2WD '02 Fronty' Springs/shocks Need Rigidity!!! Driving a couch!

[hessianben]

What is the most rigid setup available for the 2wd Fronty?? The stock understeer is driving me nuts!! I've found stiffer T-bars, but are there coilovers available that will fit thru the upper arms?? Stiffer valving on shocks? Who makes the best? Stiffer sway bars as well?Help! it's like driving an inflatable couch!Any input is greatly appreciated! Thanks

[Big-Bird]

Rancho's RS 5000, RS 9000XL or Procomp's ES series will work. On a side note about the torsion bars you need to make sure they are set correctly so that your truck is at the proper ride height. T-bars do need to be adjusted periodically. Check your rear shocks too. If these are weak the back end will transfer a mushy feel into the front end and your steering as well. It would be a good idea to change all 4 to the same brand. There are eurethane bushings and connecting links for the front sway bar. Check out Eenergy Suspension's website for the application.

Rancho's online catalog lists the following shocks for your truck.



And this is Pro-comp's ES series listing for 1998-2004 Frontiers.

[hessianben]

Thanks Big-Bird! That's what I needed to know! I'm pretty sure that the t-bars are at stock height again- but I noticed that when I cranked them lower, the ride softened dramatically, and when I went higher, it firmed up. Is there a way to reclock the torsions bars so that they load up at a lower height?Thanks again!

[Big-Bird]

It can be done...but I doubt your adjuster bolts have enough length to do it safely.. You can sometimes adjust the clock position by 1 or 2 notches at both ends to make them load up sooner. But your bump stops will limit your travel in one direction which will make for a crummy ride.

You should look either for a drop spindle or air bag kit and do it right.

[Desert Rat]

adjusting torsion bars does not affect the spring rate guys. It just changes the ride height. The exact same preload is required to hold the nose of the truck up regardless of the height. It's just the ride height that changes when you adjust the Tbars. A mushier ride with them let down a bit is imaginary. I'm not being a jerk - I'm just stating fact.

Where the harsh ride comes from on cranked Tbars is the lack of down travel you have remaining.

Stiffer Tbars are available from Sway-away and might be what you want. I'd also recommend a good gas pressurized shock over the ranchos if you're solely looking to stiffen the ride. KYB Gas-ajust makes an excellent shock for your application.

[Rev_D21]

Nismo used to offer 2-stage T-bars back in the late 90's.

[hessianben]

I remember my 92 hb looking the same underneath as my 02 Frontier; were the torsion setups the same? Nismo sells torsions now advertised at 30% higher spring rate- maybe the same ones?

[Rev_D21]

They did share a lot of the same frame/suspension design. As for specific interchangability I would talk to Nissan.

[Big-Bird]

adjusting torsion bars does not affect the spring rate guys. It just changes the ride height. The exact same preload is required to hold the nose of the truck up regardless of the height. It's just the ride height that changes when you adjust the Tbars. A mushier ride with them let down a bit is imaginary. I'm not being a jerk - I'm just stating fact.

Where the harsh ride comes from on cranked Tbars is the lack of down travel you have remaining.

Stiffer Tbars are available from Sway-away and might be what you want. I'd also recommend a good gas pressurized shock over the ranchos if you're solely looking to stiffen the ride. KYB Gas-ajust makes an excellent shock for your application.

We don't know what his ride height is set at so if its too low then the truck will feel soft. Shocks are also the key to that equation which is why I tapped on the stiffer Rancho 5000's. In a 2WD pick up they will be much stiffer than the stock OE units. KYB are better, no doubt. But its about options...

[hessianben]

BBird- did you mean that the KYB's are better than the Ranchos? As far as the ride height- It's close to stock, maybe a hair lower. Next step is drop spindles- but that shouldn't change the shock height, correct?

[Desert Rat]

Shock position isn't affected with drop spindles.

D22 Tbars are a tad longer than D21 ones on the 4x4's. Not sure about 2wds, but I'd guess they're different as well. I think a good set of gas shocks might be all you need to be satisfied with the ride quality.

[hessianben]

BBird- did you mean that the KYB's are better than the Ranchos? As far as the ride height- It's close to stock, maybe a hair lower. Next step is drop spindles- but that shouldn't change the shock height, correct?

[Desert Rat]

I'ave had both the KYBs and the Ranchos. The Ranchos, while adjustable, are not gas charged like the KYBs. The KYB's are very stiff on compression which will stiffen your ride a bit.

[hessianben]

Nice! KYB's it is! Thanks DR!