Hidden suspension mod for the Nissan LEAF

[@fernandinand]

Damn...just got my front shocks changed last week!

[@HRDNTS]

I always found the biggest gains with strut bars was adding one to the rear. The front is quite well connected with the firewall etc on the leaf, but the rear (like most hatches) is like a big open cardboard box, so putting some bracing across the middle makes a big difference... but it kinda screws the loading space a bit.

[@miscbits6399]

it's possible to fit strut braces at the rear which don't impact load space but it does add extra weight to do so

[@JohnVance]

This is awesome! Still hoping I can throw money at you soon for a CCS conversion kit in the US. :D It's getting dire here.

[@ashton9699]

Lol no it's not. The issue is blown way out of proportion by people on the internet who have never been affected by a lack of CHAdeMO outside of Electrify America, many of them don't even fast charge and only charge at home so they never will be affected. Proportionally it's a much bigger concern in the EU, yet the US leaf people are the loudest whiners.

[@chrisw443]

it is

[@genx156]

You can get a Chademo to CCS adaptor - we have them in the UK already 👍

[@MattFromAmerica]

Great vid Dala!

[@DalasEVRepair]

Thanks ☺️

[@jimcabezola3051]

Job well done. Since you already made a front strut bat for your other car, I imagine you are curious to find out what benefits there may be to a rear strut bar also. That could challenge...your patience, lol, as you try to fit your cargo AROUND a rear strut bar. Nonetheless, if I had HALF your fabricating skill...and a Nissan Leaf...I could not help myself. I hope you can drive your Leaf in places (and in the manner) where you can really assess the handling differences! Aloha and safe driving to you!

[@redoscar540]

Any chance that the alignment changed during the procedure? Your video also reminds me that I need to check the top of my shock tower for rust. I drive my Leaf like the old fogey that I am.

[@DalasEVRepair]

There is so much weight on the front, doubt it shifted at all!

[@transportauto7205]

Own a 2014 and the, just replaced the front struts, lower control arm assemblies and sway bar links. What a firm and beautiful ride. Next will be a battery swap. 100% charge only get 70miles….Nice small car

[@tomy2t0ne3]

What brand struts did you use? Did you use the oem coils and mounts? I swapped mine with kyb all in one struts and they are terrible and noisy. Thanks

[@stevew3731]

Hi Dala, great upgrades you've done to the leaf. Can you help with something or anyone else for that matter? I have 2017 Leaf S. Was told by the dealer you should not bleed the brakes the conventional way and it should be done by a dealer and they have a computer to calibrate something for the regen braking. Also, was told I need to change the coolant for the battery cooling. I thought my leaf was air cooled. Is changing the coolant just like in an ICE vehicle? Thank you for any help on these matters.

[@DalasEVRepair]

They dont seem to know what they are talking about. No special bleeding procedure. No battery coolant.

[@stevew3731]

Thank you, That's what I thought.

[@jonianderson8692]

The internal charger is water cooled. I don't know if you need to change the coolant@@stevew3731

[@Supernaut2000]

So what exactly will this strut bar do for my Leaf??

[@d3cay3ffect]

Also wanted to know this

[@DalasEVRepair]

Improve handling, predictabiliy when cornering orntaking bumps. See the EngineeringExplained video for more info on strut bars!

[@d3cay3ffect]

@@DalasEVRepair thanks :) got anything recommended to do on the leaf? Got a 30kw 2 months ago and only added the strut protection so far

[@DalasEVRepair]

@@d3cay3ffect Inverter upgrade really makes the car more fun 😅😎

[@Supernaut2000]

Careful, I don't want to make my Leaf think it is a Porsche.

[@gelisob]

4:55 copper paste will ruin your torque values because it makes bolts more slippery, should not use in car unless specified :)

[@DalasEVRepair]

True, however, if you skip the copper paste in Finland, you wont get the bolts open in a few years when it is time to change the shock absorbers. In a rusty and salty environment it is needed.

[@leiflillandt1488]

​@@DalasEVRepairI don't think, people outside Finland, Sweden and Norway understand how fast rust destroys the cars underneath, and it's almost impossible to open bolts/nuts in the suspension as well in front as in rear without an electric heater (induction heater).

[@miscbits6399]

@@leiflillandt1488 The USA "rust belt" is similar, thanks to the amount of salt they put on their roads

[@michaelseer]

Will this fit the ze1 Dala?

[@DalasEVRepair]

It should yes!

[@typxxilps]

for all those checking the price this is 217€ in yen but I bet you have to pay a lot for shipping and VAT and usually customs in the EU.

[@celeron55]

I think the body of the leaf already supports the strut towers quite well because it's shaped like that - the firewall is almost directly next to the struts. For this reason I doubt the strut bar is doing much.

[@DalasEVRepair]

The shape of the chassi provides good support in theory, however the metal is extremely thin. When removing the middle piece you quickly get a feel for how flimsy it feels!

[@tristanosullivan5566]

I contacted them a while back to ask if it would work on ZE1. They couldn’t confirm unfortunately. @dala do you if the dimensions match up with your leaf knowledge?

[@DalasEVRepair]

I don't see why it wouldn't work.The ZE1 shares the same suspension. I am 99% sure it works :)

[@tristanosullivan5566]

@@DalasEVRepair thanks for replying! It could be worth the punt. Sure I can sell it at a little loss if it didn’t work. Cheers!

[@nissanmicrak10]

I placed the same one on my ZE1, and it fits perfectly. Only after a few weeks did I notice rust formation. Now after a few months I disassembled it again. The bolts supplied are of very poor quality. They were already completely rusted. The strut bar was rusted in several places and paint flakes were already coming loose. I repainted it, but in the color of the car, so it stands out even less. I replaced the bolts with original ones from Nissan that were a bit longer than the ones that were on the car.

[@xboxice2005]

@@tristanosullivan5566 Hi Did you end up trying im keen on one for my ZE1

[@xboxice2005]

@@nissanmicrak10 Ha nice so it does fit our ZE1

[@moezaw7743]

u shown the leaf all about i interested, but not have saler my country... So let me know the upgrade the battery Kwh, SOH bar and Km with used battery let me know any solution! And Suggestion Sir

[@dama054]

Hi Dala quick question, will the 6.6kw on board charger from a 2018 leaf fit a 2013 leaf Thanks David

[@DalasEVRepair]

Yes, but there are some chademo wiring differences that are a pain to sort out. Better to go for a 6.6kW charger from a 2013-2017 LEAF!

[@dama054]

@@DalasEVRepair ok thanks

[@yobatube3718]

На ali продаются заглушки в чашки стоек за доллар. Чтобы вода и грязь не попадала. Или можно одеть капроновые крышки от банок.

[@معاويةالوحيدي-ث7ك]

I didnt get it , what is the function of installing this mod ??

[@DalasEVRepair]

Improve handling, predictabiliy when cornering or taking bumps. See the EngineeringExplained video for more info on strut bars!

[@leiflillandt1488]

The body will be slightly stiffer, and that improves cornering. If you can feel it, is another thing... I have two BMWs X3, one 2008 and one 2011, and both have strut bars. The "big" difference between my BMWs and the Leaf is that in the Leaf the front axle is almost underneath the engine compartment back wall, and that is really not the case in the X3s. In BMW a strut bar is a simple way to make the body slightly stiffer without adding even more weight to the car. Under the rear axle the construction looks like someone has found out that the original construction wasn't sufficient! 🤔

[@olehsavchuk]

@@DalasEVRepair you promised that video link and never did!

[@peterdavidhallam]

Thanks for the video! Have you (or anyone else reading) changed the rear springs at any point? I am looking for any guides I can find as the Leaf system looks very different from my other cars.

[@DalasEVRepair]

Yes I changed to stiffer rear springs in this video, only remove 1x 17mm bolt: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHvdiWaFgdypZ6cfeature=shared&t=473

[@kencotton4645]

Dala, has you ever upgraded the struts on the rear liftgate of the Leaf to make it easier to open the rear liftgate? Do you have a recommendation?

[@DalasEVRepair]

I have upgraded the rear struts on another project car. Measure how long the struts are, go to an autostore and buy a suitable length, and oversize the NM force opening. How much NM is required is a good question, check the current struts incase they have any stamped values. Then just oversize by 25%, and voila, the boot will fly open!

[@18avshalom]

I'd love to personalize my LEAF with CCS.

[@BlackThorne]

Are you doing a track monster?

[@DalasEVRepair]

Maybe 😉

[@johntrygvehaaverstad5671]

I see You have CarPlay inn The Nissan leaf. Do You have a video There you instal CarPlay. And have you a link to me where you buy CarPlay?

[@marcg1686]

Hi Dala, I don't use goop to protect the strut threads. I use the caps from a Golf Mk1. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gqCZqoRmiZZraac

[@DalasEVRepair]

Nice!

[@selrahc2061]

I know your about sedan's. But could you do a truck conversion? We need significant range in the rural areas if the usa. 400 to 500 KM minimum.

[@idrisddraig2]

Damien Maguire has one planned.

[@selrahc2061]

I would suggest a 1 ton chassis for a truck, because of the battery weight. And something from the early 2k. Cast iron block heavier later are aluminum, and with the delete should be better with batteries. Maybe a propane Genset for remote work.

[@CrAzYDr1veR]

Strut bars are illegal in poortugal 😢

[@jameswyatt1304]

Wow, just wow. Do you know the rationale?

[@mchipelo]

@@jameswyatt1304 Anything that is not factory fitted is illegal. Certain items you can legalize but cost a fortune.

[@NISMOSkylineGTR]

But if car has to be dismantled to find out, how can you ever get caught? Also, if a car part has a tuv certification, it will be legal, due to EU regulations.

[@CrAzYDr1veR]

@@jameswyatt1304 socialist dictators, no automotive culture, in their minds you buy it like that, it stays like that.

[@CrAzYDr1veR]

@@NISMOSkylineGTR The leaf is the only car where you can hide the strut bar. Tuv is worthless in poortugal, strut bar only if it comes stock an you need a special authorisation from the brand. Radio with tft, spacers and yellow koni shocks are illegal too even if they are just aftermarket things.

[@markplain2555]

Wanna turn your leaf into speed monster? There is a gearbox in the leaf with 2 simple gears - a small gear connected to the motor turning a larger gear connected to the wheels. Simply swop the two gears and your Leaf will become a speed monster. . . . Okay it's so easy to swop the gears but if you can - wow the car will accelerate like a Tesla plaid. Don't worry about torque, the Leaf can pull 4 times its own weight - we know it can because there is a video on KZbin showing a Leaf towing 3 other Leafs. . . . Another upgrade - there is a lift kit you can buy from Russia (maybe someone makes it outside Russia) that is intended to 'raise' the Nissan Juke. It fits the Leaf, and you will be able to raise the suspension by about 100mm which will give you an entirely higher ride ( SUV sensation).

[@nandobarreto2]

Hi Dala, I have a project involving a Leaf and sent you an e-mail, i think would be nice content for the channel (and of course some work for your shop). Please, let me know if you dont receive my mail.

[@W4rH4wkXX]

great job! but your intro crashed.... install some windows updates to fix it please 😉🤣

[@gilletphilippe4473]

😢😢 also illegal in Belgium!! Even installing a trailer hitch on a leaf is not allowed!! I live in a controle freak country

[@DalasEVRepair]

😢

[@yobatube3718]

Есть сьемное сцепное устройство. Крюк вынимается и ничего не видно. У нас в России продают.