Like the title says, what is the best lift for an 02 xterra? 3 inches would be ideal, and I was set on calmini until I read a few posts here bashing them.

Thanks
-Chris

It kinda depends on what you're looking to get out of it? Doing much offroading, or just looking for the lifted look, etc?

I plan on doing a bit of off-roading, nothing to major, I was thinking about a suspension lift in the 2-3" range... what are the best options out there?

Well... for about $50 you can buy rear shackles, then install them and crank your torsion bars up front. This will give you a 1.5" suspension lift, known as the "Poor Mans Lift" or PML (since its only $50). Then you just get an alignment after its done.

That's what I have on my truck, and I'm fine with that so far, my next will be a body lift to fit larger tires.

You can also get a 3" suspension lift, which will run you about $1000 plus install. The three main choices out there would be
www.4x4parts.com
www.spencerlowracing.com
www.purenissan.com

I personally will not be dealing with Calmini anymore, but that's a personal choice.

The other thing you'll want to do when adding a 3" lift is to reinforce or replace your steering system. In this truck, that tends to be the weak link, literally

Thanks for the input!! I really would like a suspension lift, not the pml, but I might have to do the pml just for a week or two after I get tires and before I put the lift on.

One more thing, what size tires can you get on a 3 inch lift with stock wheels? What about the PML, can you fit say 32x11.50s on a PML for a week or so until you get a suspension lift?

well the thing is... a suspension lift will actually not help you to fit larger tires. The suspension still has the same amount of travel, which means it will still stuff your tires just as far up into your wheelwells. The only way to actually fit a larger tire is with a body lift (which costs about $165 or so).

The body lift raises the body higher off the frame, and by doing so, raises the wheelwells higher away from the tire.

The suspension lift helps you by providing more ground clearance (except for the rear diff - your lowest point). I have the PML and 31x11.5 tires, if I had any larger tires they would probably rub, since I don't have a body lift.

Here is my stuffed tire, the pic would look very similar if i had a full 3" SL:
http://www.anthonydimattia.com/B2SR%202006%20144b.JPG

So, you dont think a 32" tire will work without a body lift?? Even though it is only a fraction bigger? Do you not have a half of an inch left in the wheel well when flexed out?

I think a 32" tire will be fine, since stock is 31", but definitely not 33"

edit to add: my was post was just to clarify that the SL will not actually clear a larger tire.

Thanks for the help... and you think the 32 will work with the PML?

I don't see why not... still may rub a bit, but you can just trim some plastic to alleviate that

Hi!

:wink-big:

Just to clarify a few points:

The Pure Nissan IS Calmini.

The SL doesn't change the tire size you can fit...just your ride height (When you compress the suspension, the tire goes up just as high as w/o a lift...so a larger tire goes up higher)

The only way to run 32's w/o rub on an '02 is to either:

Trim off the plastic and metal in the front wheel well (Mostly the end where the mud flap mounts to), and all the plastic inside the rest of the front wells. The rears will be ok.

Install a 2" Body Lift (BL)...and just trim a little bit of plastic off of that mud flap area described above. (No metal trimming required)

Only the BL really lets a larger diameter tire fit.

A 2" BL will generally allow 33's to stuff...and takes about 3 hrs to install with freinds.

A 3" BL takes an entire weekend with the same freinds, but allows 35's to stuff...albeit you WOULD have to remove some metal at the mud flap area to fit 35's, as the rear of the tire swings in an arc through that spot.

:D

A lot of people combine these techniques...a 3" SL with a 2" BL is popular, as is a 2" BL with a PML (PML=1.5" lift for $50)...as it gives a nice boost to ground clearance of the entire truck when you mount larger tires, as well as boosting your traction and flotation in sand or mud, etc....and the SL gives an extra boost to the frame clearance.

So, if you have a limited budget, and want to maximize tire size to run 32's or 33's (Both would work), you could do a PML with a 2" BL, get some 33's, and call it a day.

(You do need a wheel alignment after any SL, including the PML)

If you want to also maximize ground clearance and have the $, you could get a 3" SL instead of the PML, for around $1000-1,800 depending upon the amount of flex you want, etc...but also add a steering system reinforcement (You need it with the 3" SL) from SLR or L&P typically, for another $400-800.

BTW - if going off road, remove your rear sway bar, step rails, and mud flaps, they get broken and/or break other stuff.

You can leave the rear sway bar off all the time, most people can't tell the difference with or w/o it.

Leave the front bar ON...that one DOES make a difference (I have mine off, but, I can tell the handling is sloppier)

Hope that helps!

:D

Thanks TJ, I was wondering when you'd chime in. :)

Thanks for the help TJ... So I dont want to trim any metal and only want a SL, is there a size between a 31x10.50 and a 32X11.50... and not the 31x11.50, I would rather have a bigger diameter and narrower tread.:clueless:

so besides the paint coming off on the calmini. they work great? im more worried about the product lasting and function moe then the way it looks.

Bump!!

Is it the width That causes the rub? Is there a way to put a narrower 32" tire on just a SL (narrower than a 32x1150) without metal trimming? Like would a 265/75 R16 ~32" x 10.5 work?