Xterra Suspension

[Gilberto]

I'd like to revive this post with a few questions, and I hope the Elders of Xterras are able to help me. 

I'm a newbie to both off-roading and owning an off-road vehicle. After much research, I purchased my Xterra and to say I love the car is an understatement. Considering it's a discontinued model, it took me about 3 months to find the one I wanted: clean, lightly used for off-roading, agency-maintained, no accidents, and the off-road version with a diff lock. 

One of the things I expected when buying a 11-year-old car was that the suspension would likely need replacement. I took the car to Arabian Auto for a full inspection, and while they said the suspension wasn't completely worn out, they did recommend replacing it.

So far, I’ve done five off-road drives, and while the car drives fine, I’ve noticed that these trips have accelerated the need for a new suspension. On the road, the car bottoms out on minor bumps, and I hear a thump, especially from the rear, which also sags completely. The front dips slightly when braking as well. I suspect the leaf springs are almost shot, and the shocks/struts are barely holding up.

For these reasons, I'm now seriously considering replacing the entire suspension system, including the leaf springs. What brand and model do you recommend? 

I read the comment advising against lifting the car, but I feel a small lift would be nice (and looks nice too), but only if it doesn’t compromise safety or break the bank. That said, if I’m going to invest in a new system, I’d prefer one that will give me the confidence to handle future, more challenging off-road drives, like those at the Fewbie and ++ levels.

You'll probably think I am too new to be talking about this, but as I mentioned, the suspension needs replacement anyway, so I may as well get into it the right way.