1984 Nissan 720 Sunrader - Rear Suspension / Lift / Air

[bluexl]

I have a 1984 Nissan Sunrader. It is a 1984 720 Chasis with a dually rear setup.

 

The front sits about 1.5 to 2 inches higher than the rear and I wanted to level them up. I already had the rear leaf springs redone which is why the rear is close to the front which has a torsion bar lift kit, but it's not quite there. It is currently set up with bilstein shocks which will extend significntlly as the desire lift is accomplished.

 

My questions are as follows starting with Photo 4.

 

Photo 1 Photo 2 and Photo 3 are of the Sunrader.

Photo 1:

Photo 2:

Photo 3:

 

 

Photos 4, 5 & 6 are of the underneath suspension. I just installed some Billstein shocks which extend up to 20", so I will have some room to add 2 inches of lift. I have an "air lift kit that matches the kit in pic 7, which is another 1984 Nissan 720 RV. But I do not see the sway bar on that install. QUESTION: Is it possible that they did away with the sway bar and if so what woud the disadvantage of that be?

 

Photo 4.

Photo 5:

Photo 6:

 

 

Photo 7, Air Lift setup on another Nissan RV based on the 720. The undercarriage and dually setup is the same as the Sunrader. (No Sway Bar?)

 

Photo 7:

(I don't have a better resolution image)

 

 

Shackle Lift

 

QUESTION: I saw that @datzenmike said the Shackle lift distorts the leaf spring. I wondered if all 720s have the same set up with the axle above the leaf spring. The shackle lift seems to just be a longer version of the setup on the Sunrader now ( See Photo 8 ), so does that same thinking apply to the Sunrader set up or is that sepcific to the 720 Truck? It seems like it would add the 2 inch height I am lookibg for, at least in theory.

 

Photo 8: Shackle Lift

 

 

Air Lift Kit

Photo 9 is of the Air LIft kit that I want to install pending the toughts on the sway bar.

 

Photo 9:

 

 

So those are my questions for now. I have not been able to find too much if anything specific to the Datsun/Nissan Version of the Sunrader (lots more info out there for the Toyota version). I am really looking forward to everyone's thoughts.

 

Summary:

QUESTION 1: Do we remove the sway bar altogether to install the Air Lift suspension?

QUESTION 2: Why wouldn't the shacke lift work in this scenarion, if it is just a longer version of the existing setup?

 

Any help or guidance would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks!

 

bluexl.

 

 

 

 

 

[datzenmike]

 

The sway bar is right there running over top of the axle and differential and going behind the blue dust cover on the shock.

 

All 2wd have the axle above the leaf springs. The 4x4 have the springs on top of the axle for extra ground clearance.

 

If the axle were right at the shackle then a 2" lift would produce a 2" body lift but it is about 1/2 way, probably even less, between the front hinge point and the shackle so you would get about 1". You would need a 4" shackle and that makes the end of the leaf spring kind of poorly supported and easily leveraged side to side. I hate shackles.

[bluexl]

25 minutes ago, datzenmike said:

 

The sway bar is right there running over top of the axle and differential and going behind the blue dust cover on the shock.

 

All 2wd have the axle above the leaf springs. The 4x4 have the springs on top of the axle for extra ground clearance.

 

If the axle were right at the shackle then a 2" lift would produce a 2" body lift but it is about 1/2 way, probably even less, between the front hinge point and the shackle so you would get about 1". You would need a 4" shackle and that makes the end of the leaf spring kind of poorly supported and easily leveraged side to side. I hate shackles.

 

Thanks for the response @datzenmike. The picture you are referencing is my rig. 

 

Photo 7 (see nbelow) is the one that has the Air Lift system, and that is the one that I said I could not see the sway bar on.

 

You can see the Air bags, but no sway bar. Do I find a sway bar that manueveres around the Air LIft setup, or was there a reason that it is left off (it seems) when the air lift setup is installed.

 

Thanks.

 

 

 

 

 

[datzenmike]

Ahhh...

 

If the sway bar is strapped around the axles to mount, probably after market. Most likely installed by Sunraider during the conversion.

 

What about air shocks? Or helper coil springs around the shocks? Then there would be room for a sway bar later.

[bluexl]

3 hours ago, datzenmike said:

Ahhh...

 

If the sway bar is strapped around the axles to mount, probably after market. Most likely installed by Sunraider during the conversion.

 

What about air shocks? Or helper coil springs around the shocks? Then there would be room for a sway bar later.

 

 

So, our RV friends sent us a video of their sway bar (see below) which mounts on the bottom of their axle instead of on top. They are looking to see if they can find a part number or link, but I thought I would post the images to see if anyone has an idea of what this sway bar is, and where we can find one.

 

 

 

 

Note that this version has a long rod to allows the lower mounting along the bottom of the axle.

 

 

Thoughts?

 

 

Thanks!

Edited November 11, 2024 by bluexl

[Ooph!]

You posted what I was typing with the relocated bar, make your own extensions, you could use all thread rod for the initial setup to find the correct length.

Usually bags are used to return the vehicle to its standard height if you've added weight not to lift.

Using the bags it will be pushing against the spring instead of assisting it, you might try lifting it from the frame to see if you get the needed amount of drop or travel and a little extra for potholes etc. the wheel needs to drop down as well as move up. I think you may need to flip the housing under the spring or build front and rear spring mounts.

Instead of longer shackles build a mount that extends down from the frame to keep the shackles short it will help limit the amount of side to side flex.

 

Edited November 11, 2024 by Ooph!
5th edit Last time I promise

[bottomwatcher]

Different truck but I bagged my 3/4 chevy with a slide in camper and couldn't be happier. I cheaped out initially by just installing the air fittings on the bumper. I had slow leaks and filling the bags was a pia. I added the incab pressure guage and compressor and can adjust on the fly. Even bump it up a little more when towing a 20ft powerboat and the improvement in the ride is night and day.

[wayno]

I would likely lower the front  the 2" you want, it appears you have the room to do that.

Edited November 13, 2024 by wayno