How To Install Lowering Springs

The Nissan Versa Tech Discussion forum is the place to discuss Versa performance modifications and maintenance.
Post Reply
User avatar
bulld0g
Posts: 836
Joined: Wed Apr 25, 2007 9:19 am
Car: 2007 Versa SL " Bulld0g Edition "

Post

How To Install Lowering Springs

New Springs

The tools you will need a 17mm is also used for the rear. Start by jacking up the rear of the car and install the jack stands forward of the rear axle.

This is what the stock rear look like in the air.

Insure to place the floor jack underneath the axle and elevate to take the pressure of the the shock and springs

Remove the lower shock bolts on the drive and passenger side shocks using a 17mm socket.

After both bolts are removed lower the floor jack slowly so that you can remove the stock springs.

Replace the stock springs with the new ones and insure that you rotate them into the spring cup Raise the floor jack and reinstall the lower shock bolts, then raise jack high enough to remove jack stands and then lower car slowly….remove jack.

And here is the Before shotAfter

Now For the Front springs….

Jack up the front of the car place the jack stands as far forward behind the wheel wells you can. Remove wheels and this is what you should be seeing.

Remove this nut and bolt…you may need a breaker bar to get them free

Release the brake line clip using a screw driver or some pliers, be careful not to gouge the brake line

Next remove this nut and slide the bolt out…

Remove this nut and bolt…you may need a breaker bar to get them free

This is what you should be looking at now

having a someone help would be good to hold the strut so is doesn’t fall… Remove the top three strut bolts…and remove the strut.

Compress the spring with a spring compressor (or you can take them to a shop for about $30-$40) remove the top strut nut and remove the cap…..remove spring replace with new spring, compress new spring reinstall strut cap and bolt and tighten release compressors, reinstall strut in reverse order of removal.

Front springs installed

Repeat for opposite side.

Finished product

Before After

I hope this helps out all of those that are mechanically inclined would like to do this install themselves.....It took about an hour and a half from start to finish...I would recomend getting an allignment too....Good Luck
Modified by bulld0g at 6:27 PM 2/2/2008

Top
User avatar
jfanaselle
Posts: 591
Joined: Sat Aug 18, 2007 6:37 pm
Car: 2007 Nissan Versa Hatchback SL, 2008 Nissan Rogue SL

Post

Bulld0g, you are the man. I sure hope this write up ends up in the how-to section on this site! I'm sure this will encourage everyone who's been thinking of purchasing springs but didn't think they could install them (or didn't want to pay a shop for it) to go for it! Remember everyone, this entire mod only costs $169 plus tax and shipping if you get the springs from versaspeed.com.

Did you take all those photos when you installed them with the intent of creating a how-to? I know you did this mod quite some time back.
Top
User avatar
bulld0g
Posts: 836
Joined: Wed Apr 25, 2007 9:19 am
Car: 2007 Versa SL " Bulld0g Edition "

Post

jfanaselle wrote:Did you take all those photos when you installed them with the intent of creating a how-to? I know you did this mod quite some time back.
Yes, I took them through each step while I was installing them.....I always take pix when install parts incase I don't remember where something went the only reason I didn't have pix of the the springs being compressed is I didn't have someone to take the pix and do it
Top
User avatar
Vahagn23
Posts: 725
Joined: Fri Aug 24, 2007 1:59 am
Car: NIssan Versa S

Post

nice write up thanks :D
Top
User avatar
Neo Xian Wu
Posts: 157
Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2007 5:45 am
Car: 08 Nissan Versa S Hatchback 6spd

Post

awesome. i was wondering when someone would do a write up.
Top
User avatar
blindsnyper
Posts: 3020
Joined: Mon Oct 01, 2007 12:33 am
Car: 2007 versa
Location: oregon

Post

because of this thread i ordered my springs
Top
motoguy128
Posts: 403
Joined: Sun Sep 10, 2006 12:57 pm
Car: 2007 Nissan Versa S - 6 Speed

Post

Just a note... an impact wrench could be used in place of a breaker bar, and you're less likely to scrape you knuckles, or strip the nut head or shear the bolt or stud. I bought a cheap $50 electric one a few years ago to change the drive sprocket on my motorcycles. A breaker bar will just turn the engine. It's also makes removing axle bolts and the bolt holding the clutch basket much easier.

It's handy for hard to remove lug nuts too. If you have compressed air, a pnematic one would be better, and it sounds really cool too.

Top
User avatar
bulld0g
Posts: 836
Joined: Wed Apr 25, 2007 9:19 am
Car: 2007 Versa SL " Bulld0g Edition "

Post

Hey Mods can I get this sticky'd or put in the tutorial section......Thanks
Top
Great White Versa
Posts: 446
Joined: Wed Sep 26, 2007 11:48 pm
Car: 2007 Nissan Versa S HB 6sp

Post

Just a side note... I did mine today and I needed a 21 mm socket for the bolts in this picture:



Also, the bolt on top of the passenger side strut HATED me. It was some how damaged and wouldn't come off. My neighbor and I had to go at it with vice grips and an allen wrench to get the bolt to turn without turning the strut. I think that it took about an hour and a half just do to that one. lame.
Top
User avatar
Johniboi
Posts: 724
Joined: Sun Dec 23, 2007 6:18 pm
Car: Versa
Contact:
Contact Johniboi

Post

same here dude! Yur not alone on that one...
Top
User avatar
superskunk
Posts: 1416
Joined: Tue Apr 08, 2008 11:16 pm
Car: '07 Super Black Versa S Hatch,'06 Super Black Murano SL

Post

i did my springs today too... and i have to say that bolt kicked my a55... i got really tired of it and just took them both to a shop to compress and remove the bolt.... it worked so much better with the impact wrench.... oh yeah and thanks bulldog... thanks for the pics... i would have been totally lost with out them
Top
User avatar
eduenrique
Posts: 57
Joined: Fri Jan 05, 2007 6:52 am
Car: Nissan Tiida MR18

Post

I wish Nissan had put an easy access to remove the top three strut bolts, actually the third one on the drivers side.

There's a cap on the passenger side so you can access the third bolt...not the same on the drivers side.

do you have pics on this part of the job?
Top
User avatar
bulld0g
Posts: 836
Joined: Wed Apr 25, 2007 9:19 am
Car: 2007 Versa SL " Bulld0g Edition "

Post

there is a cap on the driver side too....just need a long extension
Top
keanucosmo
Posts: 151
Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2007 1:07 am

Post

Thanks for the detailed writeup.
Top
User avatar
2dr_sentra
Posts: 139
Joined: Mon Sep 24, 2007 1:13 pm
Car: 1997 200SX SE-R, 2007 Versa SL 6spd

Post

hows the ride?
Top
User avatar
Gr8dave37
Posts: 254
Joined: Fri Apr 18, 2008 10:27 am
Car: 2008 Blue Onyx Versa S

Post

ok...I had my springs installed today and the car seems to be "bottoming out" I went over some train tracks and man it was not fun. Could the guy have not cut the part on the front strut and that be causing the problem...or is something else wrong cuz this ride is anything BUT normal feeling
Top
User avatar
CodeRed
Posts: 3410
Joined: Sat Jan 27, 2007 5:59 am
Car: 2008 Nissan Versa S MT
Contact:
Contact CodeRed

Post

It is a lowered car, take it slow over the speed bumps and train tracks. Stiffer spring rates = stiffer ride.
Top
User avatar
superskunk
Posts: 1416
Joined: Tue Apr 08, 2008 11:16 pm
Car: '07 Super Black Versa S Hatch,'06 Super Black Murano SL

Post

dont forget to also watch for potholes and dips.... and watch out for steep driveways....
Top
User avatar
XFreeRollerX
Posts: 28
Joined: Tue Mar 18, 2008 7:37 am
Car: Nissan Versa S, 6spd Manual, Dk. Blue!

Post

OP: Pix are missing
Top
User avatar
bulld0g
Posts: 836
Joined: Wed Apr 25, 2007 9:19 am
Car: 2007 Versa SL " Bulld0g Edition "

Post

I still can see the pics.....were you looking from work or something? if so it may be blocked
Top
User avatar
Skim302
Posts: 296
Joined: Fri Sep 14, 2007 3:53 am
Car: Nissan Versa S

Post

I just got my springs in yesterday and I was calling places today to see if anyone could install them because I dont have the spring compressor. I called 3 places and everyone of them said they dont do springs. One of them said that they dont do it because lowering springs are illegal in Delaware and when I go to the DOT they will get me for it. I dont believe them because when I put my new rims on it made the car sit higher so putting the lowering springs on it is only going to return it to stock height. Is it true?
Top
User avatar
zm911
Posts: 27
Joined: Thu Nov 06, 2008 8:22 pm
Car: Nissan Versa

Post

I was thinking of installing lowering springs but before i order them i have a question?I have after market rims 16 and tires installed, if i install the lowering springs will the tires grind against the car?Does anybody know?
Top
User avatar
viet510racer
Posts: 201
Joined: Wed Apr 30, 2008 10:42 pm
Car: 08 Black V SL

Post

aye bulldog, i have the same springs as u do and was wondering how to jack up the car?? the car seems to be too low for a regular jack to go under it, i have to use the stock jack to lift it up before i use my jack. was wondering if u jack up ur car differently?!

any suggestions would help lots, and thanks
Top
User avatar
lovesaga
Posts: 69
Joined: Mon Sep 29, 2008 7:52 am

Post

Hi one of the pics are missing bulldog. I recently have been thinking about springs, and I have some questions? Is that all there is to install? I'ma quote missing pic, and I would love it if you rated difficulty of install. Would you do it again? Ill have some more questions coming for you.
Top
User avatar
lovesaga
Posts: 69
Joined: Mon Sep 29, 2008 7:52 am

Post

bulld0g wrote:How To Install Lowering Springs

New Springs

The tools you will need a 17mm is also used for the rear. Start by jacking up the rear of the car and install the jack stands forward of the rear axle.

This is what the stock rear look like in the air.

Insure to place the floor jack underneath the axle and elevate to take the pressure of the the shock and springs

Remove the lower shock bolts on the drive and passenger side shocks using a 17mm socket.

After both bolts are removed lower the floor jack slowly so that you can remove the stock springs.

Replace the stock springs with the new ones and insure that you rotate them into the spring cup Raise the floor jack and reinstall the lower shock bolts, then raise jack high enough to remove jack stands and then lower car slowly….remove jack.

And here is the Before shotAfter

Now For the Front springs….

Jack up the front of the car place the jack stands as far forward behind the wheel wells you can. Remove wheels and this is what you should be seeing.

Remove this nut and bolt…you may need a breaker bar to get them free

Release the brake line clip using a screw driver or some pliers, be careful not to gouge the brake line

Next remove this nut and slide the bolt out…

Remove this nut and bolt…you may need a breaker bar to get them free

This is what you should be looking at now

having a someone help would be good to hold the strut so is doesn’t fall… Remove the top three strut bolts…and remove the strut.

Compress the spring with a spring compressor (or you can take them to a shop for about $30-$40) remove the top strut nut and remove the cap…..remove spring replace with new spring, compress new spring reinstall strut cap and bolt and tighten release compressors, reinstall strut in reverse order of removal.

Front springs installed

Repeat for opposite side.

Finished product

Before After

I hope this helps out all of those that are mechanically inclined would like to do this install themselves.....It took about an hour and a half from start to finish...I would recomend getting an allignment too....Good Luck

Modified by bulld0g at 6:27 PM 2/2/2008
The pic under the jack is missing by the way.
Top
User avatar
lovesaga
Posts: 69
Joined: Mon Sep 29, 2008 7:52 am

Post

Okay I remember!BulldogWhat Spring set?What Struts?How should do realign? Get someone to do it or buy a align kit?
Top
User avatar
lovesaga
Posts: 69
Joined: Mon Sep 29, 2008 7:52 am

Post

Bulldog did you get the aftermarket camber adjustment kit?
Top
User avatar
bulld0g
Posts: 836
Joined: Wed Apr 25, 2007 9:19 am
Car: 2007 Versa SL " Bulld0g Edition "

Post

Tanabe Springs, and I did not use a camber kit. Still riding on the Stock struts\shocks, 30K+ miles on the V since lowering and no issues
Top
User avatar
lovesaga
Posts: 69
Joined: Mon Sep 29, 2008 7:52 am

Post

Thanks Bulldog when I get to lowering I might ask you some questions. I will be ordering springs due to this write up!
Top
User avatar
TiidaPTY507
Posts: 14
Joined: Fri Oct 17, 2008 4:38 am
Car: Nissan Tiida 2007

Post

Have anyone seen blue Tanabe NF210 springs? Are they the same as the red ones?
Top
Post Reply

Return to “Versa Technical Discussions”

Search for Nissan stuff on ebay!

Find Your Forum!

 

NICOclub's Nissan forums and Infiniti forums and all affiliated sites are the property of HDS Holdings, Inc.
They are independent publications and are not affiliated with or endorsed by Nissan or Infiniti.

Information Copyright © 2000-2024 by NICOclub, all rights reserved. Material may not be copied or reprinted without written permission.

Privacy Policy