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Lowered my 2015 N17 Sedan

39K views 43 replies 19 participants last post by  djzubia94 
#1 · (Edited)
That's right, less than 1k miles and I've already modified my suspension. I purchased a set of used (barely) 2014 sedan springs to modify. I ended up cutting about two full coils out of the front for roughly 2" of drop, and one coil out of the rear for about 1.75" of drop. With a full tank of gas, it sits like this.







Now I know some of you will flame me for running cut springs, but honestly, the stock springs and struts on this car have way more height and travel than they need. The ride and handling are actually improved now, in my opinion, and the car feels much more planted on the road. Highway driving is much easier with the lowered ride height, cornering is better, and the struts/shocks do not bottom out. Until there are coilovers more readily available in the USA, this will have to do.

In the process of modifying my suspension, I also discovered that 1st gen (c11) rear springs can be modified to fit the N17 sedan. I had a spare set of Megan springs I used to experiment with. Cutting the bottom dead coil out of the spring will allow it to fit in the rear perch of the N17. The top coil is the same as the stock spring, and it does not need to be modified.
While the ride and handling were perfectly fine, the drop was just a touch too low (about 2.25") and I ended up with reverse rake. Here's a picture of the Megan spring I modified to fit my car, installed.



Unfortunately the front springs on the C11 have a much larger diameter, and they cannot be modified to fit the N17. I don't think you can transfer struts from the C11 either. The space in the fender well only allows for a very narrow spring and strut.

If anybody has any suspension questions about the second gen sedan, let me know. I have been under my car measuring, researching, and test fitting, so I have a pretty good handle on what's going on under there!
 
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#2 ·
Here are a few more pics for research purposes. I took close ups to show the fender gap after the drop.
Front:


Rear:


And here's a couple of what the rear spring perches look like.
Upper perch (The spring is dropped down to show the profile of the perch) :


Lower perch:
 
#5 ·
Thanks Grizz - I was contemplating purchasing coilovers from a new company called Gecko Racing, but ultimately decided to start building an air ride setup for this car instead. The cut springs get me a more acceptable ride height in the meantime. :wink

Looks good, much better than factory. :thumbsup:
Thanks Josh - I responded to your PM.
 
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#10 ·
Nice job modifying your vehicle with so few miles on it!

Though I personally wouldn't ever cut springs, I am glad you are happy with the handling difference. Are you planning on changing out the shocks as well? I have zero idea what is available in terms of "performance shocks" but in in my experience in the Honda world, the factory shocks/struts won't last long at all with such an extreme drop. Have you got it aligned to see how it affected the toe and camber? Just something to keep in mind. Good Luck!
 
#11 ·
Alignment showed minimal change in toe and almost no change in camber. There isn't much available for this car stateside in terms of performance suspension. I did, however, receive these bad boys a few weeks ago. Just waiting for warmer weather to put them on. BR Racing BR Type Extreme Drop. >:D


 
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#14 ·
It depends on the generation. The stock springs from my N17 (2015) are the same size as those on the Note, but I don't know if the spring rates are the same. Coilovers for the Note will fit the 2015 sedans and vice-verse.

I contacted BC Racing to have these built because I wanted the "Extreme Low" option, which essentially gets you an additional 20mm of height adjustment on the front end. You can contact them through their website, tell them what you need, and they'll set you up with a distributor. I got mine built for the same price as the Megans.
 
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#15 ·
Also, I had to negotiate pricing through a BC distributor here in the Midwest, but the coilovers actually shipped to me direct from the BC factory in Taiwan.
 
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#20 ·
BC's are installed. I'm still working out the ride height I want. A 3.5" drop front and rear makes the car appear to have reverse rake, even though the rear has more ground clearance than the front. I think this is due to how high the fenders are cut up front. I may actually have to take a couple locking collars out of the front to get it down low enough.
I have a few more big things in the works for the N17 as well. :smile
Here are some teaser shots.

 
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#22 ·
BC's are installed. I'm still working out the ride height I want. A 3.5" drop front and rear makes the car appear to have reverse rake, even though the rear has more ground clearance than the front. I think this is due to how high the fenders are cut up front. I may actually have to take a couple locking collars out of the front to get it down low enough.
I have a few more big things in the works for the N17 as well.

Here are some teaser shots.

That's how mine sits now as well, and never really thought of the front fenders being up to high and making the car not look low enough. Gonna probably do the same and remove one or two locking collars. Good luck!
 
#24 ·
No, you would need to modify your upper strut mount to install a camber plate. I seriously hate the top mount design on this car. It's awful. I may investigate modifying the strut tower to accept Cube or Juke camber plates at some point.

I will likely be using one camber bolt on each side to dial it in. I didn't need them with the stock wheels though, there is plenty of clearance for the bicycle tires. :wink
 
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#29 ·
I found and eliminated the problem this weekend. I had my rear shocks set way too short, and there was almost no downward travel in the suspension. I added about an inch to the overall length of the rear shocks and all is well.
By the way - These BC coilovers really ride like a dream. I'm about 10 levels down from full hard in the back, and 15 levels down from full hard up front.
 
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#36 ·
Just got my Versa last week. Loving the manual tranny. Been years since I have driven with a stick. I am having a hell of a time finding a way to get this thing lower though. I am not looking even for what you got going on, but with stock everything, the heigth is the first thing that needs to be addressed.
 
#39 ·
Sorry to revive an old thread, just wanted to let everyone know.
@dude baker sold his Versa two and a half years ago. I bought his J2 cat back exhaust he was selling on OfferUp, but he no longer participates in the Versa scene.

For those of you who wish to continue on the discussion about BC BR coils for the 2G sedan, here is still a great place to do so! But keep in mind that OP is no longer with us [emoji17]

Sent from my uleFone Armor_3T using Tapatalk
 
#40 ·
That's right, less than 1k miles and I've already modified my suspension. I purchased a set of used (barely) 2014 sedan springs to modify. I ended up cutting about two full coils out of the front for roughly 2" of drop, and one coil out of the rear for about 1.75" of drop. With a full tank of gas, it sits like this.







Now I know some of you will flame me for running cut springs, but honestly, the stock springs and struts on this car have way more height and travel than they need. The ride and handling are actually improved now, in my opinion, and the car feels much more planted on the road. Highway driving is much easier with the lowered ride height, cornering is better, and the struts/shocks do not bottom out. Until there are coilovers more readily available in the USA, this will have to do.

In the process of modifying my suspension, I also discovered that 1st gen (c11) rear springs can be modified to fit the N17 sedan. I had a spare set of Megan springs I used to experiment with. Cutting the bottom dead coil out of the spring will allow it to fit in the rear perch of the N17. The top coil is the same as the stock spring, and it does not need to be modified.
While the ride and handling were perfectly fine, the drop was just a touch too low (about 2.25") and I ended up with reverse rake. Here's a picture of the Megan spring I modified to fit my car, installed.



Unfortunately the front springs on the C11 have a much larger diameter, and they cannot be modified to fit the N17. I don't think you can transfer struts from the C11 either. The space in the fender well only allows for a very narrow spring and strut.

If anybody has any suspension questions about the second gen sedan, let me know. I have been under my car measuring, researching, and test fitting, so I have a pretty good handle on what's going on under there!
Hey guys I just bought a 2018 Nissan versa sedan, looks pretty much identical to your 2015, but anywhere I look up parts they end at 2017, so I'm wondering if I have the same suspension setup or not and cannot find anything for my specific vehicle. It is definitely needing to be lowered 1.5"-2"
 
#41 ·
The suspension setup for the 2017 to 2019 models should be the same as the 2015 to 2017 models, as there is no major change between the two aside from minor electronic features that Nissan offered in the final production years for the 2G sedan. BC Racing is the only manufacturer that makes suspension components for the 2G sedan, and their cheaper sub brand Megan Racing offers coilovers in two options: Street (red) series, and EZ Street (blue) series. CARiD and other sites have the Megan Racing kits available, just be sure to note the separate spring and shock absorber for the rear that separates the 2G sedan suspension from the Note models.

BC Racing makes the top-of-the-line coilover suspension for the 2G sedan, it's the most expensive option but the highest quality option as well. You have to contact BC Racing directly to get the model number and appropriate build for your model car, then they will direct you to a licensed distributor that will ship the kit to you. As far as right now though, there are no lowering coil kits available for the 2G sedan. They make them for the Note models, but they will only work for the front on the sedan models. The rear suspension is not a combination McPherson strut assembly like it is in the front.
 
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