Q45a disable active suspension?

[jonja]

i just bought a good condition Q45a and the active suspension still works. The thing is i want to put coilovers on my car but i'd like to option to put the acctive stuts back on if i choose.

is there any way to bleed/disable the system so that i can take off the stuts but leave all the lines in tact? it would be a shame to have to take out the system permanently. i don't see too many of these around.

[TBrack]

good to see you joined! i'm sure someone here can help you more than I could.

[silver2k2]

It can be done, you would need to seal off the lines. If any dirt gets in it probably wont work again, and you will have loose hardware all over the place. Check out posts from Texasoil to refurb and get a susp controller from japan to lower and raise below and above stock

[elwesso]

going from the active to coilovers is DEFINITELY a downgrade.

[jonja]

yes i love the ride of the active. but i also hate the stance. if there is anyway to piggyback the system please let me know.

[velvet hammer]

Yeah , i just deactivated mine and the ride SUX

[jonja]

when you deactivated it does it sit lower

[bruce.weiland]

Jonja,

How much lower do you want to go?

Of course lowering your car tends to take you away from the sweet spot in the middle of your suspension travel.

Here is the good news. If you are only after a inch or so of lowering you can get it done very quickly.

Pull out your Infiniti "bible", the compact shop manual. Look at the drawings and locate the "ride hight sensors" one for each side in the front and one for each side in the rear.

When you are under the car, look from the grill toward the suspension. The sensors are mounted verically and about the diameter of a 50 cent piece and maybe 3/16 thick. I don't recall whether you need a screw driver or a nut driver to adjust them.

You will need two small wrenches, maybe 9mm and 10mm to adjust the linkage on the rear sensors.

What you will be doing is "fooling" your car into thinking it is riding higher that it actually is.

This is easy to do. Once you have adjusted the sensors take the car for a short drive and then measure the wheel well distance to ground at the center of the arch. (you will want to take these measurements before you begin) If they are all 1" lower, then you are golden. If not you will need to do some additional adjusting. It won't take long for you to dial it in.

Realize that you will now running more negative camber.

Hope this helps. Have fun.

Bruce Current 94 activePrevious 91 active and 95 active

[texasoil]

I was asked if I know anything about after-market active system controllers (from Japan)

No, I do not have any personal knowledge.

[jonja]

thank you for all your help. i don't think 1" will be enough. i think i will temporarily remove the struts. has anybody had experience with this before?

if i bleed the system, disconnect the plug going to the pump looking thing on the left side of my engine bay and the one in the back, and seal off the lines going to each strut. you think i could re-install everything again later?

[3Q Jay]

yeah, i've deactivated an HG50 for another member.it's a pain to do right. you will still be trying to pump fluid, and you will burn out your pump if you don't recirculate.

i know it's your car and all and i usually don't butt in, but i think you are a fool to hack up a working active system.

if you want some 'rake' then just swap the front and rear strut accumulators.

if you want a slammed look, then you can open the multivalve and let all the pressure out of the system. i wouldn't drive it around long like that, but at least you won't be contaminating hydraulics.

[jonja]

how do i open the multivalve? i won't be riding like that for long. and how do i re-pressurize the system?

[texasoil]

resealing active system pressure? go to my webstore site "activesuspensionsystems.com' and read the section on 'removing and installing 9 accumulators.

Quickly, multi-valve is driver side in front of fender-well liner. On the valve assembly is a threaded headless bolt pointing back, with a lock nut. Screw that threaded bolt IN to open the main pressure control valve (which will release all system pressure.) Be careful, as the car WILL drop to the spring bumpers when the pressure is released.

[maxnix]

i know it's your car and all and i usually don't butt in, but i think you are a fool to hack up a working active system.

Finally, the voice of truth.

When someone says "stance", you know they are talking about static cartoon looks, not dynamic suspension performance.

Why convert a car with one of the best supensions in the world into an ornamental doorstop?

[jonja]

because if i wanted a car that handled good. i would have just bought another sports car.

don't worry i only need it low for one day.

if i tighten the miltivalve and turn the car on, will it re-pressurize?

[maxnix]

1.) because if i wanted a car that handled good. i would have just bought another sports car.

2.) don't worry i only need it low for one day.

1.) Then why did you buy one of the best handling luxury sedans ever made? To make it one of the worst?

2.) Doorstop day, I presume?

[elwesso]

Actually a slightly easier way may just be to undo one of the bleeders on the struts.. in my small experience on the active if you lower the pressure it will stay constant when the car is off, so bleeding one actuator should be enough. you'll lose some fluid, but it shouldnt be a lot, the same amount you'll lose by opening the multivalve.

Ive also heard that pulling the "actv" fuse when the car is running will drop the car to the ground.

There is DEFINITELY an easier way to slam an active than take the struts out.

[redmanfx]

because if i wanted a car that handled good. i would have just bought another sports car.

don't worry i only need it low for one day.

?? Not to sound mean but, did you ever buy the wrong car to do this for one day! You are messing with one of the most complex cars ever made with arguably the best suspension ever produced for us. And your suspension works!!!!! Peeps would give their left nut for your car and you want to have a better stance? Did you know the Active has a lower stance then the reg Q anyway?

Hope all works for you.

[texasoil]

If you decide to lower your Q45a for a day by screwing IN on the multi-valve pressure release, simply screwing it back OUT will restore functioning.

During the time you are running with the multi-valve main pressure control valve (open), it will not hurt anything. It will be circulating a lot of oil however, and the active pump may (will) make more noise than usual.