2" Lift Bilstein 5100 in front & OME rear springs

[pawjr74]

I finally started my 2" lift project tonight. I started in the rear by installing
Old Man Emu medium 1" lift springs Part # OME609 & Old Man Emu Nitrocharger shocks Part # OMEN184.

I ended up with 2 1/2 inches of lift in the rear end. We'll have to see how much it will settle.

I'll do the Bilstein 5100 Adjustable front struts Part # BE5-E653-HO
(can adjust from stock height to +2" lift) in the morning.

I took it for a short test drive with just the rear end done (gangsta syle) and I can already feel an improvement. The ride in the rear is not harsh at all.

Here are some pictures of the rear end.

Support the spring pearch and remove the bolt at the knucle.



Remove old spring.



Install new spring and jack into place. Re-install bolt into knuckle. (You can see the clean spot on the frame where the old suspension would always bottom out!)



Rear wheel after new springs installed. 2 1/2 inches of lift at this point.



Old spring next to new OME spring.

[xd9-g19]

Very nice, let us know what the lift is after it settles down.

[Cooper993]

How do you know that the Bilsteins and the OME shocks are valved the same? Shocks and springs not only have to be designed to work together but they need to be designed to work front to rear.

Otherwise, you could get some unexpected handling characteristics

[pawjr74]

My original plan was to go with the Bilsteins all the way around. After doing all my research I decided to match up the rear OME springs with the OME shock as OME claims they are both designed to work together. Bilstein claims that it is valved per vehicle application which would lead me to believe that it is valved for our soft rear springs. I liked that the Bilstein uses the factory front spring as I didn't want to stiffen the front end up too much so I stuck with them up front.

Anyway that was my logic. It can't be any worse than the Factory set up.
(Also I've had the OME rear shocks installed for about a month already now and there's been no problems between them and the original Nissan front struts.)

I took the front coilovers out tonight also. I'm going to change them over in the morning.

Unbolt coilover assy. I unbolted the sway bar links and rolled the sway bar down.



Coilover is out.



Factory shock and Bilstein side by side.

[Triprock]

Hey pawjr74 nice write up with pictures, I just joined and I'm researching because I want to lift the rear on my sagging 2007. Do you have side truck pictures with just your rear lifted?

[block007]

Looks good. I lifted mine with front spacers for the forntier and rear spacers for the armada. The ride has not changed much, but i wish i would have went the route you went with the rear springs. The factory springs are soft!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!> Looks good. I will post pics of mine as soon as i get the rock silders done and the 285,s on.

[pawjr74]

I wrapped up the rear at night and couldn't get a good side angle shot of the vehicle. It had a bit of rake, kind of like the first generation Xterra's have. I think you definitely need to lift the front end as well.

[Triprock]

So all you did was remove the bolt at the knucle and the spring came out easy? No spring compressors needed?

[pawjr74]

Yes. You obviously want to support the spring pearch when you pull the bolt out of the knuckle but once you lower the jack the spring falls out. It takes minimal effort to get the new spring in. I did not need a spring compressor for the rear.

[pawjr74]

Finished up my project this morning.

Here are my before and after measurements. (I measured from the ground to the bottom of the fender in the center of the wheels)

Before:
LT/FT 33 5/8"
RT/FT 33 5/8"
LT/RR 34 1/4"
RT/RR 34 1/4"

After:
LT/FT 36"
RT/FT 36"
LT/RR 36 3/4"
RT/RR 36 3/4"

And some final pictures.


Compress spring and unbolt assy.



Re-assemble with new strut.



Re-install coilover into vehicle.



I easily pushed the old strut in by hand and it never came back out.



Done, now off to alignment shop.

[Triprock]

Yes I saw your pictures and knew to support the spring pearch, thanks for all your advice.

[pawjr74]

I was looking for this kind of help before I started and a lot of the photos in some of the older links are gone. Figured I'd update it.

[pawjr74]

@ xd9-g19

Did your lift settle at all?

[xd9-g19]

@ xd9-g19

Did your lift settle at all?

Well when I did my measurements they were on my stock tires:
LF-36
LR-36 1/2
RR-36 1/2
RF-36 1/4
but my current measurements with the new tires are as follow:
LF-36 3/4
LR-36 7/8
RR-37
RF-36 3/4

Just remember my stock tires to my new tires are only a difference of 1in.

With that being said, it did settle.

[hmatiak]

How did your alignment work out? I have seen that has been a issue with the OME lifts.