minispeed
Well-known member
Hi all,
I took a very small gamble and ordered some tein h tech springs from nengun.com even though all the specs said they were for 2011 and 2012 leafs. The install was very easy and they fit perfectly. I took some pics of the install as a guide if anyone else wants to try it out. Took about 4hrs but could probably be done in 3 with a helper.
First step was to loosen the wheel nuts, then jack up the car and remove the wheel. Put the car on a jack stand and then position the jack under the brake rotor but don't lift it yet, have a wood block between if your jack doesn't have a pad. Then from under the hood remove the plastic cover to access the top of the strut, loosen but don't remove the three bolts, 13mm socket. In the pic I started with the socket on the angle but later switched to a smaller ratchet that fit inside. There is enough room to work without removing the big cover.
The abs sensor is attached at 2 points (1 pictured) it slides right out.
Next I removed the clip holding the brake line with a flat head screwdriver and a small hammer.
I marked the bolts so I could figure out the torque specs, these 2 were 100ftlb, same socket size as the wheel lug nuts. I held one side with an adjustable which wasn't easy. After the second I realized I could have used a tire iron.
85 ftlb for the tie rod end link.
After all those are loose you'll notice the tie rod end link is putting a load on the strut. Slowly jack it up under the rotor until there is no longer tension and you can slide out the link. Now while supporting the strut fully remove the three top screws and lift out the assembly. Using a spring compressor take the load off the top mount then loosen the large centre nut. I used an electric impact driver that does about 80ftlb I think, it's the only way to do it. You can use a wrench and key combo but it's a pain. I counted the threads at 5 deep to know how much to re torque it.
Assembly is now the reverse.
Side by side it's about 1cm shorter.
Back on the car.
The rears are a lot easier, probably more so if you jack both sides at the same time or have a helper. Remove the nut for the bottom of the shock with the wheel still on and the car on the ground. I only used a marker to know how much to tighten it, don't know the torque spec but it's not a lot. Then slowly jack the car until the bolt slides out easily.
With only one side up at a time I had to push down on the wheel and hold it down with my inner thigh wrapped around it while I pulled the spring out with my other hand. I can only wonder what it looked like.... this is where a helper would come in handy. The top rubber came off with the spring, I refit it to the teins before sliding in the new spring.
Side by side, they are about the same length.
Putting them back on also requires the wheel be pushed down. If both sides were up at the same time it may not. I found it was easier to push it in with the bottom cut end of the coil towards the back of the car then twist it till the bottom lined up correctly. Next lower the car very slowly till the bolt for the shock will slide back in.
I forgot to take a pre measure of the wheel centre to fender so the before measurments were on the passenger side are after the drivers side front was done, thus the car isn't level and it was on a driveway with a slope towards the front of the car. Front about 15.6in rear 16.25in, after all 4 done and on more level ground both about 14.8/9in.
After pics
When I first picked up the leaf and parked it beside the prius the prius looked much lower. Now they look about the same. It still looks like a stock car should loom since the leaf was way too high.
My first impressions.
Turning, at initial turn in it's not really noticiable, it still leans a bit (remember 2015has firmer springs than 11/12) but around a traffic circle it is a lot flatter and holds more speed. Traction out of a corner feels better and the car is much flatter when accelerating. The ride is a bit firmer and you feel/hear more. It feels like the whole car moves not like it's transmitting it into you or the car. It's not as noticiable an improvement as eibachs were on my optima but it's a little firmer ride than I remember that being. The true test will be the wife. I haven't told her so I'll wait and see if she complains. On the optima she never knew I did it, but she also couldn't drive stick and she lves the leaf because it's quiet and smooth. Maybe I'll drop the tires a few psi before she drives it (44 now).
I took a very small gamble and ordered some tein h tech springs from nengun.com even though all the specs said they were for 2011 and 2012 leafs. The install was very easy and they fit perfectly. I took some pics of the install as a guide if anyone else wants to try it out. Took about 4hrs but could probably be done in 3 with a helper.
First step was to loosen the wheel nuts, then jack up the car and remove the wheel. Put the car on a jack stand and then position the jack under the brake rotor but don't lift it yet, have a wood block between if your jack doesn't have a pad. Then from under the hood remove the plastic cover to access the top of the strut, loosen but don't remove the three bolts, 13mm socket. In the pic I started with the socket on the angle but later switched to a smaller ratchet that fit inside. There is enough room to work without removing the big cover.
The abs sensor is attached at 2 points (1 pictured) it slides right out.
Next I removed the clip holding the brake line with a flat head screwdriver and a small hammer.
I marked the bolts so I could figure out the torque specs, these 2 were 100ftlb, same socket size as the wheel lug nuts. I held one side with an adjustable which wasn't easy. After the second I realized I could have used a tire iron.
85 ftlb for the tie rod end link.
After all those are loose you'll notice the tie rod end link is putting a load on the strut. Slowly jack it up under the rotor until there is no longer tension and you can slide out the link. Now while supporting the strut fully remove the three top screws and lift out the assembly. Using a spring compressor take the load off the top mount then loosen the large centre nut. I used an electric impact driver that does about 80ftlb I think, it's the only way to do it. You can use a wrench and key combo but it's a pain. I counted the threads at 5 deep to know how much to re torque it.
Assembly is now the reverse.
Side by side it's about 1cm shorter.
Back on the car.
The rears are a lot easier, probably more so if you jack both sides at the same time or have a helper. Remove the nut for the bottom of the shock with the wheel still on and the car on the ground. I only used a marker to know how much to tighten it, don't know the torque spec but it's not a lot. Then slowly jack the car until the bolt slides out easily.
With only one side up at a time I had to push down on the wheel and hold it down with my inner thigh wrapped around it while I pulled the spring out with my other hand. I can only wonder what it looked like.... this is where a helper would come in handy. The top rubber came off with the spring, I refit it to the teins before sliding in the new spring.
Side by side, they are about the same length.
Putting them back on also requires the wheel be pushed down. If both sides were up at the same time it may not. I found it was easier to push it in with the bottom cut end of the coil towards the back of the car then twist it till the bottom lined up correctly. Next lower the car very slowly till the bolt for the shock will slide back in.
I forgot to take a pre measure of the wheel centre to fender so the before measurments were on the passenger side are after the drivers side front was done, thus the car isn't level and it was on a driveway with a slope towards the front of the car. Front about 15.6in rear 16.25in, after all 4 done and on more level ground both about 14.8/9in.
After pics
When I first picked up the leaf and parked it beside the prius the prius looked much lower. Now they look about the same. It still looks like a stock car should loom since the leaf was way too high.
My first impressions.
Turning, at initial turn in it's not really noticiable, it still leans a bit (remember 2015has firmer springs than 11/12) but around a traffic circle it is a lot flatter and holds more speed. Traction out of a corner feels better and the car is much flatter when accelerating. The ride is a bit firmer and you feel/hear more. It feels like the whole car moves not like it's transmitting it into you or the car. It's not as noticiable an improvement as eibachs were on my optima but it's a little firmer ride than I remember that being. The true test will be the wife. I haven't told her so I'll wait and see if she complains. On the optima she never knew I did it, but she also couldn't drive stick and she lves the leaf because it's quiet and smooth. Maybe I'll drop the tires a few psi before she drives it (44 now).
I'm glad I sold them since I would not have a good time on the roads around here (plus my lease is up next September).
