I have been looking around for lift for a 04 xterra and have found a lot. I was just wondering if there's anyone that yall would recommend. I am looking for a 3" suspension lift. I think i can narrow it down to these three, but would like and pros/cons/ or comments on them. I realize that one doesn't come with shocks but I would add those later

Thanks in advance

Lift 1

Lift 2

Lift 3

I basically have the lift 2 option you linked, minus the torsion bars, I've stuck with the stock bars and they've held up fine over the years.

My only advise is avoid the packages, as you end up with stuff you won't need. Example Lift 3 Calmini, the lift components will be great, but I've heard negative things about the shocks, and only good about the bilsteins. You also won't need the sway bar disconnects.

I as many recommend piecing it together. Pick the shocks you want. Pick the upper A-arms you want, and how to lift the rear, either add-a-leafs or shackles. That way you get the best of all worlds.

Ok thanks, I'll start looking at the pieces. If I get shackles for the rear, do i just need new a-arms for the front?

Also I was looking, the shackles give you 1.5 " of lift in the rear but the front arms give you three. How do you equal this out in the rear?

add a leaf or new leaf pack

I saw those on the 4x4parts website. is the single add a leaf suppose to go with a shackle and the "new leaf pack" use the stock shackle?

Essentially, AC sells them as LEVELING KITS.

The X comes from the factory with the nose lower than the tail by ~ 1.5"

So, for a 3" "Lift", they give you new UCA to ALLOW you to lift the front 3", and EITHER Shackles OR AAL to raise the REAR 1.5"...thus leveling it.

If you want the rear to be raised the same as the front, you ADD the AAL if you got the shackles, or the shackles if you got the AAL, etc...

OR

Just get a new leaf pack that's arched to give 3" lift, etc.

The wheel travel is pretty much all from the shackles, which swing in to allow the leaf pack to droop...so longer shackles are your friend off road.



The part you need to take advantage of the travel is longer shocks....otherwise, you'll just have stock wheel travel after the lift.

The fronts can be stock length, as with IFS, you just go up/down between the bump stops.

The REARS can be a lot longer - to allow more rear droop...

..but you want them to COMPRESS down to no more than 16" (16" or less) to ALSO fit a STOCK X, or, to preserve UP TRAVEL.

The 16" - 26" Bilstien 5100's for the Articulator package, or the HD equivalents, work perfectly.



As far as AAL go, the worst is the single leaf, too stiff to allow good flex.

The 2-pack is less stiff, and the 3-pack is the most flexy.

The reason is that multiple thinner leaves flex better than fewer thicker leaves.

Enjoy!

Alright wow thanks a bunch TJ that explains it well. I found some shackles for cheap so Ill get the single aal leaf for now. This is what I am going to order for the lift, can someone check to make sure I have everything I need?

Thanks

Front lift

rear lift

Front Shocks

Rear Shocks

Front lift
OK

rear lift
Not a good AAL, the worst

Front Shocks
OK

Rear Shocks
OK


https://www.4x4parts.com/catalog/leaf-addaleaf-pack-p-2857.html
The 3-Leaf AAL you should get, that can actually work, w/o being the Rancho single leaf crap.

Alright, what if I already have the shackles should I still just get the 3 pack? Is it worth the money?

As you are getting the UCA, you're doing a 3" lift.

To raise the rear a matching 3", you need an AAL with the shackles you had mentioned (If they are ~ 6" eye to eye).

The 3-pack AAL will allow more flex, give a less jarring ride, and is more durable...and is worth the money over the single leaf AAL.

Alright, thanks for all the help. Looks like I got a big project this summer