The ever popular "rear alignment" issue

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Code Pathfinder
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Re: The ever popular "rear alignment" issue

Postby Code Pathfinder » Tue Jan 04, 2022 8:31 am

This is Great News!

I’m not sure if you saw my thread that was pinned but I did a write up on the offset bushings.

This will definitely help those with toe issues like me!


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Code Pathfinder
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Re: The ever popular "rear alignment" issue

Postby Code Pathfinder » Tue Jan 04, 2022 8:53 am

What bolts did you use for new toe bolt location?

Factory Nissan camber bolts or Factory Nissan Toe Bolts?

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Neeginan
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Re: The ever popular "rear alignment" issue

Postby Neeginan » Wed Jan 05, 2022 7:42 am

Code,

The offset bushings didn't work for me. The shop spent a ton of time with them, and it didn't provide the geometry necessary to get toe and camber in spec. Maybe for a 1 inch lift, IDK. And I know it is different vehicle to vehicle. But let's say I had a different Pathy and was doing a 2 inch lift, I wouldn't even try the offset bushings again. I would go the gusset route from the start.

I used factory Nissan Camber Bolts in the factory camber bolt locations plus the locations where the gussets were used.
Last edited by Neeginan on Wed Jan 05, 2022 8:06 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Neeginan
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Re: The ever popular "rear alignment" issue

Postby Neeginan » Wed Jan 05, 2022 7:59 am

Here is a picture of some of the gusset work to increase adjustability to accommodate a lift.

On the diagram, the spot marked 'IMPORTANT' is to show where adjustability was increased to be able to adjust out the positive camber on the rear wheels, to neutral or negative.
Attachments
Gusset Work small.jpg
R51 Pathfinder Eccentric Bolts V2.jpg

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Code Pathfinder
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Re: The ever popular "rear alignment" issue

Postby Code Pathfinder » Wed Jan 05, 2022 11:57 am

Thank you for your insight and additional information!

I’m sad to hear that the bushing solution didn’t work but I’m glad you found a cheaper alternative as the bushing alternative was not cheap for me.

Since these offset bushings technically don’t fit on the lower and upper control arms on the US models (they do make a set that fits on the uppers like you said)

you have to order the upper and lower control arms from the overseas pathfinder to get them to fit.

All the bushings plus the arms cost me around $2000.

Now granted sometimes these bushings can give Shoppes a hard time because either like you said the bushings don’t help make the situation worse or they didn’t set the sleeves right.

The position of the sleeve is ultimately important but also can be confusing as they don’t necessarily say in the instructions how to orient the sleeves position.

In the case of my lift I’m running a 4 inch sub frame drop block kit and Nissan armada springs which definitely will throw your rear alignment off.

I was able to get camber back in spec with the offset bushings but toe is maxed out unfortunately so I’m hoping that your additional gusset tab fix on the toe arms will actually help me get toe back in the spec as well.

If you were curious about my Lift or any of my specifications please don’t hesitate to reach out!

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Neeginan
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Re: The ever popular "rear alignment" issue

Postby Neeginan » Thu Jan 06, 2022 11:52 am

Thanks, Code.

Your setup is impressive, and much more hard core than mine!

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Code Pathfinder
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Re: The ever popular "rear alignment" issue

Postby Code Pathfinder » Fri Jan 07, 2022 7:52 pm

How did you know where to place the gussets on the coil bucket arms?

Did you center them over the existing bolt hole or did you slightly mount the gussets off center?

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Neeginan
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Re: The ever popular "rear alignment" issue

Postby Neeginan » Tue Jan 11, 2022 12:36 pm

The gussets were definitely mounted off center - outwards. Think longer control arms. The mechanic determined the amount by measuring the alignment at the beginning, and using his experience to determine how much additional adjustment would be required.

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Code Pathfinder
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Re: The ever popular "rear alignment" issue

Postby Code Pathfinder » Wed Jan 12, 2022 9:28 am

Sounds good!

I will definitely get an alignment check done before I mount my Gussets.

That way I will know how much I need to off center the plates.

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Neeginan
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Re: The ever popular "rear alignment" issue

Postby Neeginan » Tue Jan 18, 2022 8:01 am

Code,

Yes, your setup with Titan suspension components will be different than mine. I don't know enough about the Titan swap to know how much of the experience with my truck's suspension directly applies to yours. What actually needs to be done on your truck will depend specifically on how far out, or another way to say it is how close you can get the alignment to in spec right now. That is the starting point. If you are not far off, you will only need to add the gussets and increase the adjustability at the existing adjustment points that the pathfinder uses as stock alignment points. Where the camber bolts are found from the factory. That is the easiest and most straight forward approach.

Not sure if you are doing this on your own or with a mechanic. But if you work with an experienced 4x4 shop, you and they should be able to figure it out. One of the reasons that I chose the shop that I did was because the owner / lead mechanic was very familiar with lifted vehicles / suspension and he was open to letting me participate in the design phase and steps in the process. Not a lot of shops are willing to do that, having the nosy client under the vehicle with them discussing what they are doing and why.

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Code Pathfinder
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Re: The ever popular "rear alignment" issue

Postby Code Pathfinder » Fri Jan 21, 2022 11:26 pm

Luckily in my case Only the Toe is off on my truck in the rear.

The rear suspension is still considered factory in terms of the titan swap I did up front.

The rear just has Armada Shocks and Armada Coil Springs.

If I can just add the new gusset plates to my Coil Buckets, I can forgo adding them to my lower control arms because I wont need them.

My toe specs in the rear are all sorts of wacky. Its causing a gnarly thrust angle and making my truck pull to the right.

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Neeginan
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Re: The ever popular "rear alignment" issue

Postby Neeginan » Mon Jan 24, 2022 7:36 pm

If Toe is your issue, yes focus on the rear coil bucket control arms and put the gussets more outbound on the subframe mounting points indicated as 1 and 4 in the alignment diagram above. The picture I provided with the vicegrips holding the gussets, you can see that being worked on.

Bear in mind that when you change the toe situation, it seems to affect the camber situation a bit. Hopefully not enough that you cant get your camber in spec with existing adjustability.

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Code Pathfinder
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Re: The ever popular "rear alignment" issue

Postby Code Pathfinder » Sun Jan 30, 2022 12:29 am

I see.

So in your case you added gussets to both the sub frame and the coil buckets for your toe alignment.

That makes sense since most shops around me have told me I can go that route with fixing the issue on mine.

Ill try just adding the gussets to the coil buckets to see if that fixes my issue. If not, I will add the gussets to the sub frame mounts for the coil buckets.

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Neeginan
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Re: The ever popular "rear alignment" issue

Postby Neeginan » Mon Jan 31, 2022 1:14 pm

Your plan makes sense. And yes, we added gussets and additional adjustment at the subframe mount, and on the coil buckets. And honestly it turned out to be unnecessary to do both for the amount of lift I have. We could have gotten away with just doing the coil buckets, and working with the level of adjustability that came from the factory at the subframe mounting point. That was unclear at the time. Your plan to do the coil buckets first, and then the sub frame mounting points only if needed, is a solid plan.

I have a lot more adjustability to go higher than I need now. I don't plan to raise it further.

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Code Pathfinder
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Re: The ever popular "rear alignment" issue

Postby Code Pathfinder » Mon Feb 14, 2022 5:42 pm

Alright, update time!

the coil buckets have been extended with the tabs and here are some pictures!

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image


Here is a video showing the added adjustability these arms have now

https://imgur.com/OIXBbyQ
Last edited by Code Pathfinder on Tue Feb 22, 2022 12:39 pm, edited 2 times in total.


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