Looks very good. Any idea if it will work with RHD?

I have a question.

What is the frontend width of this SAS system? From the pictures it looks like the frontend is wider than the rear. Is this true?

How will the width effect the ability to have certain wheel/tire combos? Handling problems onroad?

Is their any clearcut pictures of the frontend on level ground?

Just curious.....

Thanks,

Stone

I'm not sure of the exact measurements, but by eyeballing it, it wasn't that far off. If anything, it may have been a visual misperception due to the fender bulges.

On road, it handled nicely. But like anything else, when you make a big change like this, you do have to get used to some different handling characteristics.

It did handle just fine though. Might have been the driver though, Doug's pretty good in California traffic. Not bad off road either.

Wonder if the kit will include the front drive shaft...

Doubtful, most systems don't, even long arm kits for Jeeps and other (already) solid axle vehicles.

Exactly what Ian stated, as it would depend solely on what you have your lift set at. Those of us going higher, wouldn't be able to use a shorter driveline.

I'm hoping that there will be a kit option though, with or without the skids and the extra stuff needed for the skids. But, I'll take it, either way.

I went ahead and posted some parking lot photos in the photo forum. I did a quick check of the front vs. the rear and it looks like the rear is almost 2 inches wider than the front.

-Doug

That's because it is. The waggy axle is 60.5" WMS to WMS and the H233B rear in an Xterra/Frontier is about 62.5"

Just a quick update on the rear. It's going to stay spring under, but with longer springs with more arch.

-Doug

Deavers?

Will they be a production item?

How much lift?

They will be a production item, but the rest of the specs will have to wait till next week.

-Doug

why not just spring over the rear to match the height of the front?????

They may actually be, but new springs would still be required.

And with a spring over for the rear, a u-bolt eliminator kit could also be utilized.

If the spring over is what someone want's then why can't they just get it custom made. I'm sure Calmini will sell the kit for just the front end like they sell just certain parts of their IFS kit.

Axle

I think this is the plan since some folks will want to run 35s. I'll know more next week. The springs are going on next week instead of this week (scheduling conflicts).

-Doug

Being new to the sport of "4 wheeling" (I have always been a 1/4 mile person), can someone please explain the advantages to a solid axle as opposed to independent suspension?

Stock front suspension...IFS, stands for Independent Front Suspension can only articulate very little. A solid front axle will give you alot more articulation, less body roll, better traction and etc.

Your stock Xterra can't do this:

Is that a challenge? Just kidding, thanks for the explaination.

Indeed, because if you use the stock springs, you're going to get SEVERE axle wrap issues.

Most likely a traction bar will be required with any spring over kit. If you find springs stiff enough to prevent axle wrap they will be too stiff to give good flex. The stock springs might work pretty good here. They already support the weight of an Xterra rear end, are relatively flat and would give decent flex in a spring over. Add a traction bar and wrap is no longer a problem.

Here's the first photo I found of what should work.


You weld it to the pumpkin or axle tube and attach the shackle end to a crossmember up front. One is all that's needed. A shackle at the forward attachment point is important to let the suspension still flex. If it's just a pivot you'll kill flex because the traction bar and leaf springs will triangulate the suspension forcing it to one position. It may be possible to use the bolts for the "third member" to do a bolt on bracket at the diff, but I would rather weld it to the axle tube further outboard to keep from interfering with the drive shaft.

The Xterra down the road that's undergoing a radius-arm/spring-over SAS as well just had a traction bar built for it. I need to get down there and have another look at it, they also completed the steering since I was last there. It's very nearly ready to get back on the road.

Yepp, I'm going to try to pay'em a visit this weekend, they should be done today (I hope). I will try to post some pics when I get a chance.

Ok it was stated that no driveshaft is in the kit.

Is there a shaft that can be bought that works or do you have to go custom?

You have to go custom. There's no other way. Some parts from the rear driveshaft can be reused but most of it is not re-usable. I guess same applies for the front shaft. But when you are going custom, I suggest go 100% custom. So CALMINI is not including the shafts. Yeah that will hike the price way up there.