2007 Xterra:Terry's Bolt On Wheeler

[TerryD]

Please dont take this as being rude or anything like that but Ive been studying on this for a couple years now.

But yes, that's the conventional wisdom but then everyone who says that sells a 2" top mounted lift spacer that's at a minimum 1.25" thick so is it or isn't it? The "Extended" Radflo shock is only about 1/4" longer than the OE shocks I've measured and still nearly 1/8" shorter than the Bilstein 5100s I had.

Now, I've seen my share of upper ball joints pulled apart. Usually because folks run top spacers and OE UCAs which puts all the stress of the suspension extension on the ball joint when it hits the coil bucket instead of the shock's overall length stopping the motion.

I can't find concrete numbers either. I've searched and studied and other than "conventional wisdom" and "word of mouth" I can't find any information as to why top mounted 2"+ lift spacers on stock shocks is fine and universally accepted but more than a 1" lift spacer on Rads or whatever "performance" shock isn't.

 

[needatruck]

A proper extended length is 7/8” longer. So your coming up short, which isn’t uncommon. That is also likely why you aren’t having any issues with the 2” top hat. A 2” top hat on a correct extended travel will bind. Every time.

No offense taken, I just install this stuff daily. We play with absolute maximum performance to get the customers money worth. Our competition just throws stuff together. So we solve a lot of other shops problems for people.

 

[TerryD]

A proper extended length is 7/8” longer. So your coming up short, which isn’t uncommon. That is also likely why you aren’t having any issues with the 2” top hat. A 2” top hat on a correct extended travel will bind. Every time.

No offense taken, I just install this stuff daily. We play with absolute maximum performance to get the customers money worth. Our competition just throws stuff together. So we solve a lot of other shops problems for people.

Ok, so there's a lot of bad info out there then because this is the first time I've ever heard anyone say that the extended Rads are that much longer. I've heard of 1/4"-3/8" but never 7/8". So that's good to know and a little upsetting that mine are short.

But again, that's the kind of info I've been unable to find so far.

 

[needatruck]

There is SO MUCH bad info out there it’s insane.

 

[TerryD]

There is SO MUCH bad info out there it’s insane.

So is it common that the Radflo lengths aren't correct?

Also, is it true that the only difference between OE and extended lengths is an internal spacer that can be removed during a rebuild?

 

[needatruck]

It’s not a spacer. It’s the actual length of assembly. So it’s not fixable technically. The wrong length is common on a few levels. Radflo sources from not Nisstec, run their own specs. Not every company is as specific as us. Can you measure your top hat mounting surface to lower shock bolt center for me? Of just the Radflo.

 

[TerryD]

It’s not a spacer. It’s the actual length of assembly. So it’s not fixable technically. The wrong length is common on a few levels. Radflo sources from not Nisstec, run their own specs. Not every company is as specific as us. Can you measure your top hat mounting surface to lower shock bolt center for me? Of just the Radflo.

17 1/16"

 

[needatruck]

Yup. Short. Factory is 16.6. Extended is 17.5. That 17.5, plus the 1/2” worth of top hat, is the max you can run without creating other issues.

 

[TerryD]

I'm surprised Radflo let's that much variation go.

Well, it looks like my OAL with the spacer is I'm running is just 1/6" shy of that measurement so I should be fine.

 

[needatruck]

Radflo builds to order, based on other people’s specs. No concern on there end for the inconsistency.

 

[TerryD]

Well, I got my coilovers turned back and put a new riv-nut in the frame for my gas tank skid.

So it should be ready to wheel Saturday.

 

[TerryD]

@needatruck

What is the length measurement of a Radflo 2.0 Titan Swap coil over?

 

[needatruck]

Proprietary. I can’t share that info.

 

[TerryD]

Helped a buddy put brakes on his Suzuki Equator (Nissan Frontier rebadged) and then we rode out on Potts to meet up with some other buddies from the club. Had a great day.

Goaded a couple buggies onto some silly lines and then got "convinced" to drive up on the obstacle myself.

Wish I had better video of the other stuff but I was spotting.

 

[TerryD]

Installed the 2nd Gentex mirror in my Xterra today.



The Xterra was actually pre-wired for the temperature sensor so it was a pretty easy install.

 

[TerryD]

Blew the splines off my passenger side shaft yesterday. My only guess is that the spider gear in the locker split. It sounded like a shotgun went off under the Xterra when it happened.

Gotta find a way to get the bearing off the locker so I can open it up and see what's going on inside.



Also did a little body damage.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Ouch. Bet it was fun up until that point though.

 

[TerryD]

Oh yeah! It was a fun trip. That trail has gotten rough since the last time I ran the whole thing.

Lots of traffic is taking a heavy toll on it.

 

[TerryD]

Got the locker apart. Pretty much what I expected to find.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Ouch.