You must have a 2-wheel drive. The nissan 4-wheel drive already has the leaf springs on top of the axle. I don't know how much lift this would give you if you put a 4-wheel drive axle in a 2-wheel drive.
Lance

 

I did the opposite sort of. I have 2WD springs on my 4WD axle. I gained about 4 inches or so over stock. The effect would be even greater on the 2WD since you are also going above the axle instead of just mounting a different spring. I will get a write up for NOR and my own site (long overdue) on this as soon as I work out some issues (minor really). This will finally be done this Saturday, so I should have the write up sometime next week assuming that all goes well.

Rockjaw
89 Nissan KingCab 4x4
http://home.earthlink.net/~rockjaw/

 

I don't now how long the Nissan springs are, but you can also look into Mazda 2WD or Ranger 2WD springs. Allot of Toyota's use these because they're longer and thinner than the 4WD springs and will give allot more flex. The only modification necessary would be to extend your shackle mounts a bit. Pretty easy set-up actually, I have a few sites on file if anyone is interested?

Chris J.
/wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gifIt's not the Biggest, but at least I use it!/wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gif

 

that would be cool if you hook me up with the sites but i just was wondering if i could get any more ride heigth if i put my leaves springs on top of the axle instead of the bottom. Also would i need any special parts or could i just unbolt the existing bolts and flip the mounts on top instead of on bottom.
Kevin

 

Yep, it's what all the Samurai's do, they can do the shackle reversal, but it doesn't compare to a spring-over set-up. Most of the kit's which are usually a custom kit will ad 5 1/2 to 6", but then you also have to start looking at the steering geometry.

I'll dig-up those site's for ya!

Chris J.
/wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gifIt's not the Biggest, but at least I use it!/wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gif

 

so your saying i couldnt just unbolt the leavesprings and the ubolt holding the springs to the axle and put them on top. Will i have to do some other mods. And what type of steering geometry would i have to worry about? just wondering.
Kevin

 

Here are a couple site's for ya! The steering geometry all depends on the ride height you go with. Basically you'll need drop-pitman arms, extended drag-links etc, etc, otherwise you'll be a moving carnival ride. I'll see if I can dig-up some info on the steering set-up. In the mean time these should tie you over for a while?

http://www.pirate4x4.com/index2.html Go to Tech Dept.
(Mazda Spring, U-bolt Flip, and 3/4 eliptic)

http://www.netzone.com/~jayk/rear_susp.htm
http://www.netzone.com/~jayk/mazda.htm
http://www.off-road.com/toyota/sprg.html
http://www.off-road.com/toyota/upgrade.html
http://www.tennessee4x4.com/toyota/custom.htm
http://www.geocities.com/~krawler/truck/tech/buggy.html
http://www.off-road.com/toyota/features/troy/
http://www.off-road.com/toyota/features/oct99/index.html

Chris J.
/wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gifIt's not the Biggest, but at least I use it!/wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gif

 

What's usually included in a spring over set-up:

Longer Axle Pads - reduce leaf spring wrap and deliver more power to the ground.
Steering Components - custom steering linkage reduces bump steering by using straight links and stock Pitman Arm, preventing contact with suspension.
Relocated Shock Mounts - longer shocks improve wheel travel (shocks not included).
Traction Bar - with larger tires and possibly a gear change, some trucks will experience axle wrap (wheel hop), which damages drive shafts and universal joints, plus wears out springs. The traction bar we supply will eliminate this problem and get the power to the ground where you want it.
Heavy Duty Spring-to-Axle U-Bolts - to reduce the chances of breakage and are made to fit the housing properly.
Alloy Drive Shaft Spacers - normally when a lift kit is installed, the frame is lifted away from the axles and a longer drive shaft is required. With these spacers, the stock drive shaft can be used. These spacers are lighter than steel and do not cause pinion bearing problems.

The performance benefits:

Better ground to frame clearance. utilizing stock springs gives you a softer ride and no broken springs (as it has been found with other types of lift kits). by using the Spring-Over lift, it has been shown that your king pins and wheel bearings last longer.

Chris J.
/wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gifIt's not the Biggest, but at least I use it!/wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gif

 

I assume that you are talking about a 2wd rig as they are the only ones with spring under.

well, if you were to unbolt the springs, and move the on top there would be a few problems, the first and most cumbersome is the fact that the axle's spring perches are on the bottom of your axle instead of on the top, so there is nowhere to put the springs. the second thing is personal, but the ass of your truck will now be 6-7 inches higher than it's supposed to be, this presents an "interesting angle'. you then need a minimum of 5 inches of front lift to compensate and make the truck look halfway reasonable, and aside from a self-fabricated lift, I can't hink of anything close, especially for a 2wd rig.
The geometery thig chris may be talking about is that when you increase the angle from front to rear that moves the contact patch of your truck's front tires forward, which puts stresses on the suspension, and in particular the steering that were never intended, and this will kill the steering on your truck in short order.

Of course there is also the new brake lines needed, the longer driveshaft, and about 50 other things that I can't think of.

Tim
tim@datalimbo.com
http:// Far East 4x4

 

Kevin was talking about his [truck's] rear axle ONLY, I assume. In that case doing SOA [Spring_Over_Axle] conversion is fairly straight forward - yes, you will end up with a bit of a funny angle if you leave the front stock height.
I've never looked in detail at the "leafed" Nissan axles - the spring saddles may need to be re-welded to the new position. Check the brake lines and the breather too. Oh yeah, and DO NOT re-use your U-bolts....buy a new set. Always.

-marker (yeah, the nasty one) /wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif

 

thanks for all the info guys are never realized that it would lift it 6-7 inches, I thought only 1 or 2(the heigth of the axle) but thanks for your help. But i only need a max of 2 inches of lift in the back, cause im going for the prerunner style to run in the dunes. I do have a 7" custom lift in the fron but i dont really want to have it level. thanks for all your help.
Kevin