"Lola" - WreckDiver1321's 2005 Frontier CC/SB Nismo Build and Adventure Thread

[wreckdiver1321]

^ I have Bilstein 5125's from Greg, when new they were great. Sadly now with about 60k on them the ride is pretty bouncy They will hopefully be replaced by Bilstein 5165's assuming things work out with Bilstein. MDs will suite about 95% of people, the HDs are for the other 5% that really need the extra weight carrying ability or just like a really stiff ride.

I'll keep an eye on your build then to see what happens with Bilstein. I'll probably still end up with the 5125's and see what happens.

Yeah that was kind of my thinking. The HD springs would be serious overkill for me, as I don't actually do any real towing or hauling.

In other news guys, I just received my new front recovery points from Rocky Mountain Xcessories. These things are sweet! Totally beefy and well made, plus super awesome instructions. I'll post up some pics of them tomorrow. Really excited to get them painted and on the truck.

 

[skibum315]

In other news guys, I just received my new front recovery points from Rocky Mountain Xcessories. These things are sweet! Totally beefy and well made, plus super awesome instructions. I'll post up some pics of them tomorrow. Really excited to get them painted and on the truck.

Awesome, I'm glad that worked out ... Steve's a really cool dude & is doing a great job filling a few little niches for products that are needed (IMO). Now, if we could just get his design/production talents on putting together a strong/light/unobtrusive/high-clearance/winch-capable replacement front bumper (he and I have been batting that idea around for a couple of years, neither has enough time to do it right, so we keep trying to pressure the other into getting it done ... lol) ...

 

[Blackdawg]

I wouldn't waste your time with Billys personally.

They are a cheap budget shock. But might as well just spend about 200 more for a higher quality rebuildable and custom valvable shock from King/ADS/Fox/Icon/SAW

 

[wreckdiver1321]

Awesome, I'm glad that worked out ... Steve's a really cool dude & is doing a great job filling a few little niches for products that are needed (IMO). Now, if we could just get his design/production talents on putting together a strong/light/unobtrusive/high-clearance/winch-capable replacement front bumper (he and I have been batting that idea around for a couple of years, neither has enough time to do it right, so we keep trying to pressure the other into getting it done ... lol) ...

Yeah I looked through his products and I'm impressed by what he puts out. Really cool stuff.

Haha I'd like to see you guys come up with something.

I wouldn't waste your time with Billys personally.

They are a cheap budget shock. But might as well just spend about 200 more for a higher quality rebuildable and custom valvable shock from King/ADS/Fox/Icon/SAW

The coilovers I run up front are based on the Bilstein 5100s and I'm pretty happy with them. Here's my thinking though:

I've looked pretty extensively at the higher end options from people like Icon, King, and Radflo, but it all comes down to whether I really need the all out performance. I don't really have the need or the desire to have something that's adjustable or rebuildable. It would be nice, but it's not really necessary for what I do. I'm okay with replacing as things get older. I don't really need a super duper high performance option either, because I'm not bombing at high speed over big bumps.

 

[Blackdawg]

Neither is my good buddy with Kings up front and Foxes out back. But the difference in ride is substantial in every way. And we just rebuild the foxes after 50k on them of abuse. For little to nothing. And he got to revalve them as his build had changed and he had added more weight since he bought them. This allowed him to dial in the shocks so they were too bouncy or sloppy anymore.

They pay for themselves in that aspect in the long run.

None of my billies lasted long. My front 5100s barely made it 2 years and i squeezed 3 out of them but the last year was brutal.

To me anyways, suspension should never be cheaped out on. It really seriously makes any vehicle all the better. While it might not be necessary, it is a big difference and you would love it. Have you ever been in a rig with really nice suspension? They don't call it the $5000 ride or $10,000 ride for nothing. haha

While i know you aren't doing go fast stuff or hardcore bashing stuff. It will make a lot of stuff more comfortable. Washboard roads particularly. And come one..everyone lets it rip every once in a while even if only for a minute.

But to each and to their own!

 

[bijanjames]

Incredible pics as always. Looking forward to seeing the truck with the springs.

 

[wreckdiver1321]

Neither is my good buddy with Kings up front and Foxes out back. But the difference in ride is substantial in every way. And we just rebuild the foxes after 50k on them of abuse. For little to nothing. And he got to revalve them as his build had changed and he had added more weight since he bought them. This allowed him to dial in the shocks so they were too bouncy or sloppy anymore.

They pay for themselves in that aspect in the long run.

None of my billies lasted long. My front 5100s barely made it 2 years and i squeezed 3 out of them but the last year was brutal.

To me anyways, suspension should never be cheaped out on. It really seriously makes any vehicle all the better. While it might not be necessary, it is a big difference and you would love it. Have you ever been in a rig with really nice suspension? They don't call it the $5000 ride or $10,000 ride for nothing. haha

While i know you aren't doing go fast stuff or hardcore bashing stuff. It will make a lot of stuff more comfortable. Washboard roads particularly. And come one..everyone lets it rip every once in a while even if only for a minute.

But to each and to their own!

No man I hear you for sure. A better ride is always a better ride. I haven't made any real decisions yet, so I'm just kind of weighing in on my options for now. The extra performance would be really nice, but I've got other things the truck needs too. Just trying to balance performance and price.

I might end up going with a full Radflo setup later on down the road. Right now the Bilsteins are serving me well but that may change. If it does, I'll change it up and do something that works better.

 

[wreckdiver1321]

Incredible pics as always. Looking forward to seeing the truck with the springs.

Thanks man! You and me both!

 

[Blackdawg]

No man I hear you for sure. A better ride is always a better ride. I haven't made any real decisions yet, so I'm just kind of weighing in on my options for now. The extra performance would be really nice, but I've got other things the truck needs too. Just trying to balance performance and price.

I might end up going with a full Radflo setup later on down the road. Right now the Bilsteins are serving me well but that may change. If it does, I'll change it up and do something that works better.

Wouldn't go radflo either or FOA.

But I hear you in the budget...but if you think about it. You'll save money in the long run vs getting something now and replacing it later with the "real deal"

And my rule..go big or go home!

 

[wreckdiver1321]

Wouldn't go radflo either or FOA.

But I hear you in the budget...but if you think about it. You'll save money in the long run vs getting something now and replacing it later with the "real deal"

And my rule..go big or go home!

Haha man you're preaching to the choir here about buy once cry once. I like doing things right the first time. Have you seen my electrical work?

Don't like the Radflos? They seem to be a favorite around the Frontier and Xterra forums. There's a guy that most people go to that custom builds the Radflo rear shocks and coilovers to customer spec, and most of the people on the Frontier/X forums rave about his work with the Radflos. What don't you like about them? And honestly, if I want to go all-in on the suspension, I'd go for either Sway-A-Way coilovers or Icon. Most likely SAW. The big problem with the Xterra/Frontier is we just don't have the options you guys have. The Bilstein 5125 is one of our better options for rear shocks. The more expensive options are a remote res Bilstein and Radflo. Fox makes a rear shock, but it's for stock height. King makes some remote res shocks, but they are really expensive. We're not exactly spoiled for choice.

Haha one only needs to look at your build thread to know you're a "go big or go home" kinda guy!

 

[Blackdawg]

Haha man you're preaching to the choir here about buy once cry once. I like doing things right the first time. Have you seen my electrical work?

Don't like the Radflos? They seem to be a favorite around the Frontier and Xterra forums. There's a guy that most people go to that custom builds the Radflo rear shocks and coilovers to customer spec, and most of the people on the Frontier/X forums rave about his work with the Radflos. What don't you like about them? And honestly, if I want to go all-in on the suspension, I'd go for either Sway-A-Way coilovers or Icon. Most likely SAW. The big problem with the Xterra/Frontier is we just don't have the options you guys have. The Bilstein 5125 is one of our better options for rear shocks. The more expensive options are a remote res Bilstein and Radflo. Fox makes a rear shock, but it's for stock height. King makes some remote res shocks, but they are really expensive. We're not exactly spoiled for choice.

Haha one only needs to look at your build thread to know you're a "go big or go home" kinda guy!

really? Im kinda shocked you don't have the same shock support..did not know that..

How hard is it to relocate shocks on your truck?? like new crossmember and such. Fit just a "generic" sized one that way.

What size is stock for you guys? Both top and bottom round bushings or spindle top mount?

Ive not heard anything like that from RadFlo. But sounds like they have changed their game from what i read. But really, any shock company can make you custom sized shocks for anything. ADS is insanely good at this and probably the best shock on the market IMO. They do some things that really help set them apart....but they aren't cheap either

I was happy to see you wire like a ************* man and not a crimping looser Thank god..haha

does OME make anything for your truck? they would be better then the Billies i think.

 

[wreckdiver1321]

really? Im kinda shocked you don't have the same shock support..did not know that..

How hard is it to relocate shocks on your truck?? like new crossmember and such. Fit just a "generic" sized one that way.

What size is stock for you guys? Both top and bottom round bushings or spindle top mount?

Ive not heard anything like that from RadFlo. But sounds like they have changed their game from what i read. But really, any shock company can make you custom sized shocks for anything. ADS is insanely good at this and probably the best shock on the market IMO. They do some things that really help set them apart....but they aren't cheap either

I was happy to see you wire like a ************* man and not a crimping looser Thank god..haha

does OME make anything for your truck? they would be better then the Billies i think.

My truck came stock with the Bilstein 4600, but I'm not sure what length. Both ends are a round bushing, so finding a generic size one that would fit would be fairly easy I'd imagine.

Relocating shock mounts would be pretty straightforward, there's not much if anything that's in the way. I don't think that'd be really needed to fit different shocks though. If I could get an idea of the length I needed and the ID of the bushings I could figure out something made for another application, maybe a Tacoma or something similar.

I think there's a guy on ClubFrontier with some ADS shocks and he's really happy with them. From the way people have been raving about them though, if I was going to buy rebuildable shocks I'd probably go to Greg at prgproducts.com and have him build me a set of Radflos to suit my truck.

Haha glad to know you liked the wiring job. See, I don't really half-*** things

OME makes shocks for my truck, I just ordered a set of their springs for the rear. They do have the NitroCharger Sports, but I don't know if they are longer than stock or not. The lift given by the OME kits for my truck is not much, maybe 1.5"-2", so I'd be surprised if the shock was any longer. I'm afraid I might be pushing it with stock length, since I'm aiming for 2.5" in the back. Gonna have to look for some info on shock lengths.

 

[Blackdawg]

I know OME shocks that come with Tacomas are 9.5" or so. Longer then 5100s.

Relocating shocks is the way to go if you actually want to increase travel. The bad thing about putting a longer shock in is that at some point the shock is going to bottom out before the stock bumps do. ON tacomas its usually after 8.5'' long shock. At that point your bumping off the shock and you'll ruin it. So you have to lengthen the stock bumps so you loose up travel and over all travel.

By relocating shocks you can make them fit so that even with a normal sized shock you retain stock up travel but gain down travel. So really you gain more overall travel.

If that makes sense...

 

[wreckdiver1321]

I know OME shocks that come with Tacomas are 9.5" or so. Longer then 5100s.

Relocating shocks is the way to go if you actually want to increase travel. The bad thing about putting a longer shock in is that at some point the shock is going to bottom out before the stock bumps do. ON tacomas its usually after 8.5'' long shock. At that point your bumping off the shock and you'll ruin it. So you have to lengthen the stock bumps so you loose up travel and over all travel.

By relocating shocks you can make them fit so that even with a normal sized shock you retain stock up travel but gain down travel. So really you gain more overall travel.

If that makes sense...

Yep, makes sense. I've actually relocated shocks on previous trucks before, so I'm pretty well versed in it.

I just did a little digging. Stock length eye to eye is 21.5". OMEs are 22". So a whole half inch longer. Not sure if that is enough for 2.5" of lift. We have a few different options for the Bilstein 5125s, in different lengths based on lift amount. Then we can get emulsion shocks from Radflo, which are supposed to be good for up to 3" of lift.

Gonna have to make some calls and ask some questions tomorrow.

 

[jhberria]

Yep, makes sense. I've actually relocated shocks on previous trucks before, so I'm pretty well versed in it.

I just did a little digging. Stock length eye to eye is 21.5". OMEs are 22". So a whole half inch longer. Not sure if that is enough for 2.5" of lift. We have a few different options for the Bilstein 5125s, in different lengths based on lift amount. Then we can get emulsion shocks from Radflo, which are supposed to be good for up to 3" of lift.

Gonna have to make some calls and ask some questions tomorrow.

For what it is, I've got the OME nitro chargers in the rear of my Xterra, and between my AAL and adjustable shackles I've got a little less than 3 inches of suspension lift. Rear suspension travel is not limited at all by these shocks, and it rides great at this height. The sway bar tops out before the shocks do.