custom truck mods

Bilstein gas shocks (20% stiffer, fronts & extra-length rears)

Front shock as seen from rear	Rear shock as seen from front
Close-up of rear shock	Rear shock peeking through

why new shocks?

The stock Xterra shocks notoriously... Suck. They have a very short lifespan and do very little really, in improving the ride. They're basically cheap stock parts. If you install any kind of lift components in the rear of the truck, you'll need extended rear shocks anyway. I've heard of these stock shocks failing as early as 10-12k miles.

As a bonus, if you happen to have a Solar Yellow Xterra, well, these puppies match nicely...

how do they ride?

"Like buttah, baby." :)

These shocks, while stiffer than stock - are not overbearingly stiff and IMO complement the Xterra very nicely. They handle very well both on-road and off and improve the handling immensely. While a little expensive (about $65/each) I think they're worth it. When combined with the steering stabilizer you'll have a nice, tight feeling suspension that handles very well. If you're looking for softer options, they also come in stock and 10% stiffer versions. SLR has a good selection of Bilstein shocks with varying characteristics to suit your application.

installation trick

Since these are pressure charged gas shocks, you might find that compressing them for installation can be a real bitch. When they're new, they come with a nylon band around them in a fully compressed state. Install one end of the shock first, and then quickly cut the band and as the shock extends itself, install the other end when the length is appropriate.

The real trick is when you next do any suspension mods to the truck or if you need to remove the shocks for any reason... Installing them again without that nylon strap. The solution is pretty simple, though - simply compress the shock fully and wrap duct tape around completely with a bit of overlap at the ends to hold it that way. Install as above!

caveat for off-roading

If you wheel with your rear sway bar attached, you risk denting your shock tube on the right rear side (reference location in this picture above) by the swaybar. The simple fix is to remove or disconnect your sway bar before hitting the trails. To make life easier, there are rear sway bar quick disconnects available from Calmini and Automotive Customizers - or you can fashion your own.