Leaf suspension options

[jbsocdelica]

Hi, Leafers;

I've upgraded my 24 kWh 2011 to 62 kWh and I wish to raise it a bit for driveway and other potential clearance moments (and I'll also be putting a 2" hitch on for electric bike carry).

1) I've contacted Muxsan to see what they're offering, hopefully it won't dent the budget too much...

2) Anyone had particular experience in this regard; raising the car up (for pragmatic purposes, e.g., clearing driveway)? If, so please offer up some specifics (and less expensive would be nice; don't need performance).

3) I am planning on going for slight larger profile tires to help out as well:

205 65 r16

(this tire change idea was courtesy of "PrairieLEAF" who contributed this in
https://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic. ... b&start=10 )

4) Would rear springs from Nissan Plus 2019 work more or less?
I believe the part # is 550205sa2b (and the spring itself is not too costly)

Thanks to all!

[dmacarthur]

I don't know if these are exact or not, but we recently got some spacers sent from Russia (i think) to raise our Juke 45mm..... these cost a couple hundred I think and having them installed (which included adding some hardware store spacers to the rear suspension) cost more than that.... Look up Nissan Juke suspension adaptors......The raise is perfect and we will eventually look at the same for the Leaf (when it is out of warrantee). Maybe by then, there will be exact leaf parts available. BTW these are nicely made milled spacers but I an sure that steel plates could be tack welded and drilled to make an equivalent.... Our roads and driveways are so rough that he few extra inches is going to be helpful.

[goldbrick]

I'd add that spacers only lift the car while heavier springs will compensate for the extra weight of the 62kWh battery. It's possible the original springs will compress a bit due to the extra weight but in general these are two separate things. You probably want both and you might know all this but I've seen folks get them mixed up so I just thought I'd mention it.

[jbsocdelica]

Thanks Dmacarthur and Goldbrick for your input;

In thinking about this, my purpose for now, is less to compensate for the added weight than for height, I have a higher driveway to go into and I don’t want to rub the car’s bottom (er, so to speak).

So while I would want both (raising and weight compensation) per Goldbrick’s suggestion, as a starter, raising 45 mm, or just over 1.7 inches sounds like a good starter (that and 65 profile tires).

If you have any links to part numbers / equivalents including stuff bought at the hardware store, pleased do post for us,

Question on weights:

Weight 24KW = 648 lb?
Weight 62 KW = 904 lb?

(difference: about 256lb, or fairly heavy adult after a visit to In-N-Out Burger)

Thanks again!

[alozzy]

If you bump up your tires to 245/50R16, that would add about 1" to the diameter vs stock. That only gets you half an inch higher off the ground, but it will help a bit...

[jbsocdelica]

Thanks Alozzy;

Using tire calculator;

https://tiresize.com/height-calculator/

I found the following ride heights:

a. 245 50 16 = 25.6"

b. 205 65 16 = 26.5"

Do you prefer the 245s given those numbers?



jbsocdelica

[RNM]

Hi, Leafers;

I've upgraded my 24kw 2011 to 62KW and want to raise the car a bit for driveway and other clearance (and I'll also be putting a 2" hitch on for electric bike carry).

I've contacted Muxsan to see what they're offering, hopefully it won't dent the budget too much...

Anyone had particular experience in this regard; raising the car up? If, so please offer up some specifics (and less expensive would be nice; don't need performance).

I am planning on going for slight larger profile tires
to help out as well:

205 65 r16


Thanks to all!

Hi there!

Can you please share photos of your car afterthe upgrade?
a side shot would be appreciated

Thanks!

[jbsocdelica]

Yes, I'd be delighted to post photos after suspension upgrade 360 degree (but my sense is that will be in March/ April -ish at the rate I'm going). I will post photos of hitch when I install in next couple of weeks though for sure.

Here is the update on everything so far.

a. 62 kWh Battery physically installed

b. Canbus from Daniel not yet arrived, using Russian canbus that Pavel Borisiuk installed until he swaps it out for Daniel's canbus hardware (Dala's EV Repair). (I wonder if Pavel Borisiuk from Los Angeles (the "Installer") used these guys:

https://canhacker.com/shop/

Pavel, noted to me that with the less than 62kWh (e.g., 30kWh and 40kWh) he has had more success with earlier models such as mine (hence he is going with Daniel's canbus device). Also brief note on physical installation. He used two metal beams, then applied rust proof paint to attach with bolts into chassis and then likewise bolted the 62 kw complete to that and chassis. Didn't take him that long to it, minus the cracks in my driveway which made it difficult for him to move his dolly holding the "new" battery to align it ).

c. At the moment of install (Russian canbus), it only would operate in Turtle mode (25 mph / 40 km max).

d. However, one recent morning, as Daniel had given me a 'Turtle mode' work around, I tried it and indeed, it worked!

Short of it is: Use cruise control as throttle and now I can hit my high speeds (60+ mph / 100 km +). It's a bit sloppy (or at least my learning curve of it is, however, I can drive the car.

e. I ordered Ehitch, 2" receiver for bike rack hook up (and maybe one day tear drop trailer?) EcoHitch Hidden Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - 2" Item # 306-X7184. Had Ehitch installed for $100; there's a good video on self install; I just didn't have it in me today (Best video for 2011; grainy but very good). I think it took my mechanic too long because he wouldn't look at video.

Install directions:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nNkEex ... =MotoCycle

Item:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hitch/ ... X7184.html


f. Suspension:

As noted above, waiting on suspension upgrade; and as asked before I wonder if the rear Springs from Leaf 19 would fit on the 11?

Anyone have thoughts on that?

Have not yet heard from Muxan about their kit.

I did speak with Spring specialist locally and it would be about $300 for custom springs + labour.
(springworks.com)

g. Inflated Michelin tires quite high (48lb) to give me a little more profile height until I get new tires (205 65 r16). Should be fine for now as it clears the driveway with barely a rub.

Best

[alozzy]

Thanks Alozzy;

Using tire calculator;

https://tiresize.com/height-calculator/

I found the following ride heights:

a. 245 50 16 = 25.6"

b. 205 65 16 = 26.5"

Do you prefer the 245s given those numbers?



jbsocdelica

Interesting! I actually used that exact same website before my last post, typed in the 205/55 R16 size (stock), clicked Convert, then picked the largest diameter listed in the results (245/50R16). The 205/65 R16 didn't even show up in the "Alternate Tire Sizes" results chart, but I'm glad you found another way to find an even larger tire that will work!

[jbsocdelica]

Yes Alozzy, I probably would not have thought of those tires, 205 65 R16, but PrairieLEAF out of Colorado had the idea.

https://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic. ... b&start=10

By the way, how do you like the 1.25 inch hitch? Adequate? I know it's quite a bit cheaper than the 2" (by about $200), that's for sure!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Speaking of the antithesis of cheaper, for fun, periodically, I peruse craigslist to see what used Teslas (Model S) are going for, and the one that I would be happy with is now in the mid to high 20k range. I really, really do love luxury rides, but atlas like other used luxury cars, it's not the initial cost of the used luxury car, it's the maintenance that I have to think about (probably others wouldn't so much).

I'm sort of a Southern California version of Mr. Cheapskate (cf. https://www.mrmoneymustache.com/the-nis ... xperiment/) .

Apparently, and I have to read more to confirm this with some real confidence, there are some known faults with the earlier models that were either dealt with or are skulkingly awaiting to gnaw ferociously at one's bank account:

a. battery failure (which all of longer term Leaf owners know well about, we have our own issues i.e., passive cooling issues, lack of thermal battery management, bms, etc.).

b. display failure (not one I've heard much about from Leaf owners (gotta research that one as mine has 70k on it now and I'm just reading about Navigation unit failures)

c. door handle issues

d. other issues (and for the Leaf, there is the dreaded "Pre Charge Resistor" lurking too among others).

Yet, I have fun watching do it yourself repair for the Leaf, such as: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5R4dGg8 ... VsEnhanced

or

https://darelldd.smugmug.com/Automotive ... /i-rcsHp8p

for example.

— And, I have read plenty of posts that echo this sentiment "I myself have accrued over 150,000 miles on Tesla, no problems other than a screen reboot as needed.

Along the lines of fairness, I won't count the tire cost that some Tesla owners kvetch about, because I wouldn't (I think) burn out the tires too much, knowing that quick starts, just as in the Leaf, are too much for those puppies, and if one day I do get a Tesla, I'll replace with Costco tires. Goodn'ough for me with high UTQA and High Mileage for about $500 +/-.

So I guess, if I had the time, I would make a table comparing the two with known incident probabilities to make more informed comments. In the mean time, I can wish, can't I?

And for me, with 62kWh battery installation and original (used) purchase price, the total was just under $11000. So a gamble, but a different order of gamble at this point to be sure. And these really are apples and oranges. Oh, those beautiful apples in the garden of electric Eden.

best