Your Vehicle: 2009 Nissan-Datsun Altima V6-3.5L (VQ35DE)
 
Vehicle » Steering and Suspension » Technical Service Bulletins » All Technical Service Bulletins » Recall PC012 - Front Strut Insulator Cracking » Service Procedure  
 
 
  Service Procedure  
 
NOTE:
^ Replace both front strut insulators.

^ The photos in this procedure are for the driver side, the passenger side is similar.

  

1. If equipped; remove the strut covers (see Figure 1).

^ Driver side has 2 clips.

^ Passenger side has one clip.

  

2. Remove the front wheels.

  

3. Remove the brake hose clip and brake hose from the strut bracket (see Figure 3).

4. Remove the ABS sensor harness from the strut brackets 2 spots (see Figure 3).

5. Remove the sway bar end link nut (see Figure 3).

IMPORTANT:
^ Hold the link with a wrench on the opposite side to prevent damage to the end link joint.

^ Keep the nut; it will be reused during reassembly.

6. Loosen - do not remove - both strut to knuckle nuts (see Figure 3).

IMPORTANT:
Do not fully remove nuts at this time.

  

7. Remove the 3 upper strut mounting bolts.

^ Keep the bolts; they will be reused during reassembly.

  

8. Remove the strut to knuckle nuts & bolts.

^ Discard the nuts; new nuts will be used during reassembly.

9. Remove the strut assembly from the vehicle.

  

10. Securely "bench mount" the strut assembly.

11. Use a suitable spring compressor to compress the strut spring.

WARNING:
Make sure the spring compressor is securely connected / hooked to the spring.

  

12. Remove the center nut at the top of the strut.

^ Discard the nut, a new nut will be used for reassembly.

13. Remove the strut mounting insulator.

14. Install the new strut mounting insulator.

  

^ The new insulator has 2 white dots in the center (see Figure 8).

^ Make sure the insulator is positioned correctly, as shown in Figure 8.

15. Install the new center nut at the top of the strut.

^ Torque the nut to 73.2 N·m (7.46 kg-m, 54 ft-lb).

16. Gradually release the spring compressor tension and remove the spring compressor.

  

17. Make sure the lower end of the spring coil is correctly and firmly seated in the spring seat as shown in Figure 9.

  

18. Install the strut assembly into the vehicle.

^ Use new nuts on the strut to knuckle bolts.

^ Install loosely - do not tighten - at this time.

  

19. Install the 3 top strut mounting bolts.

^ Torque bolts to 35.3 N·m (3.6 kg-m, 26 ft-lb).

^ Apply a small amount of multi-purpose grease to the threads on the strut center shaft.

  

20. Torque the strut to knuckle nuts (see Figure 12).

^ Torque bolts to 139.6 N·m (14.2 kg-m, 103 ft-lb).

21. Install the sway bar end link nut (see Figure 12).

^ Torque nut to 78.6 N·m (8.0 kg-m, 58 ft-lb).

IMPORTANT:
Hold the link with a wrench on the opposite side to prevent damage to the end link joint.

22. Install the ABS sensor harness into the strut brackets 2 spots (see Figure 12).

23. Install the brake hose and clip into strut bracket (see Figure 12).

24. Install the front wheels.

^ Tighten lug nuts in a 3 step diagonal pattern,

^ Final torque 113 N·m (12 kg-m, 83 ft-lb).

25. If equipped, reinstall the strut covers.

26. Use an alignment rack to check / set the front toe.

^ Make sure the alignment rack has been recently calibrated.

Toe-in specification:

Minimum: 0

Nominal: 1 mm

Maximum: 2 mm