Your Vehicle: 2009 Nissan-Datsun Altima V6-3.5L (VQ35DE)
 
Vehicle » Technical Service Bulletins » All Technical Service Bulletins » Campaign PC005 - L/H Rear Suspension Knuckle » Service Procedure » Steps 1 to 4 For Vehicles Equipped With A Hand Operated Parking Brake  
 
 
  Steps 1 to 4 For Vehicles Equipped With A Hand Operated Parking Brake  
 

Steps 1 to 4 for vehicles equipped with a hand operated parking brake.

  

1. Lift the parking brake handle to expose the hole for the adjustment nut.

2. Make sure to count the number of turns in the next step.

3. Loosen the parking brake cable adjustment nut; don't completely remove it.

^ Use a 10 mm deep socket to loosen (turn counterclockwise).

^ Count the number of turns.

^ Leave the nut on the shaft with 3 to 4 threads showing.

4. Write down / record the number of turns you counted.

Number of turns________

^ This number will be needed during reassembly.

5. Release the parking brake.

6. Raise the vehicle.

^ Make sure the parking brake is released.

7. Remove the left rear wheel nuts (lug nuts), do not remove the wheel.

8. Before removing the wheel:

  

a. Put a mark on one wheel stud.

b. Put a mark on the wheel next the marked stud.

NOTE:
Paper correction fluid from an office supply store can be used to mark the wheel and stud.

  

9. Remove the brake caliper assembly.

^ Do not disconnect the brake caliper hydraulic line.

^ Secure the brake caliper assembly out of the way.

CAUTION:
Do not allow the brake caliper to hang by the brake hydraulic hose.

10. Put a mark on the brake rotor next to the stud you marked in step 8.

11. Remove the brake rotor.

12. Disconnect the left rear parking brake cable as follows:

  

a. Open the cable pin retainer (see Figure 6).

  

b. Remove the cable pin.

  

c. From the back side of the left rear knuckle, remove the parking brake cable mounting bolt.

d. Remove (pull out) the parking brake cable.

  

13. Remove the ABS wheel sensor and the sensor bracket.

  
  

14. Remove the four hub mounting bolts shown in Figure 11.

  

15. Remove the hub.

  

16. Remove plastic cover.

  

17. Remove the two mounting bolts for the backing plate assembly shown in Figure 13.

  

18. Remove the backing plate assembly with brake shoes attached.

  

19. Place a jack under the front sub-frame (see Figure 15).

^ This will help support and stabilize the vehicle while compressing the coil spring in step 21.

  

20. Place another jack under the left rear lower link.

21. Raise the jack and compress the coil spring about 5 inches.

  
  
  

22. Remove the knuckle mounting bolts and knuckle as follows (see Figures 17 and 18)

A. Remove the lower shock mount bolt.

B. Remove nut and bolt for rear lower link.

^ If the spring is compressed enough, the bolt will come out easily.

^ Discard the nut. Use a new one for reassembly.

C. Slowly release the pressure on the spring (lower the jack) until the jack can be removed.

D. Remove the nut and bolt for the radius arm.

^ Discard the nut. Use a new one for reassembly.

E. Remove the nut and bolt for the front lower link.

^ Discard the nut. Use a new one for reassembly.

CAUTION:
Hold onto the knuckle in this step. It will come loose from the upper ball joint easily.

F. Remove the cotter pin and nut from the upper ball joint.

^ Discard the cotter pin. Use a new one for reassembly.

Install new left rear knuckle

  

23. Insert the ball seat into the new knuckle and then install knuckle on upper ball joint.

NOTE:
The ball seat may have stayed on the ball joint during disassembly, or it may be in the old knuckle.

  

24. Start the ball joint nut and tighten by hand only.

25. Install the following bolts and nuts for the knuckle supports in this order (see Figure 22):

A. Position the front lower link and install bolt. Install new nut snug, do not torque.

B. Position the radius arm and install bolt. Install new nut snug, do not torque.

C. Position the jack under the rear lower link and compress the spring.

D. Install the bolt for rear lower link (adjust the jack to align the bolt holes). Install new nut snug, do not torque.

E. Position the lower shock mount to knuckle and install bolt.

F. Lower the jack and remove it from under the rear lower link.

  

26. Torque bolts / nuts to the following specifications (see Figure 22).

27. Torque the nut on the upper ball joint to 97.7 Nm (9.96 Kg-m, 72 ft-lb) and install a new cotter pin (see Figure 21 above).

^ New cotter pin is listed in the Parts Information.

  

28. Install backing plate assembly on the knuckle.

  

29. Install backing plate mounting nuts.

Torque to:

88.3 Nm (9.0 kg-m, 65 ft-lb)

  

30. Install the plastic cover.

^ Make sure the tab is in the slot.

  

31. Install the hub.

  

32. Install the four hub mounting bolts shown in Figure 27.

Torque to:

88.3 Nm (9.0 kg-m, 65 ft-lb)

  

33. Install the ABS wheel sensor and the sensor bracket.

Torque mounting bolts to:

9.0 Nm (0.92 kg-m, 80 in-lb)

34. Install the left rear parking brake cable as follows:

a. Slide the cable in from the back side of the knuckle.

  

b. Install the cable pin (see Figure 29).

c. Close the pin retainer (see Figure 29).

  

d. From the back side of the knuckle, install the parking brake cable mounting bolt.

Torque to:

35 Nm (3.6 kg-m, 26 ft-lb)

  

35. Install the brake rotor.

^ Make sure to match the marks on the rotor and the stud.

36. Install the brake caliper.

Torque spec for caliper torque member mounting bolts:

84.3 Nm (8.6 kg-m, 62 ft-lb)

  

37. Install the left rear wheel.

^ Make sure to match the marks on the wheel and the stud.

^ Use a "star" pattern when tightening wheel nuts (lug nuts).

^ Tighten in 3 steps.

^ Final wheel nut torque:

112.5 Nm (11.5 kg-m, 83 ft-lb)

38. Remove jacks from under the vehicle and lower the vehicle.

39. Reposition the parking brake cable adjustment nut.

For foot operated parking brake

  

Tighten (turn clockwise) the parking brake cable adjuster nut to its original position.

NOTE:
In step 3 you should have written down the number of threads that were showing before loosening the adjuster nut.

(Or the length between the shaft end and the adjuster nut.)

For hand operated parking brake

  

Tighten (turn clockwise) the parking brake cable adjuster nut to its original position.

NOTE:
In step 4 you should have written down the number of turns that were needed to loosen the adjuster nut.

40. Perform rear wheel alignment using an approved and calibrated alignment machine.