Dodge pathfinder questions

[Vanguy]

Been looking at a Dodge Pathfinder 4x4 van and thinking about gettin it. Does anyone know what components they used, radius arms, etc? My concern is being able to replace parts that may wear out. I know it is a Dana 44 front axle.

[carringb]

This might not be the answer you are hoping for (but maybe already suspect), parts for this will not be easy to find. I'm pretty sure the actual suspension was proprietary to Pathfinder, so the trailing arms will probably have to be re-fabricated yourself. Same with any mounting brackets, adapters etc. Advance 4x4 used the 8-lug Dana44 for along time so you might be able to have a little luck there with parts.

Beware that parts for the stock van itself can also be hard to source. I don't know what year you are looking at, but through the mid-90s, stuff like the ignition modules are obsolete parts and are not supported by the aftermarket. The powertrain and electronics were always about a generation behind the pickups.

Lastly... give it a VERY thorough inspection. Being a unibody, chassis rust is usually a life-ender for those vans.

[Vanguy]

Thanks. It’s an 83 with a 318 and no a/c. I’ve seen good pics of the underbody and all good there. I can fabricate if need be. My biggest concern is for the trailing arm bushings and tie rod ends. Would prob want to upgrade the brakes when they wear out too.

[carringb]

The good news about those wear parts is they were surely off something else. Bushings are relatively to match up by dimension using the energy suspension catalog. Tie rods might be trickier to match up but a good alignment guy might be able to recognize it just by looking at it. At least back when yours was built, there were less models on the market, so that already narrows things down.

[Vanguy]

Thanks again! That gives me some peace about my decision either way. Don’t want to buy out of ignorance or pass on fear alone.

[Vanguy]

New question. What about leaf springs? The van has been lifted using blocks only. Are there any aftermarket leaf springs for this application?

Man this is getting tiresome. Just wish I could find what I'm looking for within a days drive there and back that didn't cost a small fortune. Lol....

[carringb]

Pretty much anything for your van will have to be custom, including new rear leaf springs. Those vans are an orphan, and didn't share much with the trucks except the engines and transmissions.

[1der]

We had a 1976 Chevy c30 Pathfinder 4x4 25 plus years ago. I found the parts list for that conversion and treated that document like gold. I was able to decipher the Pathfinder part numbers to cross reference to the Chevy / Ford / Dodge parts and what was Pathfinder custom. Those conversions used parts off of all of the makes.

I would only buy a Pathfinder conversion van that includes that document cataloging the parts, or f I could get my hands on it before buying. It is too much of a headache.
The conversion was sound and capable so that was never a worry.

I remember one of the younger guys that worked there ended up w a crap load of the parts and had some documentation. IF you can find him, he will be the Yoda you are looking for

[Pntyrmvr]

"don't know what year you are looking at, but through the mid-90s, stuff like the ignition modules are obsolete parts and are not supported by the aftermarket. The powertrain and electronics were always about a generation behind the pickups."

WHAT?

Rock Auto carres ignition modules.

The powertrain for 2wd vans was identical EPA certified to the pickups,

Come on man!

[Pntyrmvr]

OP, Google Pathfinder 4wd vans.

Maybe the guy has come back to life.

Also do searches for manuals and lists of Pathfinder using image searches.

And try Facebook. He was on there too.