Who owns a 1995-2005 Nissan Pathfinder?

[GeeTee]

I'm assisting with modification/fit-out of a (maybe two) 1995-2005 R50 Pathfinder and I'd like to pick people's brains about the coil front suspension.

Will it accept a 2-inch taller spring at the front and still retain some droop travel? Any problems, no-nos or must-dos I should know about?

I have owned several earlier Pathies (coil/torsion bar) but have not yet modified a strut-fronted Pathy R50

Any experience from owners/modifiers of Pathies appreciated! 

[chisel]

I had one that was lifted (around 40mm from memory).  Sorry could not give you definite answers on the geometry/droop etc.  Nothing bad happened on mine with the lift, except that ride was harsh despite asking for the "comfort" springs.

Google up pcoa (pathfinder owner's forum) and you should find some owners and a wealth of knowledge.

[cyberhuey]

GeeTee,

Check out Pathfinders Club of Aust (PCoA) website for questions on you R50 model about droop, there are owners who can answer your question.

I have the R51 model which i've had lifted with 40mm Tough Dog adjustibles.

[GeeTee]

Thanks folks, I think I'm already a PCoA member from years ago...

I'll think I'll grab one of the rigs I'm modifying, and a floor jack, and start measuring
 

[Trackabout Off Road Campers]

GeeTee, send Matto a PM mate, he owns a '98 Pathy I think  Dave

[Matto]

GeeTee, send Matto a PM mate, he owns a '98 Pathy I think  Dave

Cheers Dave - spot on. 

GeeTee - mine is a "99.5" Series 2 R50, but the suspension design is the same as the S1 cars I believe. I'm running a 2" Pedders lift with the foam-cell rear shocks (which are stiffer than the gas shocks). From memory I got about 55mm at the front, and around 65mm in the rear, but my OEM suspension was pretty dead at 200,00kms. No ill effects, I've still got decent down travel, and my CV angle isn't too bad. I'm running FWH's on the front to take stress out of the CV's while on the road, but I don't think it's absolutely necessary. I'm also running airbags in the rear to help when towing. But I'm not running castor bushes, dropped panhard, longer rear arms or anything else - just springs, shocks and struts.

The only thing I'm aware of as a potential problem is that some people have had REALLY bad experience with OME struts. IE, gone through about 3-4 over 6 months, before moving onto something else. Some other R50's are running OME gear with no problems though - YMMV.

Some people fit up to another 2" strut spacer to effectively give a 4" front lift, but from talking to them there's not much down-travel left in that scenario. If you want that much lift, I'd suggest you're better off with a 4" sub-frame-drop. You'll end up with flat CVs and full travel (or can then fit +2" struts for 6" all up). It's more popular in the states than here, but there's actually an R50 two streets from my house running a 4" SFD, all registered, engineered and legal in QLD. I think Snake Racing used to do a kit.

Personally I probably wouldn't bother with that much lift. If I wanted to get more serious I'd fit sliders, underbody plates and lockers (Airlockers are available F+R, but the popular cheap option is a 4WDSystems Lokka in the front and a packed up R50 LSD, or Patrol LSD out back).

Good luck - I'm very interested in hearing more about this fit-out project, along with any photos you can share.

Photo - from 2009 with the brand new suspension in her, and the old AT tyres. Shows the drop at the front and stuff at the rear. Still had some travel left - it drove out of that spot fine, I just wanted a poseur photo . About the only photo I have of her crossed up:



Cheers,
Matto

[GeeTee]

Hey thanks Matto, only doing a 'little' lift for weekender/touring type work with a bit of camping gear/weight on-board retaining standard struts and dampers for now. From a technical standpoint, it'll be like the like the VW/Commodore/etc lowering jobs I've done... but upside down