Why did Nissan choose Leaf Springs for the
rear suspension ?
I did a search and couldnt find any info.
Thanks

I like leaf springs.

They're tough and easy to lift.

I don't know why they chose it.

Probably because the based it mostly on the Frontier... this way they didn't have to re-engineer everything?

That's my guess.

They used leaf's 'cause it was on the same chassis as the Frontier.

Not to mention that the Pathfinder is the "soccer mom" lineup, which features coils instead of leafs.

I haven't seen any truck-based SUV's in recent times that have coil rears, except the ones specifically made for on-pavement (Pathfinder) driving.

Heck, Jeep was revolutionary to put coils on the Wrangler in the rear, and look how long it took them to do that...

cheap.

"everything you need and nothing you don't"

Yeah, like torsion bars and an independent front suspension instead of a solid front axle and coils like they should have done from the start

But sure, IFS is everything I need and nothing I don't...unless you count the headaches. :p

X2 on the cheap. Nissan really needs to make some improvements in the rear supsension on the 2nd gens. The 90-95's pathy rear supsension was a lot better IMO.

One of the reasons my neighbor just picked up a FJ cruiser which has a great truck like frame was because of improvement in the rear suspension and ride as compared to the X which was his other choice. BTW Land cruisers…HD truck frames, 5 link rears with coils since ’91

Coils would work better...but, the costs are because the leaves act to stabilize lateral movement as well as support the truck...so replacing them with coils would have involved designing a completely new suspension, and frame/body, etc, to fit it.

Coils work better, as they do not limit articulaiton the way leaves do...once out of the coil's range of support, the axle just drops by itself....whereas a leaf system progressively loses the support, and then, when unweighted, progressively adds resistance to droop, and eventually stops it.

Coils also don't get cought up under the truck on obstructions, etc. the way leave systems do.

A coil suspension could be cheaply lifted with spacers, or by swaping to longer or stiffer coils, etc...but then might require longer arms, etc...to take full advantage of the extra travel, etc. ($)