Any/Max Lift with Bilstein 4600 Shocks?

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ShipFixer
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Re: Any/Max Lift with Bilstein 4600 Shocks?

Postby ShipFixer » Wed Apr 28, 2021 4:17 pm

The difference between the 81117 and the 81119 is a very minor difference in free height (unloaded, uninstalled): 16.63" vs. 16.25". The installed length is the same, 6.32 inches, and the spring rate is the same.

So a V-6 would see something less than 0.38" height increase, or a little less sag (same amount of inches sagged, but from a higher starting point). So like a quarter inch...


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Neeginan
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Re: Any/Max Lift with Bilstein 4600 Shocks?

Postby Neeginan » Thu Apr 29, 2021 1:21 pm

Thanks, ShipFixer. That helps.

I am going with the 1 1/2 in PRG lift front and rear. I will leave my existing Moog 81119 springs in place. So I will have about 1 1/2 inch lift in the front, and about 2 inch lift in the rear (the 81119's gave me about 1/2 inch lift once they settled out).

Yeah, I am putting the camber bolts in the front to get alignment in spec. My 2011 doesn't have them. The rear has them since I rebuilt the rear suspension and put them in, only after ruining a set of tires from bad alignment after 81119 springs installed.

I decided to go with 1 1/2" PRG lift to be sure that I will be able to get both the front and rear in alignment spec. The rear will be at ~2 inch lift. 1 1/2" from PRG lift + 1/2" from 81119's = 2 in. Should be able to get in alignment spec.

I like having the 1/2 inch rake so when I load up the Pathy, it is sitting level. Not squatting in the rear.

BTW, I have 32 inch tires. I replaced the 265 / 60 18s years ago with 275 / 65 18s. That gives 3/4 inch of lift right there. So with the tires, I will have about an extra 2 1/4 in ground clearance in the front and 2 3/4 inch in the rear. With this extra lift, I may be able to go a bit bigger on the tires the next time I need new rubber.

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palmerwmd
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Re: Any/Max Lift with Bilstein 4600 Shocks?

Postby palmerwmd » Thu Apr 29, 2021 6:03 pm

Sounds like a great plan!.
PS: Where in Florida are you?

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Neeginan
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Re: Any/Max Lift with Bilstein 4600 Shocks?

Postby Neeginan » Fri Apr 30, 2021 7:54 am

palmerwmd, I am in South East Florida. Fort Lauderdale area. But we also have property in the Appalachians and love to do what I would call moderate off roading/back country camping there. Overlanding in today's terms I suppose. We bought the Pathfinder new in 2011 as my wife's DD. She loved it then, still does, and I fell in love with it too after she started to let me drive it more. Nowadays, these rugged, body on frame 4X4 SUVs are hard to find and a hidden gem. The R51 Pathfinder kind of flies of under the radar. Probably because a lot of people like my wife bought them as a comfy, trucky station wagon.

As a note, I drove a new 4Runner a couple years ago (as a rental on a business trip) and I realized that that is exactly what we have in the R51, except the R51 has a more responsive engine and drivetrain. Auto 4wd for all weather conditions - check. 2 speed transfer case - check. True center locking diff - check. Good crawl ratio in 4low - check. ATrac Traction Control (Nissan calls it ABLS) - Check. Ground clearance (easy with a mild lift) - check. Excellent comfort on hard road surfaces and on the highway - check. And if I really needed a locker, I would put one in the front of the Pathy. Not needed, yet! The thing really is a rugged swiss army knife kind of vehicle. We have two forever keeper vehicles and her Pathy is one of them.

silverarrow27
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Re: Any/Max Lift with Bilstein 4600 Shocks?

Postby silverarrow27 » Fri Apr 30, 2021 10:33 am

The Pathfinder actually does not have a center locking diff in any of their models. The 4runners have it in certain models. Doesn't mean that the R51 isn't any less capable though.

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palmerwmd
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Re: Any/Max Lift with Bilstein 4600 Shocks?

Postby palmerwmd » Fri Apr 30, 2021 11:01 am

Neeginan wrote:
Fri Apr 30, 2021 7:54 am
palmerwmd, I am in South East Florida. Fort Lauderdale area. But we also have property in the Appalachians and love to do what I would call moderate off roading/back country camping there. Overlanding in today's terms I suppose. We bought the Pathfinder new in 2011 as my wife's DD. She loved it then, still does, and I fell in love with it too after she started to let me drive it more. Nowadays, these rugged, body on frame 4X4 SUVs are hard to find and a hidden gem. The R51 Pathfinder kind of flies of under the radar. Probably because a lot of people like my wife bought them as a comfy, trucky station wagon.

As a note, I drove a new 4Runner a couple years ago (as a rental on a business trip) and I realized that that is exactly what we have in the R51, except the R51 has a more responsive engine and drivetrain. Auto 4wd for all weather conditions - check. 2 speed transfer case - check. True center locking diff - check. Good crawl ratio in 4low - check. ATrac Traction Control (Nissan calls it ABLS) - Check. Ground clearance (easy with a mild lift) - check. Excellent comfort on hard road surfaces and on the highway - check. And if I really needed a locker, I would put one in the front of the Pathy. Not needed, yet! The thing really is a rugged swiss army knife kind of vehicle. We have two forever keeper vehicles and her Pathy is one of them.
I just moved to the panhandle but also have ties to Appalachia.
I agree with you 100% on your comments on the R51 in general and he parallels it has to the (much more expensive used) 4runner :)

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palmerwmd
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Re: Any/Max Lift with Bilstein 4600 Shocks?

Postby palmerwmd » Fri Apr 30, 2021 11:06 am

silverarrow27 wrote:
Fri Apr 30, 2021 10:33 am
The Pathfinder actually does not have a center locking diff in any of their models. The 4runners have it in certain models. Doesn't mean that the R51 isn't any less capable though.
There are two types of transfer cases available in the R51.

One of them is the traditional switchable 2WD to 4x4 which as default locks the center diff as soon as 4x4 Hi or 4x4 Lo is engaged.
The advantage is you have a locked center diff. The disadvantage is you have a locked center diff anytime 4x4 is engaged, so cannot run this on high grip road surface without risking extra wear on drive train and tires.

The other available transfer case (found in all LEs and those SE that feature the V8) has the same "modes" but additonally an "auto" mode which allows running the car with all 4 wheels driven but with an open center diff ( like what we usually all "AWD" in other vehicles) but then also switchable to 4Hi or 4Lo both of which lock the center.
This second transfer case is superior to the Toyota equivalents.

The thing about many Toyota product is that they run in an "AWD" mode when all wheels are set to be driven.
Some, but no means all (!), have an extra button to lock the center.
This is unnecessary in a Nissan Product as 4Hi and 4Lo always lock the center diff.

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Neeginan
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Re: Any/Max Lift with Bilstein 4600 Shocks?

Postby Neeginan » Fri Apr 30, 2021 1:14 pm

silverarrow27 wrote:
Fri Apr 30, 2021 10:33 am
The Pathfinder actually does not have a center locking diff in any of their models. The 4runners have it in certain models. Doesn't mean that the R51 isn't any less capable though.
Hey silverarrow27. May be a pleasant surprise for you. Your 2011 Nissan Pathfinder LE V8 4X4 in your signature does in fact have a center locking diff as explained by palmerwmd. So does my 2011 LE V6 4X4. And in 4LOW, it is a metal tooth gear driven engagement.

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Neeginan
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Re: Any/Max Lift with Bilstein 4600 Shocks?

Postby Neeginan » Thu May 13, 2021 10:36 am

Got the Pathfinder back today. Had the PRG 1 1/2 In front and rear aluminum spacers installed. I like the look and the extra ground clearance. I already had the Moog 81119 Springs in the rear.

Re the alignment, toe is in spec all around. No problem. Two things are out of spec

1. Castor is at 1.8 left, 1.1 right. Spec is supposedly 2.3-3.3. I took it up to highway speed, lets say 10 over, and I didn't have any wandering issues or poor on center feel. So my though is that is ok. I should add, they didn't touch the castor. That was the before and after. Not sure if it is even adjustable on these things.

2. Rear Camber is +0.9 Left, and +1.1 Right. Spec is -0.5 to +0.5. Because I know about it, I can see it when I try hard. I guess it's ok in that the vehicle is currently empty. When some load in the vehicle, that will push it into spec I guess. So with the toe really good, I think I am good to go.

Re height, measured from ground to top of wheel well arch I am at:

Front: 36 3/4
Rear: 37 1/2

I have 275/65 R18's on the vehicle. I have only put 3 miles on it, so it will probably settle out ~1/4 inch.

I didn't have time to grab pics, but I will later.

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Neeginan
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Re: Any/Max Lift with Bilstein 4600 Shocks?

Postby Neeginan » Thu May 13, 2021 1:53 pm

20210513_164813.jpg

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Neeginan
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Re: Any/Max Lift with Bilstein 4600 Shocks?

Postby Neeginan » Thu May 13, 2021 2:15 pm

Alignment Results
20210513_170151.jpg

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palmerwmd
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Re: Any/Max Lift with Bilstein 4600 Shocks?

Postby palmerwmd » Thu May 13, 2021 2:17 pm

Thanks for the update
This is how members learn about other folks set ups and what works and what doesnt.. :D

BTW I am in the panhandle.

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Neeginan
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Re: Any/Max Lift with Bilstein 4600 Shocks?

Postby Neeginan » Fri May 14, 2021 5:45 am

Palmerwmd - If I am up in the panhandle, I will let you know.

Here are some more pics of the after:
20210513_184041.jpg

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Neeginan
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Re: Any/Max Lift with Bilstein 4600 Shocks?

Postby Neeginan » Fri May 14, 2021 5:46 am

20210513_184049.jpg

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Neeginan
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Re: Any/Max Lift with Bilstein 4600 Shocks?

Postby Neeginan » Fri May 14, 2021 5:46 am

20210513_184033.jpg


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