[sswiss]

I am a bit confused. I used to own a 2008 QX56. Back when I purchased that car, Nissan talked about how this truck was based on the same frame as the Nissan Titan.
I am now looking to get a 2021 Nissan Armada and Nissan talks about how it is now based on the Nissan Patrol Frame.

I have done extensive work under the 2008 QX56 and know the underside of that car very well, looking at the limited pictures of the underside of the 2021 Nissan Armada, they are practically identical.

So I can only conclude one thing, Nissan is full of shit and the Titan was based of the Patrol in the first place and thus the Patrol, Titan and Armada all have had the same frame ever since 2004.

Would be great if someone could enlighten me here

 

[larumple]

The titan and armadas have similar frames, but not the same. The rear of the frames are different; the wheelbase of the titan is longer than the armadas wheelbase, and the titan frame is set up for a solid rear axle as opposed to our IRS, but other than that, about 3/4 of the frame is exactly the same.

 

[primoV8]

Having owned, maintained and modified an WA 04 LE and currently a Z62 QX80, I agree with the exception of the Titan. The Titan was its own platform... well from the firewall and back. Lol.

Off the top of my head, there are some minor differences. The rear air leveling shocks and mounts are different from the first gen trucks. The Z62 QX56/80 and Y62 armada have a slightly better design where it utilizes a bayonet top mount which is sandwiched between two, large rubber bushings, whereas the first gens were only eyelet mounts, top and bottom. Also, the rear hitch is an independent part on the first gens. The newer trucks have the hitch built into the chassis.

The chassis, from what I’ve seen having done my custom Bilstein setup up front, replacing the rear air leveling compressor (also same compressor as first gens but different bracket) and routine-OCD maintenance, just about all the same going back to 2004.

 

[ppointer]

Hey @primoV8, can you talk about what suspension changes you have made? I am curious and want to learn. Feel free to PM if you would rather not hijack this thread.

 

[primoV8]

Hey @primoV8, can you talk about what suspension changes you have made? I am curious and want to learn. Feel free to PM if you would rather not hijack this thread.

Here you go: Shocks - better ride

 

[ppointer]

Here you go: Shocks - better ride

Wow, what a great thread. Wish I had seen it in 2021. I have an '08 QX56/JA60 that I bought new in July, '07. I hated the front suspension even before I purchased, but there wasn't anything else available at the time for what I needed (haul kids, boat / motorcycle trailers, dvd for the kids, and not a Chevy, Dodge or Ford). Within only a few thousand miles I replaced the front shocks with the Bilsteins, and the ride was at least adequate.

Fast forward to 2021 and it was time to rebuild the whole suspension at 68k miles. Shocks and struts were no longer effective, and all of the fasteners on the rear were too rusty to allow for an alignment. Went with the Bilsteins up front again and Arnott's in the rear. All rear control arms, fasteners and bushings were replaced, including the eccentrics, along with the ride height controller. Front just needed new perches and the sway bar bushings. Still on the original air compressor.

Truck drives better than new (at least I am qualified to say that) with the Arnott's and 4600's. But your thread has me thinking hard about those B8's, especially after watching that video. I will have to research if I can fit a pair to the front of a JA60, but it seems as if that would be possible.

Thank you for providing the link!!

 

[primoV8]

@ppointer, don't forget the 4 wheel alignment if you haven't already. I can't stress it enough because these trucks, first and second gens go out of alignment so easily. Btw, nothing wrong with the 4600s as those Bilsteins are tried and true even to this day. But if you ever decide on those 6100s, it'll bolt right onto your JA60. I'll admit it though; had I known about these 6100s back when I had my 04, I would've chosen them over the Fox 2.0 coilovers.

 

[ppointer]

Yes, the need for alignment is what drove me to replace all of the suspension in the rear. The eccentrics and other fasteners were frozen solid with rust. So, all good now.

One more question - so, with the 6100s there is a method for setting the ride height? That was a take-away from your thread, assuming I interpreted it correctly.

 

[primoV8]

The 5100s and 6100s comes with a document that shows how much lift is increased; the higher up the coil spring perch is mounted. The lift numbers Bilstein notates goes hand in hand with the first gen trucks.

 

[Roosterwe]

Having owned, maintained and modified an WA 04 LE and currently a Z62 QX80, I agree with the exception of the Titan. The Titan was its own platform... well from the firewall and back. Lol.