Mortonm's 2001 Xterra Build

[Silver dude]

I went with alcans on mine 500lbs over stock. I will say that custom springs make a termendious difference in the control and ride quality. The stock leafs have a stiff overload leaf which makes for a bouncy rough ride. Where as the custom multi leaf packs have sort of plush smooth progression of travel. I noticed it most over rail road tracks. Stock the rear would dive down hit the overload spring and bounce back hard. Where with the alcans it was just absorbed smoothly. Looking back a full custom spring set was worth the money IMO. Just something to consider. I don't know that I would do alcan again. But, just custom springs in general. Replacing vehicle equipment which was engineered for cost savings and multi use. With springs that really hit the mark and quality just makes sense.

Ben

 

[mortonm]

I went with alcans on mine 500lbs over stock. I will say that custom springs make a termendious difference in the control and ride quality. The stock leafs have a stiff overload leaf which makes for a bouncy rough ride. Where as the custom multi leaf packs have sort of plush smooth progression of travel. I noticed it most over rail road tracks. Stock the rear would dive down hit the overload spring and bounce back hard. Where with the alcans it was just absorbed smoothly. Looking back a full custom spring set was worth the money IMO. Just something to consider. I don't know that I would do alcan again. But, just custom springs in general. Replacing vehicle equipment which was engineered for cost savings and multi use. With springs that really hit the mark and quality just makes sense.

Ben

Interesting, very interesting. That is a pretty glowing review.

Were the Alcans expensive? I don't know if I would need 500 lbs over stock. Did that seem too much? 250 might be enough for me.

 

[stioc]

Really nice pics of the beach dude! I love that grass on the beach...so postcard like.

Can't wait to see what you do with the lift, I did like your original idea of keeping it simple and relatively inexpensive since you're not looking for a huge lift. Have you checked on Xterra specific boards to see what others are running and how they look?

 

[mortonm]

Really nice pics of the beach dude! I love that grass on the beach...so postcard like.

Can't wait to see what you do with the lift, I did like your original idea of keeping it simple and relatively inexpensive since you're not looking for a huge lift. Have you checked on Xterra specific boards to see what others are running and how they look?

I have looked quite a bit on clubxterra and a few others. 99 % of people fall into 2 categories.

The first run a PML (Poor Mans Lift) and they get replacement shackles and index the torsion bars to get roughly 1.5" of lift. This does provide close to the lift I am looking for but with my suspension being shot would be a short term solution and wouldn't increase my weight carry capacity at all. This allows 32s (most run 265 75R16)

The second is a full 3" lift with control arms new tbars and a new leaf pack or add a leaf with new shocks. With some trimming this allows you to run 33s. (Most run 33 x 10.5 or 33 x 12.5)

I sort of what to do a middle class hybrid. Stock leafs wouldn't provide me with any extra weight capacity (other than what they would provide over the shot stock leafs).

The wild card is pricing. The adjustable shackles and tbars from 4x4parts including shipping taxes etc was right around $400 US. Shipping was either $65 with UPS and risk a bunch of duty on delivery or $130 via USPS and that would be it.

A custom leaf pack wouldn't roughly cost me $500 around here but then I would still need new tbars.

Decisions decisions. Damn you OME

 

[Slicky72]

You should be able to find someone out east that could sell you the tbars . The ones from 4x4parts are just the swayaway ones , I know I can buy them here through a local dealer.

 

[mortonm]

You should be able to find someone out east that could sell you the tbars . The ones from 4x4parts are just the swayaway ones , I know I can buy them here through a local dealer.

Interesting. I didn't know that. Quick look on their website shows national 4wd as a dealer , which is only about 15 minutes away from me.

 

[mortonm]

You should be able to find someone out east that could sell you the tbars . The ones from 4x4parts are just the swayaway ones , I know I can buy them here through a local dealer.

Well that worked out well, thanks for the heads up

Just called up National 4WD in Burlington here, ordered up a set of the sway-a-way torsion bars. Didn't cost me much more than they are listed for on the US website

Now to do some more research and legwork regarding the leafs, hoping to have all the parts in my hands within a month or so.

 

[stioc]

Good to see your options opening up and your plans gaining traction!

 

[Silver dude]

Interesting, very interesting. That is a pretty glowing review.

Were the Alcans expensive? I don't know if I would need 500 lbs over stock. Did that seem too much? 250 might be enough for me.

Honestly, can't remember what I paid. I want to say it was just under $250 a side. Maybe I'm way off. If anything it feels to soft. I think I went 250lb 3" of lift as I had no desire for a tire carrier or expo loads at the time. I remember the alcan guy pleading me to go 500lb. I guess my tire carrier added a good bit. Rolling around town empty it feels great. When loaded with my fridge and other heavy camping equipment I find it sags a bit. But, full military wrap springs means more dependable. Eliminates the stock leafs which are known to crack. The aal's cause stock leafs to crack even more frequenty. The alcans ride really nice as well. The rear flexes extremely well if I do say way better then the stock springs. The multi leafs help control the axle wrap better. If I did it again I'd consider maybe a local custom spring shop.
There are a few unforcunate negitives I've found about alcans.

* they rust horribly yes I've repainted many times.
* they settled shortly after install at 2" of lift not 3" like I ordered.
* they required longer shackles the stock length wasn't enough and would flip up into the frame jamming the spring.
* they flex so well they tweak the spring hangers.
* not being a local place I was unable to fix my issues without shipping them out at high dollar.


Ben

 

[mortonm]

Called and got a quote for two sets of springs from a local shop today

$195 a side for stock leafs (4 leaf pack)

$255 a side for 2" of lift and roughly 4-500 lbs of extra load capacity. They essentially are placing an extra leaf into the stock pack. Any advantages/disadvantages to this? My leaf experience is minimal.

 

[Co-opski]

Let me know more about the SAW T-bars after you get a few kms under them. I'm thinking they would be nice on my Fronty to make the front as stout as the back OME HD Dakars that I have under the rig.

 

[mortonm]

Let me know more about the SAW T-bars after you get a few kms under them. I'm thinking they would be nice on my Fronty to make the front as stout as the back OME HD Dakars that I have under the rig.

Will do. I will probably wait until I have the springs as well to install so it might be a few more weeks

The nice thing about these is the adjustability through a range of heights, including near stock.

 

[Lecoq]

It should be nice. Are you gonna go one size up for tires?

 

[mortonm]

It should be nice. Are you gonna go one size up for tires?

I don't think so. I really like the 235 85 size. Besides which the tires only have 30 000 km on them currently.

Also the next step up is 285 75. Too wide for me and you need a full 3 inches of lift to run 33s.

I don't think the 235 85s will look too small with 2". I guess we will find out soon enough!

 

[Slicky72]

Sounds like things are coming together , you are going to love the new T bars. Your truck is going to feel brand new with some fresh springs under it. I personally think it will look killer with the tires you have and a lift. Roninjiro ran the same size tires on his Xterra , there are some great pictures of it on his build thread a few pages back in this forum. You will have to post up some pics once it s done.