## FRONT SUSPENSION

### Strut

#### REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION

##### Sentra and 200SX

Fig. 1:Positioning of strut alignment mark -- 1995-97 Sentra and 200SX

1. Raise and support the vehicle on jackstands.
2. Remove the wheel.
3. Detach the brake tube from the strut. If equipped with ABS, disconnect the ABS wiring from the strut.
4. Support the transverse link with a jackstand.
5. Detach the steering knuckle from the strut.

   NOTE: Note the positioning of the strut alignment mark for reassembly purposes.

6. Support the strut and remove the three upper attaching nuts. Remove the strut from the vehicle.

   CAUTION
   Never loosen the center spring retaining nut until the coil spring is compressed, or serious injury or vehicle damage may occur.

7. Place the strut assembly in a vise with the special holding tool ST35652000 or in a spring compressor.
8. Loosen the piston rod locknut.
9. Compress the spring with the spring compressor then remove the piston rod locknut.

   NOTE: Before removing the strut from the coil spring, note the positioning of the strut in relationship to the coil spring for reassembly.

10. Remove the strut mounting insulator bracket, strut mounting bearing, upper spring seat, and the upper spring rubber seat.
11. Remove the strut, leaving the coil spring compressed.
12. Remove the piston boot and rebound bumper from the strut.

    To install:

13. Install the rebound bumper and the boot to the strut piston.
14. Install the strut into the coil spring, make sure the strut and spring are properly positioned.
15. Install the upper spring rubber seat, upper spring seat, strut mounting bearing, and the strut mounting insulator bracket. Make sure that the cutout on the upper spring seat is facing the outside of the vehicle.
16. Install the piston rod locknut then remove the spring compressor.
17. Torque the piston rod locknut to 43-54 ft. lbs. (59-74 Nm).

    NOTE: When installing the strut, be sure to position the alignment mark toward the outside of the vehicle.

18. Position the strut to the vehicle and install the 3 upper attaching nuts. Tighten the upper mounting nuts to 18-22 ft. lbs. (25-29 Nm).
19. Connect the steering knuckle to the strut and tighten mounting nuts of the mounting bolts to 68-82 ft. lbs. (92-111 Nm) .
20. Connect the brake tube to the strut and connect the ABS wiring to the strut, if it was removed.
21. Bleed the brake system and install the wheel.
22. Perform a front end alignment.

##### Altima

Fig. 2:Positioning of strut alignment mark -- Altima

1. Raise and support the vehicle on jackstands.
2. Remove the wheel.
3. Detach the brake tube from the strut. If equipped with ABS, disconnect the ABS wiring from the strut.
4. Support the transverse link with a jackstand.
5. Detach the steering knuckle from the strut.
6. Support the strut and remove the three upper attaching nuts. Remove the strut from the vehicle.

   WARNING
   Never loosen the center spring retaining nut until the coil spring is compressed, or serious injury or vehicle damage may occur.

   To install:

   NOTE: When installing the strut, be sure to position the alignment mark toward the outside of the vehicle.

7. Position the strut to the vehicle and install the three upper attaching nuts. Tighten the upper mounting nuts to 29-40 ft. lbs. (39-54 Nm).
8. Connect the steering knuckle to the strut and tighten mounting nuts to 87-108 ft. lbs. (118-147 Nm).
9. Connect the brake tube to the strut and connect the ABS wiring to the strut, if it was removed.
10. Bleed the brake system and install the wheel.
11. Lower the vehicle and perform a front end alignment.

##### 1993-94 Maxima

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable. If equipped with adjustable struts, disconnect the sub-harness connector at the strut tower.
2. Raise and safely support the vehicle.
3. Remove the wheel. Mark the position of the strut-to-steering knuckle location.
4. Detach the brake tube from the strut.
5. Support the control arm.
6. Remove the strut-to-steering knuckle bolts.

   NOTE: On models equipped with adjustable struts, remove the shock absorber actuator-to-plate bolts and separate the actuator from the plate; the plate is located on top of the strut.

7. Support the strut and remove the 3 upper strut-to-chassis nuts. Remove the strut from the vehicle.

   WARNING
   Never loosen the strut center nut until the spring is compressed or serious injury or vehicle damage may occur.

   To install:

8. Install the strut assembly onto the vehicle and torque the strut-to-body nuts to 29-40 ft. lbs. (39-54 Nm). Tighten the strut-to-knuckle bolts to 116-123 ft. lbs. (157-167 Nm).
9. If equipped with a shock absorber actuator, install the actuator and torque the actuator-to-plate bolts to 2.2-2.8 ft. lbs. (2.9-3.8 Nm).
10. If the brake hose was disconnected from the brake caliper, bleed brakes and install the wheel. Reattach the brake hose to the strut.
11. Connect the negative battery cable and the adjustable strut electrical connectors, if equipped.
12. Check and/or adjust the wheel alignment.

##### 1995-97 Maxima

1. Raise and safely support the vehicle.
2. Remove the wheel. Matchmark the position of the strut-to-steering knuckle location.
3. Disconnect the brake hose from the strut.
4. Remove the ABS wheel sensor and move it out of the way.
5. Matchmark and remove the bolts attaching the steering knuckle to the strut.
6. Open the hood and remove the strut attaching nuts while holding the strut.

   CAUTION
   Do not remove the center locknut from the strut assembly until the strut is safely compressed.

7. Remove the strut from the vehicle.
8. Place the strut assembly in a vise with the special holding tool ST35652000 or in a spring compressor.
9. Loosen the piston rod locknut.

   CAUTION
   Do not remove the piston rod locknut, the spring is under tension and can cause serious personal injury.

10. Compress the spring with the spring compressor then remove the piston rod locknut.

    NOTE: Before removing the strut from the coil spring, note the positioning of the strut in relationship to the coil spring for reassembly.

11. Remove the strut mounting insulator bracket, strut mounting bearing, upper spring seat, and the upper spring rubber seat.
12. Remove the strut, leaving the coil spring compressed.
13. Remove the piston boot and rebound bumper from the strut.

    To install:

14. Install the rebound bumper and the boot to the strut piston.
15. Install the strut into the coil spring, make sure the strut and spring are properly positioned.
16. Install the upper spring rubber seat, upper spring seat, strut mounting bearing, and the strut mounting insulator bracket. Make sure that the cutout on the upper spring seat is facing the outside of the vehicle.
17. Install the piston rod locknut then remove the spring compressor.
18. Torque the piston rod locknut to 43-58 ft. lbs. (59-76 Nm).
19. Install the strut into the strut tower and install new attaching nuts. Torque the nuts to 29-40 ft. lbs. (39-54 Nm).
20. Install the bolts attaching the steering knuckle to the strut and align the matchmarks. Torque the bolts to 103-117 ft. lbs. (140-159 Nm).
21. Install the ABS wheel sensor and torque the attaching bolt to 13-17 ft. lbs. (18-24 Nm).
22. Install the brake hose to the strut.
23. Install the front wheels and lower the vehicle.
24. Check and/or adjust the wheel alignment as necessary.

##### 240SX

Fig. 3:Positioning of strut alignment mark -- 240SX

1. Raise and support the vehicle on jackstands.
2. Remove the wheel.
3. Detach the brake tube from the strut. If equipped with ABS, disconnect the ABS wiring from the strut.
4. Support the transverse link with a jackstand.
5. Detach the steering knuckle from the strut by removing the two through bolts.
6. Support the strut and remove the three upper attaching nuts. Remove the strut from the vehicle.

   WARNING
   Never loosen the center spring retaining nut until the coil spring is compressed, or serious injury or vehicle damage may occur.

7. Compress the strut coil spring with a spring compressor.

   CAUTION
   If coil spring is not properly compressed serious injury could result.

8. Remove the strut assembly center locknut.

   NOTE: Before removing the strut from the coil spring, note the positioning of the strut in relationship to the coil spring for reassembly.

9. Separate the strut from the coil spring. Keep the coil spring compressed.

   To install:

10. Install the strut into the coil spring.
11. Install and torque the center locknut to 43-58 ft. lbs. (59-78 Nm).

    NOTE: When installing the strut, be sure to position the alignment mark toward the outside of the vehicle.

12. Position the strut to the vehicle and install the three new upper attaching nuts. Tighten the upper mounting nuts to 29-40 ft. lbs. (39-54 Nm).
13. Connect the steering knuckle to the strut and tighten mounting through bolts to 84-98 ft. lbs. (114-133 Nm) for 1993-94 vehicles or 90-112 ft. lbs. (123-152 Nm) for 1995-96 vehicles.
14. Connect the brake tube to the strut and if it was removed, connect the ABS wiring to the strut.
15. Bleed the brake system and install the wheel.
16. Perform a front end alignment.

##### 300ZX

1. Raise and support the vehicle safely.
2. Remove the front wheels.
3. Lightly jack under the lower arm to unload the suspension.
4. Remove the nut connecting the lower portion of the strut to the third link.
5. From under the hood and remove the two nuts holding the top of the strut to the chassis.

   CAUTION
   Do not remove the center nut from the strut piston. The center nut retains the coil spring, which is contained under considerable pressure. Improper servicing can lead to vehicle damage and serious injury.

6. If equipped with adjustable or Sonar suspension shocks, disconnect the electrical lead from the actuating unit.
7. Lower the jack slowly and cautiously until the strut assembly can be removed.

   To install:

   NOTE: On vehicles with Sonar suspension, before installing the actuator ensure the output shaft of the actuating unit is aligned with the shock absorber control rod. If this is not done, the actuator will be damaged.

8. Position the strut in the vehicle and using 2 new self-locking nuts, torque the nuts holding the top of the strut to 25-33 ft. lbs. (34-44 Nm).
9. If equipped with adjustable or Sonar suspension shocks, connect the electrical lead to the actuating unit.
10. Connect the strut assembly to the knuckle arm and torque the mounting nut to 72-87 ft. lbs. (98-118 Nm).
11. Install the front wheel and lower the vehicle.
12. Check front wheel alignment and adjust if necessary.