Fitting 33's to a Terrano

[Dirtydog]

Heya guys havent been on here in ages, been busy with work and other stuff, but now im settled earning enough money to be able to start working on my truck again.

i am starting this project with this:

i found a great bargain at one of the local wreckers, they have a set of 3 GT radial Mudstars, which i have picked up two off for only $80 each. so now i own 2 33x12.5x15 mudstars that i got for $160

i have sorted out another two hankook 33's for the front, and i am getting rims soon for 100 each, so 400 later.

as i see it, i will have to do a little work to be able to fit them on it, well, without any major problems.

so i have been pricing up different things, like rims and a bodylift, and so far i have found its going to cost 800 for these tyres and body lift. i think thats pretty good for someone that earns 400 a week.

but anyway, im going to pick up a spare 33, probably the other one at the wreckers.

so all of this is starting tommorow, probably getting the bodylift tommorow, so we shall see how it goes from there.

[albundy]

Buy plenty of CV's as you are going to break them with 33's. You will also need to brace the idler arm. If they are 33x12.5 you will have to fit wheel spacers, I only managed to fit 33x10.5.
You will need at least a 2" body lift and suspension lift. You will also need to cut front and rear guards to do this. I know as I went through all of this the hard way.
Al

[marmel]

You want to seriously think about fitting 33's to your Terrano without some heavy duty modifications to the front end.

It may look the bee's knee's but if it is contantly parked in the driveway because you can't afford to replace the cv's again and again would it be worth it?

I'm not trying to put you off but putting big tyres on the front of IFS trucks can be more trouble than it's worth.

In my opinion you would be better off running a set of 31's and getting a decent set of chains.

The other option is to fit a heavy duty steering upgrade like this one from Calmini:

http://www.purenissan.com/wd21_steering.htm

But at $630US plus postage you wouldn't have much change out of $1500NZ by the time you got it on your truck.

[Dirtydog]

hmmmm, well i might rethink this then.

i can still sell these tyres for a bit more with rims, specially since they are good tires, infact im starting to wonder if they are closer to new than used.

well im still gunna do a body lift, as it would make it easier for mods down the road.

i sat the tyres up against the truck and it looked like they would fit on it standard, with a bit of gaurd rub when flexing but i would imagine there would be a little bit of rubbing when you turned the wheel aswell.i was going to get offset rims, probably close to deepdish ones.

[marmel]

Also keep in mind that if you do a bodylift you may have to get a low level cert, costs around $350.

It seems to differ from place to place, some WOF garages pick it up, some don't.

If you get pulled over by a cop that is aware of what body lifts are you may get pink stickered. Depending on how you do it and if you put some covers in under the guards but some bodylift's stick out like dogs balls.

[JONO250]

yeah mate dont do this, i learnt the hard way a while back. cv breakage is a major issue, and you have bugger all suspension travel once you have the torsions are wound up. if your dead set on running 33's, look into doing a solid axle conversion, quite common in the usa.

[mazdamike]

i have 33,s and no body lift just bigger springs and wound torsions cant remamber offset but wheels came off 80 searies cruser. I just trimmed the gaurds on front havent had a cv prob as yet havent been off road but dont have rub with frexing(had a really steep driveway and flexed up on that) have some pics if anyone wants

[marmel]

havent had a cv prob as yet havent been off road

Wait till you do a decent track. There will be much more force and stress on everything.

Might help to post a pic though it might help the op to see where he might need to trim and get an idea of how far out your tyres are sitting.

[mazdamike]

they sit about 60-75mm out the gaurds so rathe large offset will get some pics up soon it only really a tow wagon

[marmel]

So to get it legal you would have to run flares?

[rangimotors]

have you measured them? they look a bit low on tread more like a bigger 31

[kiwipete]

Well I have 33's on my Terrano. It has a 2 inch body lift and 2.5 inch suspension lift.
I have a strengthened idler arm brace, and soon will add two extra supports for the pitman and idler arms. (see last pictures)

Here she is sitting on the 33's with the rear of the front guards trimmed back as far possible.



I have a tiny amount of rubbing when at near full lock. There are some 3 inch rubber flares waiting to be fitted as well.



The rims are 15x8 at -19 offset.





There is only 3mm clearance here. I will have to get the rear guards trimmed back.


The slider plate looks like this, one on each side.





I say go for it if its what YOU want, just listen to all the advice and be aware that you will be stressing your front steering components more than you would with 31 inch tyres. I believe it all depends how much jandal you use when driving.

I have not had my truck in any serious off roading since the new tyres were fitted, just a training day at the Ashley and there it handled very well IMHO.

[Fakey]

Kiwi pete.. you might find that out on the trail, with 3mm clearance youll get quite bad guard rub. My 40 has about 10mm with my 33s when I lift it with a forklift but when articulating properly in big ruts it just rubs ( who cares its a 40 ) will have to cut the guards more or remove flares

My work mate has v6 terrano, no lift an on 265/75/16 hancook dynapros (I measured them at half tread an they are nearly 32") it never goes anywhere other than work an back ,but they rubbed on the front bumper so he trimmed it they look like theyd rub at the back with a bit of flex too

just my 2c

[downunderxj]

The other option is to fit a heavy duty steering upgrade like this one from Calmini:

http://www.purenissan.com/wd21_steering.htm

But at $630US plus postage you wouldn't have much change out of $1500NZ by the time you got it on your truck.

Have you tried www.ishopusa.com to calculate shipping, I just tried it out for the steering kit and it put shipping at $US189, giving a total of $NZ1165.

Still a lot, but a bit better than $1500

[kiwipete]

Kiwi pete.. you might find that out on the trail, with 3mm clearance youll get quite bad guard rub. My 40 has about 10mm with my 33s when I lift it with a forklift but when articulating properly in big ruts it just rubs ( who cares its a 40 ) will have to cut the guards more or remove flares

My work mate has v6 terrano, no lift an on 265/75/16 hancook dynapros (I measured them at half tread an they are nearly 32") it never goes anywhere other than work an back ,but they rubbed on the front bumper so he trimmed it they look like theyd rub at the back with a bit of flex too

just my 2c

Which is exactly why I stated in my post that I need to trim the guards!

[kiwipete]

The other option is to fit a heavy duty steering upgrade like this one from Calmini:

http://www.purenissan.com/wd21_steering.htm

But at $630US plus postage you wouldn't have much change out of $1500NZ by the time you got it on your truck.

Have you tried http://www.ishopusa.com to calculate shipping, I just tried it out for the steering kit and it put shipping at $US189, giving a total of $NZ1165.

Still a lot, but a bit better than $1500

That kit will not pass certification here in NZ without extra testing done. This is what I looked at and took all the details to my certifier and he said it'd need xraying and some other crack testing first.

[marmel]

The other option is to fit a heavy duty steering upgrade like this one from Calmini:

http://www.purenissan.com/wd21_steering.htm

But at $630US plus postage you wouldn't have much change out of $1500NZ by the time you got it on your truck.

Have you tried http://www.ishopusa.com to calculate shipping, I just tried it out for the steering kit and it put shipping at $US189, giving a total of $NZ1165.

Still a lot, but a bit better than $1500

Don't forget to add GST onto that, brings it up to $1310. Then take into account any costs involved in fitting if you don't have the knowledge or gear to do it yourself, could easily go past $1500.

[juz]

That kit will not pass certification here in NZ without extra testing done. This is what I looked at and took all the details to my certifier and he said it'd need xraying and some other crack testing first.

This was brought up when I discussed bringing a Calmini kit for my Navara, People have already brought these kits into NZ, fitted them and got Wofs, No different to the Drop boxes or rear arms in my Safari a guy in Chch welded up,they dont ask for xrays or even proof the guys a ticketed welder.

my 2c

[darinz]

That kit will not pass certification here in NZ without extra testing done. This is what I looked at and took all the details to my certifier and he said it'd need xraying and some other crack testing first.

This was brought up when I discussed bringing a Calmini kit for my Navara, People have already brought these kits into NZ, fitted them and got Wofs, No different to the Drop boxes or rear arms in my Safari a guy in Chch welded up,they dont ask for xrays or even proof the guys a ticketed welder.

my 2c

The LVVTA rules around steering parts are tougher than those for suspension components. It would be hard work getting welded steering components through!

[Dirtydog]

i might look at selling these cause i dont have that much money, and i didn't relise just how much stress would go onto the truck, although i dont do any major 4x4ing id rather fit something on it that i wouldnt have to add any upgrades to use, so i might sell these and use the money for something else.

or i could put them on it, and save up for another 4x4, and mainly use this one for driving, (like i do anyway, with a little bit of fun in mud etc)

i have never gone to big depths of 4x4, just mucking around i guess, but i havent had a chance to do anything proper yet either.

[marmel]

Have a think about what type of 4wd trips you want to do.

If you want to do easier type trips or trips where others can recover you if you get stuck then your terrano will do just fine, as I said before a set of 31" mud terrains and a set of chains will get you most places.

If you are thinking of getting a bit more serious then perhaps saving for a different vehicle like you suggested might be the way to go. You should be able to pick up a SWB Safari for a reasonable price.

I just got a LWB Safari in reasonable nick from Winton for $3500 so there are some cheap vehicles down our way.

[haynzy]

[/quote]

The LVVTA rules around steering parts are tougher than those for suspension components. It would be hard work getting welded steering components through![/quote]
like not at all, no welding of suspension components is the wording in the little black book

[kiwipete]

i might look at selling these cause i dont have that much money, and i didn't relise just how much stress would go onto the truck, although i dont do any major 4x4ing id rather fit something on it that i wouldnt have to add any upgrades to use, so i might sell these and use the money for something else.

or i could put them on it, and save up for another 4x4, and mainly use this one for driving, (like i do anyway, with a little bit of fun in mud etc)

i have never gone to big depths of 4x4, just mucking around i guess, but i havent had a chance to do anything proper yet either.

You don't have to do all the modifications at once, just do what you can when you can. If you are not planning on pushing it when off road you will be fine.

[Dirtydog]

ohk well i really cant see me taking this seriously off road, id rather get a proper truck for it.

this is so far just my drive around car, so maybe i will fit the 33s to it, after a body lift. the torsions were wound up about 50 mm, so is it possible to fit them with just a body lift?

i dont understand about why a spring lift is needed as it seems like its just giving clearance for the tyres.

[kiwipete]

ohk well i really cant see me taking this seriously off road, id rather get a proper truck for it.

this is so far just my drive around car, so maybe i will fit the 33s to it, after a body lift. the torsions were wound up about 50 mm, so is it possible to fit them with just a body lift?

i dont understand about why a spring lift is needed as it seems like its just giving clearance for the tyres.

As I said in my post with the pictures, I did a 2 inch body lift and 2.5 inch suspension lift. A 3 inch body lift would be better, but you may still need to trim the guards. You wont really know till you do the lift and fit the tyres.
The spring lift is at the back and raises the rear to match the ride height of the front.

Just to ad to this, I have just ordered a steering dampener bracket for the chassis from Chocram Nissan ($45 ex Japan) and the steering dampener is $80 from my local suspension shop.

[darinz]

The LVVTA rules around steering parts are tougher than those for suspension components. It would be hard work getting welded steering components through![/quote]
like not at all, no welding of suspension components is the wording in the little black book[/quote]

The discussions I've had with my certifier are quite clear. Suspension components eg trail arms etc can be welded but must be TIG and may need to be x-rayed.
Steering is very simple, no welding of aftermarket parts even though factory weld some!

The truck I'm building at present will have the coil overs mounted onto the rear lower trailing arms so they will be load bearing. He has no problem with this as long as we TIG weld them and except they will most likely need to be X-rayed.

To take that a step further, every aftermarket trailing arm for a Safari or Cruiser is welded but they aren't load bearing so don't have the same scrutiny.

I was looking at a long travel IFS setup and thought it would be easier to buy one from the US but was told that it would still need to be X-rayed in NZ.

If you are talking LTSA WOF rules then you are completely right.

[phraza]

just bought set of 30" wrangler MTRs for my terrano... seem small to what everyone is planning haha

Havnt tested them hard off-road yet, but am planning on giving them hell in woodhill in easter

[Dirtydog]

sounds like a bit of fun, i wuldnt be putting 33's on it if i hadnt got them cheap.

just waiting for my pay to come in tommorow so i can get my bodylift, and some tools.

[kiwipete]

sounds like a bit of fun, i wuldnt be putting 33's on it if i hadnt got them cheap.

just waiting for my pay to come in tommorow so i can get my bodylift, and some tools.

Just sing out if you need any info/suggestions/help etc etc

[Dirtydog]

what is accually required for a 50mm body lift?

i know power steering hoses need to be lengthened, but aparently the radiator has to be shifted?