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Complete Suspension Rebuild
Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2021 10:51 pm
by car_006
Hello, I have a 2002 Infiniti Qx4. I am wanting to completely redo the suspension as it has 222,000 miles on it. I want to use it as an overland vehicle. Putting camping gear in the back and maybe a rooftop tent. I will be towing occasionally. I don't plan on carrying too much weight in the back constantly. I would like to do a 2" - 2 1/2" lift. With some 31s or slightly bigger. I am thinking of going with lr rear springs. I have no idea what to do for the other components. Any suggestions?
Re: Complete Suspension Rebuild
Posted: Thu Jan 06, 2022 3:53 pm
by car_006
With a 2 inch lift in the front should I be worried about the cv joints? I would like to have bilstiens or a tougher shock than factory. What should I do for the front setup? Should I just do a spacer with new oem struts and springs. Or is there a bilstien or etc. that will work?
Re: Complete Suspension Rebuild
Posted: Thu Jan 06, 2022 11:28 pm
by palmerwmd
Sorry you haven't gotten any responses yet. the R50 is not such a common platform right now and the holidays kept PPL away from here. I am hopeful you will have some help soon
Re: Complete Suspension Rebuild
Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2022 8:54 am
by smj999smj
car_006 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 06, 2022 3:53 pm
With a 2 inch lift in the front should I be worried about the cv joints? I would like to have bilstiens or a tougher shock than factory. What should I do for the front setup? Should I just do a spacer with new oem struts and springs. Or is there a bilstien or etc. that will work?
It's not going to make any difference on the CV joints. I know a lot of 2" lift kits require that you replace the stock wheels with aftermarkets with a 3.75" negative backspace. The original equipment struts are KYB's similar to the Excel-G/GR-2's, which are very good struts, but I can understand if you want to go with Bilsteins, which are also very good. I wouldn't say they are "tougher," but they are a monotube design whereas the KYB GR-2's are a twin-tube design. KYB Gas-a-just are monotubes, as well.
I would refer you to 4x4parts.com. They specialize in Nissan Off-road equipment and their staff can hook you up. The have a couple of 2" suspension lift kits for your vehicle at their site.
Re: Complete Suspension Rebuild
Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2022 8:20 pm
by car_006
smj999smj wrote: ↑Mon Jan 17, 2022 8:54 am
car_006 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 06, 2022 3:53 pm
With a 2 inch lift in the front should I be worried about the cv joints? I would like to have bilstiens or a tougher shock than factory. What should I do for the front setup? Should I just do a spacer with new oem struts and springs. Or is there a bilstien or etc. that will work?
It's not going to make any difference on the CV joints. I know a lot of 2" lift kits require that you replace the stock wheels with aftermarkets with a 3.75" negative backspace. The original equipment struts are KYB's similar to the Excel-G/GR-2's, which are very good struts, but I can understand if you want to go with Bilsteins, which are also very good. I wouldn't say they are "tougher," but they are a monotube design whereas the KYB GR-2's are a twin-tube design. KYB Gas-a-just are monotubes, as well.
I would refer you to 4x4parts.com. They specialize in Nissan Off-road equipment and their staff can hook you up. The have a couple of 2" suspension lift kits for your vehicle at their site.
Thank you for the help. Do you know anything about using the landrover rear springs? I was hoping to get a little bit stiffer, too. With a 2 inch lift would the stock struts be limiting my travel at all? Thank you
Re: Complete Suspension Rebuild
Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2022 12:36 am
by smj999smj
I've never heard about using Land Rover springs, but I never really got into the R50's that much when it came to modifying the suspension. I'm not sure what you mean as to limiting your travel. A lift kit on MacPherson struts is usually just a spacer plate bolted to the top of the strut. The strut only has a certain amount of travel within it. The spacer just lifts the body up an inch or two, depending on what size spacer is used, above the top plate of the strut.
Re: Complete Suspension Rebuild
Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2022 9:26 pm
by car_006
smj999smj wrote: ↑Sat Jan 29, 2022 12:36 am
I've never heard about using Land Rover springs, but I never really got into the R50's that much when it came to modifying the suspension. I'm not sure what you mean as to limiting your travel. A lift kit on MacPherson struts is usually just a spacer plate bolted to the top of the strut. The strut only has a certain amount of travel within it. The spacer just lifts the body up an inch or two, depending on what size spacer is used, above the top plate of the strut.
Oh, that is what I planned on doing with the front and I wasn't too worried about travel. On the rear though, it has a 4 link with a Panhard. That I would like to get a little more flex from. I had heard that people were using lr springs in the rear from the defender to give it a lift with a stiffer spring rate. It has the same diameter as the stock springs.
Re: Complete Suspension Rebuild
Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2022 12:09 am
by car_006
So, I figured I'd update my progress. I got everything done, I put the 9449 coils in the back with Bilstein 5125 29in. It rides great even unloaded. In the front I have the ac coils with kyb struts, the ride is very stiff but seems to be settling in. It achieved about a 2.5-inch lift in the back and about 2 in the front. I have 285/70/17 ridge grapplers and they fit amazing in the back with a 1-inch spacer and they tuck perfectly. In the front, I had the trim the edge off of the flare and the bumper. I also had to trim the bottom of the rear part of the fender. We had to modify the fuel line cover to fit tighter. I am really happy with how this turned out. for the most part, everything in the back was good, I had to extend the brake line and diff breather.
Re: Complete Suspension Rebuild
Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2022 5:53 pm
by palmerwmd
car_006 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 09, 2022 12:09 am
So, I figured I'd update my progress. I got everything done, I put the 9449 coils in the back with Bilstein 5125 29in. It rides great even unloaded. In the front I have the ac coils with kyb struts, the ride is very stiff but seems to be settling in. It achieved about a 2.5-inch lift in the back and about 2 in the front. I have 285/70/17 ridge grapplers and they fit amazing in the back with a 1-inch spacer and they tuck perfectly. In the front, I had the trim the edge off of the flare and the bumper. I also had to trim the bottom of the rear part of the fender. We had to modify the fuel line cover to fit tighter. I am really happy with how this turned out. for the most part, everything in the back was good, I had to extend the brake line and diff breather.
That sounds great!
Thank you for updating us!
Could you post some pics?
Re: Complete Suspension Rebuild
Posted: Sun Apr 03, 2022 9:00 pm
by car_006
Yeah, here are some pictures. The ride is pretty good, the front coils are a little stiff but I plan on doing a steel front bumper
Re: Complete Suspension Rebuild
Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2022 1:20 pm
by palmerwmd
That looks really good!
Is the Frontier yours too?
Re: Complete Suspension Rebuild
Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2022 10:19 pm
by car_006
Thanks, the frontier is my dad's. Not much done to it beside tires. Sorry I haven't been to active
Re: Complete Suspension Rebuild
Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2022 10:48 am
by palmerwmd
car_006 wrote: ↑Thu Apr 21, 2022 10:19 pm
Thanks, the frontier is my dad's. Not much done to it beside tires. Sorry I haven't been to active
Pleas post up some adventure shots when you take that nasty R50 off road.
We need more R50 love!
Re: Complete Suspension Rebuild
Posted: Sun May 01, 2022 9:04 pm
by car_006
palmerwmd wrote: ↑Sat Apr 30, 2022 10:48 am
car_006 wrote: ↑Thu Apr 21, 2022 10:19 pm
Thanks, the frontier is my dad's. Not much done to it beside tires. Sorry I haven't been to active
Pleas post up some adventure shots when you take that nasty R50 off road.
We need more R50 love!
Sounds good. Once I get some more I will. It's a little squeaky but nothing too bad.
Re: Complete Suspension Rebuild
Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2022 7:39 pm
by car_006
All right, so I have another question. I have the AC 2" lift coils up front and my strut mounts are falling apart. When I rock the car side to side I can see the strut moving inside the mount. Is there anything I could do to fix this? Or just get new mounts and if so, which ones do you suggest? Thanks