Schuld, ChuckH -- 3" leaf spring pack

I just saw yall installed the SLR leaf pack, and was wanting to know what your thoughts were now that you have had them on for a little while?

I saw that the SLR pack was only 11 leaf's? Did you remove any, and also how many load leafs did it come with?

I will be installing the 14 leaf 3" AC leaf spring pack this friday, and I expec them to be nearly the same thing. If you could please let me know what you feel you have gained/lost by putting them on please let me know. What did the SLR pack run you? The AC ran me $590.00 shipped to my door. Man reason behind my purchase was to eliviate the sagging issue. I saw no point in buying another add a leaf to replace my already flattend one.

Again any info would be great. Also any pointers for the install?

Thanks, ~Kevin

I actually got the AC spring pack (got a great deal from a club-member who was shipped the wrong setup). It was 12 leafs, but I removed the bottom 2 load leafs out of concern of the clearance issues. Installation is pretty straight forward, just make sure to remove the bottom mounts of your shocks so the shackles will seat properly when you remove the jack.

The main issue with such a large spring pack is that you will have a new low point for your truck (below the rear diff). I also need to visit a muffler shop and have them cut the u-bolts shorter as they extend below the shock mount.

As for the ride, it's excellent. All the hard impacts, vibrations, etc are gone. I'm waiting for someone in our club to drive my truck so they can report on the vast improvement. Also body lean from removing the rear sway bar is smoother in it's transition instead of the truck un-loading its weight to the other leaf.

BTW, Chuck has my old leafs with AAL, not a new spring pack.

Oh, also the rear end will be lifted 3" with that spring pack. You will need to make some adjustments to your front end or the rake of your truck will look like Starsky and Huches' Ride.:eek:

I have the front end sitting where it should, I just reindexed the T-Bar's and had an alignment done.

Currently the front end is sitting higher than the rear and has been for awhile now. I have both the 2" SLR shackles in the rear and the 3" add a leaf, and for awhile the rear was higher than the front but now it looks plan funny since the front looks like its trying to go airborn.

Im hoping that when the 3" spring pack is installed that both the spring pack and shackles will bring the rear end back up to where it use to sit.

Did the spring pack give you a true 3" of lift? And are you running it with your stock shackles or 2" shackles of a aftermarket brand?

I have my stock shackles now with the spring pack. The 2" ones will probably be on another club members truck soon. I might get the SLR 1" shackles, but I'm waiting to see how the truck settles out after installing the front end 3" lift.

Even with stock shackles your front end is going to be low. Cranking on the torsion bars is just a temporary solution with those big leafs in my opinion.

Do you happen to have a side shot of your X with the stock shackles and the leaf pack installed?

I would like to see the slope you have in the front without the lift installed. Also are your T-Bars cranked in any pics you could possibly be posting?

I have the 3" AC lift, and with both the add a leaf and 2" SLR shackles it should be 5" in the rear. At one time I can say that it actually may have been that much. Now I basically ride at stock level in the rear. At least it seems to be that bad. I figure if i run the 3" leaf pack, and the 2" shackle I will go back to that 5" I had without the worry of it sagging as bad and as soon.

Also how do the leafs flex on the trails? Gain or loose any articulation ? Sorry for all the questions.

X Factor,

By adding shackles to a factory spring pack you shortened the life of the springs. The factory springs are already weak to begin with and sag quickly. This is because in spite of the AAL, the shackle flattens the pack, allowing the springs to flex towards the body quicker (opposite the bend in the springs) and increases wear as a result.

I just received my SLR spring pack (National Spring) and there is a huge difference between that and the factory pack. BTW, there are no load leafs in the SLR pack, so I am not quite sure what everyone means by load leafs. I guess they are talking about the A/C pack, but I know that A/C uses National Spring and I thought that the packs were the same. Obviously I was wrong. Since I am the only one in Florida who has put a new pack in that I know, I have nothing to gauge it by. The only load leafs I have seen so far is the factory unit.

I just saw yall installed the SLR leaf pack, and was wanting to know what your thoughts were now that you have had them on for a little while?

I was the one that originally ordered the A/C spring pack not realizing it was a 3" lift. Sold it to Schlud and ordered the SLR stock spring pack.
I think it was a little over $600.

The SLR stock pack has 10 leaves. One thing I noticed that the A/C spring pack and the SLR spring pack had different Teflon(?) inserts.

I like the SLR stock spring pack replacement. The only downside I have noticed are small creaking and groaning noises.

Schlud: I had good success at cutting other U-bolts off using a Dremel with cut-off wheels.

Originally posted by The X Factor
Do you happen to have a side shot of your X with the stock shackles and the leaf pack installed?

I would like to see the slope you have in the front without the lift installed. Also are your T-Bars cranked in any pics you could possibly be posting?

I have the 3" AC lift, and with both the add a leaf and 2" SLR shackles it should be 5" in the rear. At one time I can say that it actually may have been that much. Now I basically ride at stock level in the rear. At least it seems to be that bad. I figure if i run the 3" leaf pack, and the 2" shackle I will go back to that 5" I had without the worry of it sagging as bad and as soon.

Also how do the leafs flex on the trails? Gain or loose any articulation ? Sorry for all the questions.

I might have a shot from our mod day, but my front end lift is in now. The rake was close to what I had with my AAL's, maybe a bit more. My torsion bars weren't cranked that high as others go.

Right now my truck leans forward just a bit, but I was so used to the Starsky & Hutch look of my truck, now that it's level I feel like I have 4-runneritis.

Don't you worry about your ABS or brake lines with a 3" leaf pack and 2" shackles?

Well if the combined 5 inch's from the shackles and add a leaf's are equal to the 5 inch's that will be gained from the 2"shackles and the 3" leaf pack then it wont be a problem. But as soon as the spring pack is on I will be able to see whats going on.

Originally posted by The X Factor
Well if the combined 5 inch's from the shackles and add a leaf's are equal to the 5 inch's that will be gained from the 2"shackles and the 3" leaf pack then it wont be a problem. But as soon as the spring pack is on I will be able to see whats going on.

Yeah, I know it still equals 5". I had my rear ABS line get pulled out while offroading with shackles, so I'm keeping an eye on how much slack there is without extending brake lines, etc.

I havnt had any problems with the ABS line and the shackles/add a leafs as of yet.

Man, am I a rookie. I am just now beginning to research on how to comfortably fit 33" tires on my new Xterra. As my newfound wife would strangle me if I spent $1,000 on a suspension lift, I was counting on finding a 3" body lift, but I heard they may not be available. Is this true? How can I get the 3" inches that I need in the most affordable way? Little help over here? Joe

Originally posted by Joseph Jones
Man, am I a rookie. I am just now beginning to research on how to comfortably fit 33" tires on my new Xterra. As my newfound wife would strangle me if I spent $1,000 on a suspension lift, I was counting on finding a 3" body lift, but I heard they may not be available. Is this true? How can I get the 3" inches that I need in the most affordable way? Little help over here? Joe

You can get the 3" body lift from Calmini, AC, and EOE BUT putting in the body lift is a HUGE pain in the ass (and I only did a two inch lift, less work but still a p.i.t.a.) If you plan on having a shop put it in you may actually come out cheaper with the suspension, not to mention with the right lift you will gain wheel travel.

Ben

Originally posted by Joseph Jones
Man, am I a rookie. I am just now beginning to research on how to comfortably fit 33" tires on my new Xterra. As my newfound wife would strangle me if I spent $1,000 on a suspension lift, I was counting on finding a 3" body lift, but I heard they may not be available. Is this true? How can I get the 3" inches that I need in the most affordable way? Little help over here? Joe

So we can help you better, can you explain why you need 33" tires? It's possible, but if you don't have a lot of cash you'll probably be driving a compromised truck waiting for certain upgrades because of your tires.

There might be other options we can suggest if we know what the ultimate goal of your mods are.

Originally posted by Schludwiller
There might be other options we can suggest if we know what the ultimate goal of your mods are.

Looks.:rolleyes:

(Yeah, so I jumped to conclusions. But everybody is thinking it.)

Originally posted by Kerensky97


Looks.:rolleyes:

(Yeah, so I jumped to conclusions. But everybody is thinking it.)

Yeah, but you know there are other ways to get the "look" of a lifted truck with less problems. If he knows what issues he'll experience maybe we can save him some cash and some problems. There are other people who contribute here that started off with some questionable mods and are valuable contributors now. :alien2:

Yeah I was just being a jerk.:bloated:

My "nice" answer to Joseph Jones's question is:

If you want the 33's you'll have to spend.
I'd go with the 3" suspension AND 3" body lift just to keep the tires clear. If you're worried about offroad articulation you may have to trim quite a bit from the fenders.

The biggest problem is getting power to turn those big meats. So a Ring and Pinion upgrade will have to be done so you can scrounge up what meager power the Xterra puts out.

In the end my recomendation would be to opt for smaller tires, 32's will probably cut out most of the above problems. If you can settle going for 31's you could fit them with only 5 minutes work with an X-acto knife on the edge of the plastic fenders.

Yeah, the reason I'm needing to fit 33's on my X is because I already have a grat set. I know I can get the body lift for $239, and suspension lift for $979, but will the install make up that much difference? I want to go off-road, but probably not to the extent that you pro's do. What do you think a moderately priced shop would charge to install this body lift? I've heard that, even with my very limited experience, I could possibly put the suspension lift on myself. What do you guys think? Joe Jones, Springfield, MO

Figure most shops charge $60 an hour. My 2" body lift with 4 people working on it took something like 5 hours to install. Unless you do the work yourself or can get a really good deal from a shop you are going to pay out the ass for labor.

Here are some pictures of my body lift going on

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/t10500.html

Another point, I have not heard of ANYONE running 33's with just a suspension lift. I do not think it will work unless you put in longer bump stops and if you do that what is the point of blowing the money on the lift? (sell the tires you got and get the suspension lift + 32"s)

Ben

How many people are running 33's?

There are very few of us out here that have done what you're trying so you're pretty much in unknown territory.

Looks like it might be easier to sell the tires and use the money elsewhere.

Another thing to consider is that those who are running 33's are running 33x9.5x15's. We haven't even heard what the width is on your tires. :eek:

Swampwrecker from MAXC is running 33X9.50X15 TSL's, pizza cutters but 33's nonetheless. From what I understand he has some rubbing issues, but is otherwise stock.

see here for my problems with my 33x10.50 BFGs

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/t24045.html

Ben

Technically by the numbers on the side of the tire I am not running 33's but they measure out to be a 33 by most companies specs, they are 32x11.5 SSR's...I have a 3+3 lift and pretty much need it to run those tires without rubbing. Vikram and Pikachu also run those tires but both have body lifts 2" and 1" respectively plus Pika has a custom 3-4" spring pack and sawzall'd fenders. Nissan Mike(3+3) runs 33x12.5 Pro Comp muds which run small on 3.75 offset rims and majorly cut front fenders...basically forget any true 33's without 6" of lift.

Pro Comp MT

32.4 OD on the 33X12.50X15
http://www.procomptires.com/mudt.html

Quite small for a 33" tire. Their 31X10.50X15's are pathetically undersized.

Todd,

Do you have any pictures of Pikachu's rig after the fendercutting? I am sure alot of people here would be interested in how it came out.

Bryan

Originally posted by wqbang
Todd,

Do you have any pictures of Pikachu's rig after the fendercutting? I am sure alot of people here would be interested in how it came out.

Bryan

Actually I'm scared to see how it came out. :eek: (but would like to see them as well)

I run 33X10.5 BFG M/Ts with just a 2" body lift, AAL, and torsion crank and have absolutely no rubbing. The tires are measured at 32.8", so they are pretty much 33" tall. I believe the biggest problem isn't from the height, but from the width of the tire. The BFGs I have are 10.5" wide as opposed to most 33" tires which are 12.5" wide and I'm running them on the Nissan steel wheels.

Forgot to mention that you have to trim the hell out of the fender flaps to get them to fit without rubbing though.

No pictures, but I've seen it.

He took out a good inch. I'm not sure if he has had the finder lips welded shut again. He has been doing a lot of work as of recent. He had to screw the rubber trim back on. He used black screws so unless you are up close you can't even really tell.

Mehdi ran 33x10.5 BFG KM's with just aals and stock tbars cranked but he rubbed pretty bad. It took a 2" BL to clear them. The ARB also had to be cut and a lot of the mud flap area. He has the AC front sus on order and an ARB locker.

Here's Pikachu with the fenders cut. Looks good if you ask me. He's running the 33" A/Ts in this picture, but will be putting on larger Swampers shortly. My guess is 34X10.5's.

http://www.nissanoffroad.net/runs/GWNF_Jan_12_13_02/im000915.jpg
Picture Courtesy of Goliath

I'd like to see a closeup of what he actuall cut! Please!

rrdstarr - I'll get some close up shot and more information when I wheel with Pika next, probably early April.

Thanks!

rrdstarr -

On second thought you could just pack up the X and come wheel with us for ECXC then you could see for yourself. :D

If I weren't so gainfully unemployeed! Also as a full time student I can't miss a day of class! Been seven years since I have been to the East Coast!