Leaf suspension mods from Juke?

[LeftieBiker]

Yes, indeed. Ironically, the dealership tech approach is to start replacing parts until they hit, accidentally or on purpose, on the one that actually needed it. That's another way to throw away money.

[pointlomadave]

Anyone friends with a Nissan tech? Can we confirm any of this?
Lower suspension would increase aerodynamics which increases range. Plus, the leaf is ridiculously 'tall'. I think it could use a 1" drop.

While we are on the topic of suspension, has anyone ever weighed the wheels & factory tires? 17" wheels seemed strange over a lighter 15 or 16" option.

The factory 17" wheels on the Leaf are incredibly heavy at 28lbs each. And of course they have a slightly wider/taller tire too making them nearly 50lbs ea. I just ordered a setup that is 15" and is about 31lbs per corner for $316 total for wheels and tires after rebates. PM me for details. Sale is still on!

Regarding a rear sway bar...if anyone has a lead on one, I'm totally interested. I have a camber kit up front and the car handles amazing with the 17x9" wheels with the 245's I run on it now, but the rear is a bit soggy. Could use a rear sway bar for sure.

[Eggroller]

The factory 17" wheels on the Leaf are incredibly heavy at 28lbs each. And of course they have a slightly wider/taller tire too making them nearly 50lbs ea. I just ordered a setup that is 15" and is about 31lbs per corner for $316 total for wheels and tires after rebates. PM me for details. Sale is still on!

Regarding a rear sway bar...if anyone has a lead on one, I'm totally interested. I have a camber kit up front and the car handles amazing with the 17x9" wheels with the 245's I run on it now, but the rear is a bit soggy. Could use a rear sway bar for sure.

That is a great price for wheels and tires. Question is what tires and what wheels? It wouldn't be for me since I re-used the 16x7 Enkei wheels from my Subaru (dual bolt pattern) with some 205/55-16 Cooper CS5 Ultra Touring tires (not LRR). My setup is 37.6 lbs each. Just curious what you have to get that low weight.

How much negative camber you have up front? I have some camber bolts to be installed. I was thinking of starting with -1.5°

I cited a rear swaybar which fits the Juke. Maybe you could be the first to try it? I found it at Amazon for $293 (https://www.amazon.com/Cusco-271-311-B16/dp/B00EO1O6QA)

Juke parts which could potentially fit the Leaf. All are FWD version of the Juke.
Cusco rear swaybar

• 16mm bolt on. Part number: 271311B16

[pointlomadave]

Wheels: Konig Zero-in 15x6.5" @ 13.4 lbs
Tires: Hankook 195/65/15 @ 17.2 lbs.

Purchased from http://www.discounttiredirect.com Sale runs thru Monday, but they do these sales about 5 times a year on the major Holidays.

Total of 30.6 lbs. There were some Continental PureContact in 195/65/15 that were supposedly 16.3 lbs ea, but they would have cost $150 more or so. Fig'd the Hankooks would be close enough.

I measured OEM setup on New Leaf S @ 40.5 lbs

Interesting about the sway bar. I need to go catch a visual of the underside of my Leaf and see what it looks like regarding the rear sway bar potential.

I have 1.75 degree camber bolts. Most cars have approx -.5 up front anyway from the factory. So I should be about in the -2 range or so. I do my own alignments and just zero the toe using a tape measure to measure in front of and behind the front tire and just make sure the measurements are even while the car is on the ground. For the Leaf, exactly 2 turns on each side for the toe adjuster was perfect and got the car to 0 toe.

[HaoleBilt]

If you are planning to rip-out the OEM stuff from the Leaf, why re-select OEM parts once again (from the Juke)?

There is a stronger aftermarket support for the the Juke. Buy the parts from the Juke install on the LEAF.

Since the part numbers are the same across the board. We have a suspension system built for the 2900 lbs Juke on a 3300 lbs Leaf. No wonder it is soft and roll-y.

@eggroller did you end up trying the Juke Lowering springs?

[Eggroller]

I am more than likely to try the OEM NISMO Juke struts and shocks with the OEM springs before I get some aftermarket springs.

The existing LEAF struts and shocks are woefully under damped already. Definitely would be worse with higher rate lowered springs.

[Sterling]

After reading this thread, I figured I'd go ahead and look for some craigslist specials. Sure enough, a set of used Juke FWD Eibach springs the neighboring town over! Hurray for $100.

Results:

The springs are physically similar- rears drop right in. The fronts, however, while larger diameter and not interfering with anything, are wound in reverse of the Leaf's (2015 S). This results in a non-factory-secure arrangement. This having not been my first rodeo with this sort of thing, deemed it secure enough to load up and reinstall. I wouldn't recommend this though for someone to go out and purchase as it's not a proper fitment and may slide out of place over time.

The car sits ~1" lower. The ride is about the same- the '15s ride a little firmer than most factory vehicles I've driven. Dampening profile does not match spring rate from the factory so this really isn't any different. Some impacts might be slightly harsher but I drove it about 70 miles today and completely forgot that the springs were installed. I don't register any bounciness at this time.

I think having Juke coilovers as an option (better range of options) is really the benefit of the two vehicles having similar suspension. As for regular drop springs, I would not use the Juke options unless different years of Leaf have different spring design.

I'll post up some pictures tomorrow, don't have them on this PC.

Leaf specifics: 2015 S, 51500 miles, all factory original other than OEM replacement wiper blades!

[jhm614]

After reading this thread, I figured I'd go ahead and look for some craigslist specials. Sure enough, a set of used Juke FWD Eibach springs the neighboring town over! Hurray for $100.

Results:

The springs are physically similar- rears drop right in. The fronts, however, while larger diameter and not interfering with anything, are wound in reverse of the Leaf's (2015 S). This results in a non-factory-secure arrangement. This having not been my first rodeo with this sort of thing, deemed it secure enough to load up and reinstall. I wouldn't recommend this though for someone to go out and purchase as it's not a proper fitment and may slide out of place over time.

The car sits ~1" lower. The ride is about the same- the '15s ride a little firmer than most factory vehicles I've driven. Dampening profile does not match spring rate from the factory so this really isn't any different. Some impacts might be slightly harsher but I drove it about 70 miles today and completely forgot that the springs were installed. I don't register any bounciness at this time.

I think having Juke coilovers as an option (better range of options) is really the benefit of the two vehicles having similar suspension. As for regular drop springs, I would not use the Juke options unless different years of Leaf have different spring design.

I'll post up some pictures tomorrow, don't have them on this PC.

Leaf specifics: 2015 S, 51500 miles, all factory original other than OEM replacement wiper blades!

Very nice work! Looking forward to the pictures.

[Sterling]

[Sterling]

Wasn't sure if that worked as it appears Photobucket, the bastion of car forums, no longer allows photo links from what I'm told.

The prior picture is the stock Leaf spring against a Juke Eibach spring as I posted before.

The ride definitely loosened up as time went on (aka, shocks wearing out) as the car is bouncier now than before. Need more dampening.

SO

Along the same lines as the springs working, BEHOLD



Another excellent Craigslist find in the way of lightly used 2014 Juke Nismo RS full suspension. I'll swap the Eibach springs onto these which should dampen the spring rate better. Also, they're fairly new versus my current units, OEM at 55k.

These are the part numbers written on the shocks...



The strut tops and everything appear to be the same- swaybar mounts, ABS clips, etc. Before I swap the Eibach springs on these, I'll insert the entire assembly into the Leaf as proof that we'll be able to pick up full aftermarket Juke coilovers as bolt-in replacements.

Hurray!