If you have a question about lifting your truck, please read this thread before posting your question. There is a good chance that it will be answered here. If you notice any errors, please PM me.
READ THIS FIRST: I will no longer be answering individual questions on lifting members' trucks via PM. I compiled the information in this sticky by doing my own independent research, but I am not - I repeat, I am not - a suspension expert. If you still have questions after reading the sticky, do a little of your own independent research and/or ask your question on the forum. If you create a post with your question, you will get answers from a number of individuals with varying opinions, not just mine. We have a lot of knowledgeable members here - use them as a resource!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How high can I safely lift my 4x4 truck? Why? What if I want to lift it higher?
Generally, 3" is the recommended maximum amount of suspension lift for a 4x4 truck with IFS. The UCA's on our trucks are the biggest limiting factor. It is also very difficult to get good alignment numbers on stock control arms with greater than 2.5" of lift. I would suggest no more than 2.5" of lift with stock Frontier UCA's, 3" with aftermarket Frontier UCA's or stock Titan UCA's, and 4" with aftermarket Titan UCA's. Additional limiting factors down travel, ride quality, and CV angles. If you want to lift your 4x4 higher, you will either need to use a drop bracket kit or combine a body lift with your suspension lift.
These numbers also apply to 2WD trucks that are not running spindle lifts. With a spindle lift, you can go considerably higher.
What size tire can I run with XYZ amount of lift?
Generally, the maximum tire size you can fit without rubbing and without trimming is 265/75/16 (the equivalent of a 32" tire). This is the factory tire size on the Pro-4X and Nismo models, and most brands will fit on a stock truck with no modifications. Many people fit 285/75/16 (about 33") tires on a lifted truck with minor melting or trimming in the front. 35" tires will fit on a drop bracket kit with a moderate amount of trimming, but it is not recommended to run 35" tires on anything except a "street vehicle" without other modifications.
Titan swaps and most aftermarket wheels will increase the potential for rubbing and consequently make it more likely that you will need to trim or do a melt mod.
When I lift my truck, will I need to get new shocks? Longer brake lines? Will I need to get an alignment done?
Front shocks generally do not require replacement. Longer rear shocks are not required for lifts up to 2". Rear shocks should be replaced with longer rear shocks for any suspension lift 2" or higher, particularly for off-road use or when using shackles, AAL's or new leaf packs. Front brake lines require replacement when the lift significantly increases down travel (i.e, Titan swap). Rear brake lines may need to be unclipped at greater than 1.5-2" of lift, or replaced with long lines when the truck is lifted over 3-4". ABS lines may need to be unclipped.
An alignment is always required anytime your suspension is altered! Frontiers built after mid-2005 may require aftermarket adjustable camber bolts in order to align properly, particularly if they are lifted over 2". (Early 2005 Frontiers came with adjustable camber bolts.)
What is coil bucket contact? Is it bad for my truck? How do I prevent it?
Coil bucket contact is when the coil bucket (top plate) of your shock assembly contacts your upper control arm. When this happens, there will be a loud metal-to-metal clanking noise. Coil bucket contact is something to think about when lifting your truck 2" or higher. It is most common with spacer lifts. If coil bucket contact occurs frequently, the coil bucket may scratch or gouge the upper control arm but it generally won't "hurt" the truck. Noise from coil bucket contact can be prevented by the use of bump stops or aftermarket upper control arms.
Which lift kits will work for a 2018?
The frontier suspension has not changed since 2005. Any lift kit for 2005-2017 will also work on a 2018.
Can I stack front suspension lift components to lift my truck higher? What about rear lift components?
It is generally a bad idea to stack front lift suspension components (i.e., spacers plus height adjustable shocks, although some members have had good luck with this when keeping the total lift 2.5" or less). Coil bucket clearance, down travel, ride quality, CV angles and stress to the individual components are all reasons NOT to!
There are some exceptions. 2WD trucks can stack lift spindles with anything else to achieve greater lift. Some Coilover and spacer combinations work fine as well.
The rear is a different story. Stacking blocks and/or shackles and/or AAL's is no problem at all, provided your shocks and brake lines are long enough.
What is suspension travel? Why is it important?
PRG Greg covers this important topic in his Travel Numbers sticky.
How do I install my new lift kit?
There are many great write-ups on this forum that explain how to install various lift setups. If a how-to exists, I have included a blue hyperlink in the subtitle of the component (for example, if you click on the big blue "Add-A-Leafs" subtitle, it will take you to Nomad 13's installation write-up).
Here is another great write-up for installing a front lift: Comprehensive Front Lift Installation Instructions for 2005+ Frontiers
You used an acronym, but I'm new to this stuff and I don't understand what it means!
Check this thread: Acronyms 101
SUSPENSION LIFTS
FRONT
Spacers
Lift amount: 1.5" to 3"
Uses: Street use, light off roading.
Pros: Inexpensive. Fairly easy to install. Ride quality is close to factory.
Cons: Suspension travel is limited with larger spacers. High chance of coil bucket contact with spacers over 2".
Notes: Noise from coil bucket contact can be eliminated with bump stops (cheap) or aftermarket upper control arms (better method but more expensive). Aftermarket UCAs highly recommended for 3" spacers. Some kits come with bump stops. PRG also offers inexpensive 0.5" and 1" spacers which can be added to specific existing lifts.
Cost: $60-$190 (more for kits)
Brands: ADF, Calmini, Daystar, NissTec, PRG, Pro Comp, ReadyLift (kit with bump stops, camber bolts, shackles for rear), Revtek (kit with blocks for rear), Rough Country, Truxxx (kit with bump stops and blocks for rear)
Height Adjustable Shocks
Lift amount: 0.5" to 2"
Uses: Street use, light off roading.
Pros: More balanced suspension travel than with a spacer lift.
Cons: Coil spring compressor required for installation (Bilsteins only). In the past, there were reports of Rancho QuickLift shocks leaking over time.
Notes: Some report that the Bilsteins are very stiff when adjusted at maximum height but most feel the ride quality is improved at a more modest setting. Read this thread before installing your coils onto your Bilsteins!
The Rancho QuickLift shocks have been revamped. They now include new coils and come pre-assembled with a new upper mount. The stiffness is adjustable.
Cost: About $200 for the Bilsteins (shocks only); about $350 for the Ranchos (including shocks, new coils and upper mounts)
Brands: Bilstein, Rancho
Lift Coils
Lift amount: 1.5" to 2"
Uses: Light to moderate off roading. Support for a heavy bumper.
Pros: Better articulation than with spacer lift. Low chance of coil bucket contact.
Cons: Coil spring compressor required for installation. Can be stiff.
Notes: There are medium duty coils for trucks with stock bumpers and heavy duty coils for trucks with aftermarket bumpers and winches. Heavy duty coils will feel stiff on a vehicle with a stock bumper but may add a small amount of additional lift. Old Man Emu Nitrocharger Sport Shocks are recommended for use with Old Man Emu coils.
Cost: About $170
Brands: Old Man Emu
Front Lifts continued on next post...
READ THIS FIRST: I will no longer be answering individual questions on lifting members' trucks via PM. I compiled the information in this sticky by doing my own independent research, but I am not - I repeat, I am not - a suspension expert. If you still have questions after reading the sticky, do a little of your own independent research and/or ask your question on the forum. If you create a post with your question, you will get answers from a number of individuals with varying opinions, not just mine. We have a lot of knowledgeable members here - use them as a resource!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How high can I safely lift my 4x4 truck? Why? What if I want to lift it higher?
Generally, 3" is the recommended maximum amount of suspension lift for a 4x4 truck with IFS. The UCA's on our trucks are the biggest limiting factor. It is also very difficult to get good alignment numbers on stock control arms with greater than 2.5" of lift. I would suggest no more than 2.5" of lift with stock Frontier UCA's, 3" with aftermarket Frontier UCA's or stock Titan UCA's, and 4" with aftermarket Titan UCA's. Additional limiting factors down travel, ride quality, and CV angles. If you want to lift your 4x4 higher, you will either need to use a drop bracket kit or combine a body lift with your suspension lift.
These numbers also apply to 2WD trucks that are not running spindle lifts. With a spindle lift, you can go considerably higher.
What size tire can I run with XYZ amount of lift?
Generally, the maximum tire size you can fit without rubbing and without trimming is 265/75/16 (the equivalent of a 32" tire). This is the factory tire size on the Pro-4X and Nismo models, and most brands will fit on a stock truck with no modifications. Many people fit 285/75/16 (about 33") tires on a lifted truck with minor melting or trimming in the front. 35" tires will fit on a drop bracket kit with a moderate amount of trimming, but it is not recommended to run 35" tires on anything except a "street vehicle" without other modifications.
Titan swaps and most aftermarket wheels will increase the potential for rubbing and consequently make it more likely that you will need to trim or do a melt mod.
When I lift my truck, will I need to get new shocks? Longer brake lines? Will I need to get an alignment done?
Front shocks generally do not require replacement. Longer rear shocks are not required for lifts up to 2". Rear shocks should be replaced with longer rear shocks for any suspension lift 2" or higher, particularly for off-road use or when using shackles, AAL's or new leaf packs. Front brake lines require replacement when the lift significantly increases down travel (i.e, Titan swap). Rear brake lines may need to be unclipped at greater than 1.5-2" of lift, or replaced with long lines when the truck is lifted over 3-4". ABS lines may need to be unclipped.
An alignment is always required anytime your suspension is altered! Frontiers built after mid-2005 may require aftermarket adjustable camber bolts in order to align properly, particularly if they are lifted over 2". (Early 2005 Frontiers came with adjustable camber bolts.)
What is coil bucket contact? Is it bad for my truck? How do I prevent it?
Coil bucket contact is when the coil bucket (top plate) of your shock assembly contacts your upper control arm. When this happens, there will be a loud metal-to-metal clanking noise. Coil bucket contact is something to think about when lifting your truck 2" or higher. It is most common with spacer lifts. If coil bucket contact occurs frequently, the coil bucket may scratch or gouge the upper control arm but it generally won't "hurt" the truck. Noise from coil bucket contact can be prevented by the use of bump stops or aftermarket upper control arms.
Which lift kits will work for a 2018?
The frontier suspension has not changed since 2005. Any lift kit for 2005-2017 will also work on a 2018.
Can I stack front suspension lift components to lift my truck higher? What about rear lift components?
It is generally a bad idea to stack front lift suspension components (i.e., spacers plus height adjustable shocks, although some members have had good luck with this when keeping the total lift 2.5" or less). Coil bucket clearance, down travel, ride quality, CV angles and stress to the individual components are all reasons NOT to!
There are some exceptions. 2WD trucks can stack lift spindles with anything else to achieve greater lift. Some Coilover and spacer combinations work fine as well.
The rear is a different story. Stacking blocks and/or shackles and/or AAL's is no problem at all, provided your shocks and brake lines are long enough.
What is suspension travel? Why is it important?
PRG Greg covers this important topic in his Travel Numbers sticky.
How do I install my new lift kit?
There are many great write-ups on this forum that explain how to install various lift setups. If a how-to exists, I have included a blue hyperlink in the subtitle of the component (for example, if you click on the big blue "Add-A-Leafs" subtitle, it will take you to Nomad 13's installation write-up).
Here is another great write-up for installing a front lift: Comprehensive Front Lift Installation Instructions for 2005+ Frontiers
You used an acronym, but I'm new to this stuff and I don't understand what it means!
Check this thread: Acronyms 101
SUSPENSION LIFTS
FRONT
Spacers
Lift amount: 1.5" to 3"
Uses: Street use, light off roading.
Pros: Inexpensive. Fairly easy to install. Ride quality is close to factory.
Cons: Suspension travel is limited with larger spacers. High chance of coil bucket contact with spacers over 2".
Notes: Noise from coil bucket contact can be eliminated with bump stops (cheap) or aftermarket upper control arms (better method but more expensive). Aftermarket UCAs highly recommended for 3" spacers. Some kits come with bump stops. PRG also offers inexpensive 0.5" and 1" spacers which can be added to specific existing lifts.
Cost: $60-$190 (more for kits)
Brands: ADF, Calmini, Daystar, NissTec, PRG, Pro Comp, ReadyLift (kit with bump stops, camber bolts, shackles for rear), Revtek (kit with blocks for rear), Rough Country, Truxxx (kit with bump stops and blocks for rear)
Height Adjustable Shocks
Lift amount: 0.5" to 2"
Uses: Street use, light off roading.
Pros: More balanced suspension travel than with a spacer lift.
Cons: Coil spring compressor required for installation (Bilsteins only). In the past, there were reports of Rancho QuickLift shocks leaking over time.
Notes: Some report that the Bilsteins are very stiff when adjusted at maximum height but most feel the ride quality is improved at a more modest setting. Read this thread before installing your coils onto your Bilsteins!
The Rancho QuickLift shocks have been revamped. They now include new coils and come pre-assembled with a new upper mount. The stiffness is adjustable.
Cost: About $200 for the Bilsteins (shocks only); about $350 for the Ranchos (including shocks, new coils and upper mounts)
Brands: Bilstein, Rancho
Lift Coils
Lift amount: 1.5" to 2"
Uses: Light to moderate off roading. Support for a heavy bumper.
Pros: Better articulation than with spacer lift. Low chance of coil bucket contact.
Cons: Coil spring compressor required for installation. Can be stiff.
Notes: There are medium duty coils for trucks with stock bumpers and heavy duty coils for trucks with aftermarket bumpers and winches. Heavy duty coils will feel stiff on a vehicle with a stock bumper but may add a small amount of additional lift. Old Man Emu Nitrocharger Sport Shocks are recommended for use with Old Man Emu coils.
Cost: About $170
Brands: Old Man Emu
Front Lifts continued on next post...