it or OME? Local agent wants to give me stock length shocks...reckons I'll get 1" by turning them.

Those part nos would be a boon!
You don't have to disconnect the swaybars, but obviously that will limit your travel. I have mine disconnected. Don't even miss them. However, they are still there and I have them tucked away when I need them, like for towing. I have the front sways connected and disconnect them when I wheel and tuck them away using a bungie. I'll post some pics tomorrow. Only takes me 3 minutes to disconnect/reconnect.

The fronts are actually reservoir shocks, except they are INTERNAL reservoirs, where the air and oil are separated. The external reservoirs are more expensive and are a bit of an overkill. They don't make emulsion fronts. I have the 2.5 INTERNAL reservoir front coilovers.

Go with Eibachs for the rear if you can afford it, but the OME are just fine and work great. I have the medium OME.

What weight springs for the coilovers are you going with up front?

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NVSteve
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Postby NVSteve » Wed Jul 28, 2010 8:01 am

rragpaoa wrote: In the case of the Monroes you have and the OME, it's 4.50/.56 = 8.04" of wheel travel. The stock is 4.25/.56 = 7.59". Radflo Emulsions: 5.00/.56 = 9" wheel travel, and Reservoirs = 5.74/.56 = 10.25" wheel travel.
Gotcha. Thanks for the explanation. I had never figured in any of the variables you mentioned when thinking of shocks, which I guess just means you are far more of a shock nerdling than me :P It also clears up why one doesn't necessarily need longer shocks when doing a spring lift.

I'll have to mull it over. I'd kind of like to replace the front suspension because I seem to hit the limits all the time while off roading & I just don't know how long those OME struts will last with the abuse.

Does Radflo have any kind of warranty? I know they can be rebuilt-any idea on costs?

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NVSteve
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Postby NVSteve » Wed Jul 28, 2010 8:07 am

dieselfan wrote:Is the 2.0 the lift? ie 2" and the 2.5 being 2.5" if so why 2.5 front and 2 in the back?
From looking at other shock specs intensely the last couple of weeks, I'm betting the 2.0 is the diameter of the shock, as in 2.0" or 2.5".

dieselfan
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Postby dieselfan » Wed Jul 28, 2010 10:55 am

NVSteve wrote:
dieselfan wrote:Is the 2.0 the lift? ie 2" and the 2.5 being 2.5" if so why 2.5 front and 2 in the back?
From looking at other shock specs intensely the last couple of weeks, I'm betting the 2.0 is the diameter of the shock, as in 2.0" or 2.5".
Yes and I'm beginning to pull my hair out, the local agent pretty much contradicts alot of what rragpaoa says, but the local agent has only done Navara's / Frontiers not Pathfinders. It'd be much simpler if Glen gave you the part no's. I emailed Glen but he didn't comment on the pics I showed him of rragpaoa's Pathy.

In one instance I was told the 2.0 and 2.5 were the diameter and the 2.5 is a stronger shock cause it's thicker, than I said fine give me a 2.5 shock with max 2" height. The reply was why do I want to raise it by 2.5"?!

I've got my tax money just sitting in the bank and if I don't spend it the wife will take it gradually for "this and that".

As I only have the Nissan Nudgebar upfront I will most likely go with the Eibach 600 - was told this is the "lightest".

Waiting for final pricing on rear Eibachs - want to standardize allround. But like I said above, the impression I have is that NO R&D is needed you just get a "general" rear or "general" front - NOT what has been witnessed here? :evil: This is making it THAT much harder to convince the wife we won't have hassles.

rragpaoa when you say you've taken your sway bar off, how's she handle at say 100-110mph? I often travel at those speeds and currently like a sportscar - well almost ;).

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rragpaoa
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Postby rragpaoa » Wed Jul 28, 2010 1:44 pm

Let me see if I can clear this up:

Fronts:
1. 2.0"/2.5" is the diameter of the shock body.
2. Both are height adjustable from 0"-3" height increase.
3. Offered in Extended or Regular travel versions. Extended versions require new aftermarket UCA
4. Can add remote reservoir to any of the above.
5. Spring weights from 500lbs to 700lbs.

Rears:
1. Currently made only 2.0" diameter shocks
2. 2 Versions: Emulsion and Remote Reservoirs
3. Both are longer than stock. Remote longer than Emulsion.

Now, Radflo is a specialty shop that can make any shock based on you specifications and requirements. For the front coilovers, the stock numbers are found here: http://radflo.com/oe_app.htm under Frontier/Navarra section.
For the rear, it was a special order shock. Now that Radflo have our specs, just ask for rear 2005+ Pathfinder Emulsion or Remote Reservoir shocks. I'm sure they will now what your asking and you don't need part numbers. They build them when you order them.

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rragpaoa
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Postby rragpaoa » Wed Jul 28, 2010 1:56 pm

dieselfan wrote: rragpaoa when you say you've taken your sway bar off, how's she handle at say 100-110mph? I often travel at those speeds and currently like a sportscar - well almost ;).
I only have disconnected the rear swaybars and left the front connected. I have NOT taken them off completely. They can easily be disconnected and tucked away when wheeling.

My fronts are normally connected and I disconnect them when I off-road. My rears a normally DISconnected and I connect them when I want to tow or when touring all on pavement for long drives. If you like to drive 100mph consistently, then normally keep them BOTH connected. It's physics, that kind of speed NEEDS the swaybars.

17mm, a bungie, and 5 minutes is all you need to disconnect/connect the swaybars. At one point in time, a few of us here were thinking of fabricating some quick disconnects, but fortunately, we are blessed with the easiest links to disconnect and connect, so we really don't need them. I will have pics tonight with instructions.

dieselfan
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Postby dieselfan » Thu Jul 29, 2010 2:39 am

And you say you don't work for them... :D

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rragpaoa
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Postby rragpaoa » Thu Jul 29, 2010 12:32 pm

dieselfan wrote:And you say you don't work for them... :D
Buy Now!!! ... so I can get my commission :wink:

Kidding aside, I will advocate any product the does what it claims. Plus, I don't live too far from them and every time I drop by, they are great guys to deal with.

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Sfinx
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Postby Sfinx » Sun Oct 17, 2010 3:59 am

Hi!

Very nice truck you have there! Love to see the flexes:).

I have sent an email to Radflo to hear what the price are on the different setups.
I am going for a lift kit (suspension) on my Pathfinder aswell, and your setup looks very good.

So basicly I need the following (on a stock vehicle):
Radflo front 2.5 coilovers with maybe 600lb Eibach springs (do not have a winch yet, will maybe get it with a new bumper later). Should I then order 625/650lb springs?
Radflo rear 2.0 emulsion or maybe remote reservoir like you have.
Eibach springs (what kind?).

My question is, with the remote reservoir - the shocks have a longer travel-rate, then the emulsion?
And do I need additional gear to use that setup on a stock Pathfinder?
Like where did you mount the remote reservoir on your truck?
The springs in the rear, can I use the same for both these shocks?

Me myself live in Norway, so I have to get Radflo to ship it overseas, but thats no problem. I just need to know I order all I need with this shipment.

My goal is to use my car both on- and offroad like urself.

Again very nice truck, and looks like a very good setup for the Pathfinder :)

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Sfinx
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Postby Sfinx » Mon Oct 18, 2010 2:28 am

Nevermind the question about where u installed the rear reservoir. I saw your install in this post http://www.thenissanpath.com/viewtopic. ... ir&start=0

Aftermarket UCA - what do you guys use, from where? What is the price on these ones?

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NVSteve
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Postby NVSteve » Mon Oct 25, 2010 12:09 pm

I must have missed your post about getting the Duratracs? At any rate, with that size tire (I'm guessing an E?), are you getting any frame rubbing at all? Any issues with the tire, noticeable drop in mpg, etc?

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rragpaoa
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Postby rragpaoa » Wed Oct 27, 2010 2:32 pm

NVSteve wrote:I must have missed your post about getting the Duratracs? At any rate, with that size tire (I'm guessing an E?), are you getting any frame rubbing at all? Any issues with the tire, noticeable drop in mpg, etc?
Hey NVSteve,

I have 275/70/18 E Ratings. Basically they are a bit taller than 33". I was going to get 285/65/18 E but opted for the slightly taller tire for a bit more ground clearance. Glad I did.

Of course, I had to remove the mud flaps (don't really need them anyway) and do the melt-mod of the inner lining to prevent rubbing.

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NVSteve
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Postby NVSteve » Thu Oct 28, 2010 6:28 pm

rragpaoa wrote:I have 275/70/18 E Ratings. Basically they are a bit taller than 33". I was going to get 285/65/18 E but opted for the slightly taller tire for a bit more ground clearance. Glad I did.
What pressure are you running them at for city/highway pavement driving?
And do they look like they are properly inflated, or a bit underinflated?
Did you do something like a chalk test to find the proper PSI?
Finally, how is your highway mpg now (is it worse or better than previously)? I don't care about city.
How's the ride-have you noticed if it feels a "touch" firmer, way firmer or pretty much the same?
The wheel wells I can deal with, but how about any frame rubbing? I think Blink posted that his rubbed the frame when he installed them.

I've got the room for them, but I don't want to go to all the work & expense for larger tires if it will just be a negative in a number of different ways. And Google has not been my friend. So many forums out there with answers that are all over the place when searching for "C or E load range tire." I'd certainly have more faith in your answers than a lot of the oil drinking boys out there on the other forums, most of whom appear to be talking out of their asses.

Dito
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UCA question

Postby Dito » Thu Jan 13, 2011 8:28 pm

hey guys,

i know its been a long time since the last posting but have 1 question...

i have been running around the PRG and Calminis UCA´s dont know which one is better.
The price difference in only 10.00 dollars.
anyone have any thoughts in this topic?

tnx!


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