### Lower Control Arms

#### REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION

##### Sentra and 1995-97 200SX

1. Raise the vehicle and support it safely.
2. Remove the front wheels.
3. Remove the disc brake caliper from the steering knuckle.

   WARNING
   DO NOT allow the disc brake caliper to hang from the brake hose. Support the disc caliper with safety wire.

4. Remove the cotter pin and loosen the wheel bearing locknut.
5. Remove cotter pin and the castle nut from the tie rod ball joint. Separate the tie rod with a suitable puller.
6. Remove the two bolts that secure the lower portion of the strut to the steering knuckle.
7. Using a plastic or rubber mallet, tap on the loosened wheel bearing locknut to loosen the halfshaft in the knuckle. Remove the locknut and remove the halfshaft from the steering knuckle. Be sure to cover the CV-joints with a shop rag.

   NOTE: Support the halfshaft assembly with wire. Do not allow the halfshaft to hang by the inner joint.

8. Remove the nut that secures the stabilizer link to the lower control arm and disconnect the link from the control arm. Note the positioning of the washers and spacers for reassembly.
9. Remove the cotter pin and castle nut from the lower ball joint.
10. Separate the lower ball joint from the knuckle and remove the knuckle from the vehicle.
11. Remove the mounting nuts/bolts that secure the lower control arm to the frame and remove the control arm from the vehicle.

    To install:

    NOTE: Final tightening of all suspension components should take place with the weight of the vehicle on the wheels.

12. Install the lower control arm assembly and tighten mounting bolts/nuts as follow:
    1. Tighten the through bolt and nut to 76-87 ft. lbs. (103-118 Nm).
    2. Tighten the two saddle bracket mounting bolts to 58-72 ft. lbs. (78-98 Nm).
13. Connect the steering knuckle to the lower ball joint and tighten the lower ball joint castle nut to 43-54 ft. lbs. (59-74 Nm). Install a new cotter pin.
14. Connect the stabilizer link to the lower control arm and tighten the link mounting nut to 12-16 ft. lbs. (16-22 Nm).

    NOTE: When installing cotter pins to castle nuts, always tighten the castle nut further to align the cotter pin hole. DO NOT loosen the castle nut to align the cotter pin hole.

    NOTE: When installing the stabilizer link be sure to properly align link.

15. Insert the halfshaft through the wheel bearing and install the wheel bearing locknut. Do not torque the locknut at this time.
16. Install the two bolts that secure the steering knuckle to the strut and tighten the bolts as follows:
    1. 1993-94 vehicles -- Tighten to 84-98 ft. lbs. (114-133 Nm).
    2. 1995-96 vehicles -- Tighten to 68-82 ft. lbs. (92-111 Nm).
17. Connect the tie rod end and tighten the tie rod castle nut to 22-29 ft. lbs. (29-39 Nm). Install a new cotter pin.
18. Install the disc brake caliper to the steering knuckle.
19. Tighten the halfshaft mounting nut (hub nut) and torque the nut to 145-202 ft. lbs. (196-274 Nm). It may be necessary to have an assistant hold the brake pedal while tightening the locknut. Install the adjusting cap and a new cotter pin.
20. Install the front wheels, lower the vehicle, and perform a front end alignment.

##### Maxima

1. Raise and safely support the vehicle.
2. Remove the front wheels.
3. Remove the ABS wheel sensor and move it out of the way.
4. Remove the wheel bearing locknut.
5. Disconnect the tie rod from the steering knuckle.
6. Matchmark then remove the bolts attaching the strut to the steering knuckle.
7. Separate the halfshaft from the steering knuckle by lightly tapping the end of the shaft.
8. Separate the steering knuckle and the lower ball joint.
9. Disconnect the stabilizer bar from the lower control arm.
10. Remove the bolts attaching the link bushing pin to the chassis. If necessary, remove the nut attaching the link to the control arm and remove the link.
11. Remove the bolts attaching the compression rod bushing clamp and remove the lower control arm/traverse link.

    To install:

12. Install the lower control arm and the compression rod bushing clamp into the vehicle.
13. Install the link bushing pin, if removed from the control arm.
14. Tighten all bolts and nuts until they are snug enough to support the weight of the vehicle but not fully tight, the bolts should be torqued to specification with the vehicle on the floor.
15. Install the steering knuckle to the lower control arm and connect the ball joint. Torque the ball joint nut to 46-56 ft. lbs. (62-76 Nm).

    NOTE: Always use a new nut when installing the ball joint to the control arm.

16. Connect the steering knuckle to the strut and to the halfshaft.
17. Install the strut mounting bolts and align the matchmarks. Torque the bolts to 103-117 ft. lbs. (140-159 Nm).
18. Install the tie rod ball joint and torque the nut to 46-54 ft. lbs. (63-73 Nm).
19. Install the wheel bearing locknut
20. Install the ABS wheel sensor and torque the attaching bolt to 13-17 ft. lbs. (18-24 Nm).
21. Install the front wheels, lower the vehicle and torque hub locknut to 174-231 ft. lbs. (235-314 Nm).
22. Torque the bolts attaching the compression rod bushing clamp and the link bushing pin, in the proper sequence to 87-108 ft. lbs. (118-147 Nm).

    Fig. 1:Bolt tightening sequence for the lower control arms -- 1995-97 Maxima

23. If the link bushing pin was removed from the control arm torque the attaching nut to 87-108 ft. lbs. (118-147 Nm).
24. Torque the sway bar attaching nut to 30-35 ft. lbs. (41-47 Nm).
25. Check the vehicle alignment.

##### 300ZX

NOTE: The lower ball joint is integral with the lower control arm (transverse link). They are removed and replaced as an assembly.

1. Raise and support the vehicle safely.
2. Remove the front wheels.
3. Disconnect the ball joint stud from the steering knuckle.
4. Disconnect the tension rod from the lower control arm.
5. Remove the mounting through bolt connecting the lower control arm to the suspension crossmember.

   NOTE: It may be necessary to turn the steering wheel to move the steering rack for removal of the through bolt.

   To install:

   NOTE: When installing the control arm, temporarily tighten the nuts and/or bolts securing the control arm to the suspension crossmember. Tighten them fully only after the vehicle's weight is resting on the wheels.

6. Install the lower control arm and install the through bolt with securing nut. At this time only snug the mounting nut.
7. Connect the ball joint stud to the knuckle and torque the nut to 65-80 ft. lbs. (88-108 Nm). Install a new cotter pin.
8. Connect the tension rod to the control arm and torque the nuts as follows:
   1. Convertible models torque to 69-83 ft. lbs. (93-113 Nm).
   2. Non-convertible models torque to 80-94 ft. lbs. (108-127 Nm).
9. Install the wheels and lower the vehicle to the floor.
10. Once the full weight of the vehicle is on the suspension, torque the inner lower arm mounting bolt nut to 80-94 ft. lbs. (108-127 Nm).

##### 240SX

1. Raise and support the vehicle safely. Allow the lower control arm to hang free.
2. Remove the front wheels.
3. Remove the cotter pin and castle nut from the tie rod end. Disconnect the tie rod end from the steering knuckle.
4. Remove the cotter pin and castle nut from the ball joint stud.
5. Using the proper tools, separate the knuckle from the ball joint.
6. Remove the stabilizer bar link from the lower arm.
7. Remove the nuts and bolts that connect the lower control arm to the tension rod.
8. Remove the bolt that connects the lower control arm to the crossmember and remove the lower control arm from the vehicle.

   To install:

   NOTE: Torquing of the suspension components should be performed with the full weight of the vehicle resting on the suspension.

9. Connect control arm to the crossmember and install the through bolt, lockwasher, and nut. Tighten the nut to 65-80 ft. lbs. (88-108 Nm) for 1993-94 vehicles or 80-94 ft. lbs. (108-127 Nm) for 1995-96 vehicles.
10. Install the nuts that connect the lower control arm to the tension rod. Secure the bolts and tighten the mounting nuts to 69-80 ft. lbs. (93-108 Nm).
11. Install the stabilizer bar transverse link to the lower arm and tighten the link to 14-22 ft. lbs. (20-29 Nm).
12. Connect the knuckle to the lower ball joint. Tighten the castle nut to 71-88 ft. lbs. (96-120 Nm) and install a new cotter pin.
13. Connect the tie rod end to the knuckle and tighten the castle nut to 22-36 ft. lbs. (29-49 Nm). Install a new cotter pin.
14. Install the front wheels and lower the vehicle.
15. Tighten all nuts and bolts to specification and perform a wheel alignment.

##### Altima

###### Transverse Link

1. Raise and safely support the vehicle.
2. Remove the front wheels.
3. Unbolt and disconnect the stabilizer bar. The bar is removed by unfastening the nut that hold the bar to the transverse link gusset plate.

   NOTE: Take note of position of marks on clamp face and stabilizer bar for reassembling.

4. Remove lower ball joint to knuckle cotter pin and nut. Separate ball joint stud from knuckle using the proper tool.
5. Remove transverse link mounting bolts and nuts and remove link.

   To install:

6. Install transverse link with mounting bolts and nuts. Tighten nuts and bolts to 87-108 ft. lbs. (118-147 Nm).

   NOTE: The final tightening of suspension components must be done with wheels on the ground and vehicle at curb weight.

7. Install the lower ball joint to the knuckle, tighten the nut to 52-64 ft. lbs. (71-86 Nm) and install a new cotter pin.
8. Reattach the stabilizer bar link to the transverse link. Tighten the stabilizer link nuts to 30-35 ft. lbs. (41-47 Nm).
9. Install wheels and safely lower vehicle to ground.
10. Check the front end alignment.