Magazine artical

[sake]

I just picked up 4 WHEEL DRIVE magazine, and the is a 4 or 5 page artical on a 08 Pathfinder having a Calmini kit installed. They also say part 1, so more to come in an future issue.
-Chris

[mcm4090]

Is it on line?

[sake]

No it's not, I just checked.

[NVSteve]

Are you talking about this horrible thing?

What do they say in the review so far?

[sake]

I can't get on there site, it is taking forever to load. I was on there site a few weeks ago, but I don't rember seeing it there.
As far as the review goes they say "From the start it was clear that the stock Pathfinder wasn't going to be the exceptional off-highway trail rig we had hoped". They do say it has potential.

[sake]

Are you talking about this horrible thing?

What do they say in the review so far?

It's there lift, but not that pathfinder.

[G35TR]

Are you talking about this horrible thing?

What do they say in the review so far?

Looks like the price went up.

[dmasini]

It's on the front page of 4 Wheel Drive's website. Cool to see my exact model (color and all) as the one they used.

http://www.4wdandsportutility.com/featu ... index.html

[NVSteve]

It sure looks nice with the lift & 33's. I really have to question the benefit of having it though:

This picture illustrates how Calmini achieves lift using the OE strut. Notice the blue piece between the top of the strut and the factory coil bucket. It has a similar effect to walking on stilts, and there is no actual increase in wheel travel, just elevation change.

So, using the OEM strut & spring with what amounts to a spacer on top, with no added articulation. I fail to see the upside to this approach. I know I had the OME installed because the OEM was horrible. I certainly wouldn't want to increase space in the wheel wells for larger tires if my suspension wouldn't also be changed.

Calmini's (blue) crossmembers drop the differential down from the factory location. As you might imagine, these lowered mounting points increase leverage on the frame rails. We don't recommend this type of kit for high-speed desert racing. Calmini uses aft-braces that help distribute stress loads back to the factory transmission crossmember.

The biggest reason I've been against this lift from day one. $1600 for the lift ("spacers" would be a better term), and another $2-3k for wheels and tires-all that for the same ride. Am I being too practical minded?

[G35TR]

The biggest reason I've been against this lift from day one. $1600 for the lift ("spacers" would be a better term), and another $2-3k for wheels and tires-all that for the same ride. Am I being too practical minded?

I agree with ya. The more I read about this kit, the less impressed I am.

I think at this point, i'd be more apt to try the Titan comp. swaps.

[Captain]

This picture illustrates how Calmini achieves lift using the OE strut. Notice the blue piece between the top of the strut and the factory coil bucket. It has a similar effect to walking on stilts, and there is no actual increase in wheel travel, just elevation change.

So, using the OEM strut & spring with what amounts to a spacer on top, with no added articulation. I fail to see the upside to this approach. I know I had the OME installed because the OEM was horrible. I certainly wouldn't want to increase space in the wheel wells for larger tires if my suspension wouldn't also be changed.

I had a 6" lift on my IFS s10 ZR2, it does the same by dropping down the suspention. On increasing the wheel travel, the reason they do this is because of the CV shafts angle. When you have to much angle on the cv they will pull out of the housing. I had this problem when rock crawling with the saybar disconected. You also start to get cv bearing grease sparying out of the boots.
CV's only have a 30deg range were a u joint has up to 50deg before binding with a slip yoke installed. Most IFS have a max of 6'' of travel.

[NVSteve]

I had a 6" lift on my IFS s10 ZR2, it does the same by dropping down the suspention. On increasing the wheel travel, the reason they do this is because of the CV shafts angle. When you have to much angle on the cv they will pull out of the housing. I had this problem when rock crawling with the saybar disconected. You also start to get cv bearing grease sparying out of the boots.

I wasn't questioning why they offer a drop down lift, but why anyone would want it since it doesn't change the ride at all. Anyone who has been in the R51 will know that the suspension needs help, first and foremost. I've done a number of lifts in the past, although never anything as extreme as 6", but those have always been with solid axle vehicles, which always meant new shocks and springs for an improved ride. The Calmini just seems incomplete, half-assed or just a "bling" lift.