Second Generation Nissan Xterra Forums banner
41 - 57 of 57 Posts
Any impressions from those who have installed the Konis? Just saw ADO's new video comparing them to the 1500s and the statement they make about Konis offering a softer feeling on potholes has me interested.
Haven't received mine yet due to backorders and stock on arms and spacers, but Chad said should ship this week and be to me by next week, plan on putting them on by next weekend and can update you further then.
 
Discussion starter · #42 ·
Haven't received mine yet due to backorders and stock on arms and spacers, but Chad said should ship this week and be to me by next week, plan on putting them on by next weekend and can update you further then.
Nice ! and goodluck !
 
I wonder if they will eventually offer a 6" lift model. There will be a generation running the 5/6" lift with extended OEM's (stilts) or Rads, that may eventually want replacement. Plus Rough Country is, I believe, now offering a 6" kit.
Are you talking about a tall titan swap, or a drop bracket lift?
Rough Country is drop bracket, which uses a standard size strut (with the huge (6in tall?) strut extension). The kit doesn't even come with a new strut... you just put a huge spacer on your stock strut. That means the current All Dogs stuff will work with it.

See page 11 in the link...
 
Are you talking about a tall titan swap, or a drop bracket lift?
Rough Country is drop bracket, which uses a standard size strut (with the huge (6in tall?) strut extension). The kit doesn't even come with a new strut... you just put a huge spacer on your stock strut.

See page 11 in the link...
Diff drop. I have the Fabtech Fronty 6" drop kit on my X. It also used the "stilts" to extend the OEM COS. PRG offered this kit in the early days with the rear end components to put it on an X. I now have Rads and Eibachs. Also, Calmini had a 5" DD kit for years, I believe it was the first on the market.
 
I was very excited to receive my koni kit. I installed the setup this weekend, and was extremely disappointed.
I’ve been on aftermarket “off-roadish” suspension on every prior 4x4 and this is the roughest riding vehicle I’ve ever owned. I’ve had ome nitrochargers, bilstein 5100s, bilstein 6112/5160s, and ranchos. I lowered the tire pressure to 31psi all around with no improvement. I’m am going to set all 4 shocks to the softest setting and see if that helps any. I’ll report back hoping it improves.
 
I was very excited to receive my koni kit. I installed the setup this weekend, and was extremely disappointed.
I’ve been on aftermarket “off-roadish” suspension on every prior 4x4 and this is the roughest riding vehicle I’ve ever owned. I’ve had ome nitrochargers, bilstein 5100s, bilstein 6112/5160s, and ranchos. I lowered the tire pressure to 31psi all around with no improvement. I’m am going to set all 4 shocks to the softest setting and see if that helps any. I’ll report back hoping it improves.
This is disappointing to hear. I was hoping they would be better than the bilstein 5100s as I feel those are pretty rough.
 
This is disappointing to hear. I was hoping they would be better than the bilstein 5100s as I feel those are pretty rough.
I adjusted to rears shocks last night only to find they are in the softest setting already. I thought that maybe rear shocks adjusted opposite the front, so i gave them 1-1/2 turns to what the instructions say should be firmer (could be softer?) and its just as bad. I hit a road seam at 40mph that i didn't notice driving to my friends garage prior to install. driving over it post install, it sent my soft bags of wrenches and impact sockets airborne.
I will email alldogs for some input to see if i am missing anything.
 
I adjusted to rears shocks last night only to find they are in the softest setting already. I thought that maybe rear shocks adjusted opposite the front, so i gave them 1-1/2 turns to what the instructions say should be firmer (could be softer?) and its just as bad. I hit a road seam at 40mph that i didn't notice driving to my friends garage prior to install. driving over it post install, it sent my soft bags of wrenches and impact sockets airborne.
I will email alldogs for some input to see if i am missing anything.
To me that sounds like more of a spring issue than a shock issue. Did you replace the leafs with HD ones too?
 
no, progressive 3 leaf AAL with overload removed.
Yeah a 3 leaf AAL is likely overkill IMO. Sounds like you basically made your own HD pack since most only add 1 or 2 leafs. I’d see if the ride improves when loaded with weight in the back. I’m betting it will.
 
Yeah a 3 leaf AAL is likely overkill IMO. Sounds like you basically made your own HD pack since most only add 1 or 2 leaves. I’d see if the ride improves when loaded with weight in the back. I’m betting it will.
for clarification, the 3 leaf, replace two factory leaves as well as removing the factory overload leaf. I'll try throwing some sand bags in seeing if it smooths out.
 
i think the rear leaf pack is fubar. i loaded it with about 300# of cargo and rear end bottoms out completely. i firmed up the rear shocks more and that helped. looks like time for a new leaf pack.
 
i will post an update to this.
Upfront, I installed the koni 82 shocks with ADO medium coils (assembled from them), new moog lower control arms, professional alignment.
In the back, i installed the koni 82 shocks, ADO broverland leaf pack, axle shim kit, rear sway bar delete, PRG u-bolt flip/skid kit.

Overall, i am unhappy with the on-road ride characteristics. I won't sugarcoat it by calling it firm, it is very harsh riding, i have tried playing with the rear shock adjustment to no avail. I've tried running the tires as low as 29psi as well.
For someone who daily drives their xterra a lot of miles, I wish I would have kept the stock bilstein 4600s. The off-road characteristics and handling are good but again, on-road is downright uncomfortable on any broken pavement. I carpool and alternate weeks of driving and my co-worker noted "I thought you did work on the suspension. This seems worse."

I generally don't like to leave negative feedback, but i've learned genuine feedback is important. If you drive your xterra on-road a lot and in a region with harsh winters, poor pavement, pot-holes, etc I wouldn't recommend this kit. And again, i have a lot of experience with lifting IFS off road vehicles, upgrading to LT tires, and this is by far the worst riding vehicle i've built up.
 
i will post an update to this.
Upfront, I installed the koni 82 shocks with ADO medium coils (assembled from them), new moog lower control arms, professional alignment.
In the back, i installed the koni 82 shocks, ADO broverland leaf pack, axle shim kit, rear sway bar delete, PRG u-bolt flip/skid kit.

Overall, i am unhappy with the on-road ride characteristics. I won't sugarcoat it by calling it firm, it is very harsh riding, i have tried playing with the rear shock adjustment to no avail. I've tried running the tires as low as 29psi as well.
For someone who daily drives their xterra a lot of miles, I wish I would have kept the stock bilstein 4600s. The off-road characteristics and handling are good but again, on-road is downright uncomfortable on any broken pavement. I carpool and alternate weeks of driving and my co-worker noted "I thought you did work on the suspension. This seems worse."

I generally don't like to leave negative feedback, but i've learned genuine feedback is important. If you drive your xterra on-road a lot and in a region with harsh winters, poor pavement, pot-holes, etc I wouldn't recommend this kit. And again, i have a lot of experience with lifting IFS off road vehicles, upgrading to LT tires, and this is by far the worst riding vehicle i've built up.
I will complete a followup review on this.
After some extensive trial and error, the rough/uncomfortable ride is primarily the leaf pack. I noticed with the 2"/+400lb broverland pack, you either get 2" lift OR +400lb capacity. At 400lbs of cargo the ride smooths out to an acceptable level. I added some PRG shackles for force additional leverage and it softened the rear end to not be back-breaking. At 2" the shackle softened the rear considerably. I settled on the 1.5" setting. Even Alcan has recommended going small lift on the leafs and stacking a shackle with it.
Also, from waaay back, i following the directions from the 4x4parts.com 3 leaf AAL during the install. The leaf pack completely collapsed as the directions instructed to remove one main leaf that should have stayed (in hindsight i believe these were poorly copy and pasted instructions from a general install that was modified). It also seemed to wanted the AAL installed so the final pack wasn't orientated longest to shortest leaf (minus the overload).

Long story short, select you rear setup carefully.
 
41 - 57 of 57 Posts