Nissan PULSAR N13 Series / ASTRA LD Series. Manual - part 40

Front Suspension

 

161

 

 

 

View of the suspension unit and knuckle assembly 

removed as a unit to show the cam head bolt. 

(1)  With the piston rod fully extended, install the 

coil springs. Ensure that the spring compressor is 
tightened sufficiently.

 

NOTE: The flat coiled end of the spring 
should face the top and the lower end of the 
spring should be located correctly.

 

(2)  Install the dust cover, bump rubber, insulator, 

spring seat, thrust washer and  mounting assembly 
ensuring that the arrow on the spring seat will face the 
outside of the  vehicle  when  the  suspension  unit 
assembly is installed. 

(3)  Install the piston rod nut and tighten the nut 

securely. 

(4)  Remove the coil spring compressor from the 

suspension unit assembly and tighten the piston rod 
nut to the specified torque. 

(5)  Install the suspension unit assembly to the 

vehicle, holding it in position by loosely installing the 
upper mounting retaining nuts. 

(6)  Install the suspension unit assembly lower 

mounting to the steering knuckle, align the mating 
marks on the cam head bolt and tighten the nuts and 
bolts to the specified torque. 

NOTE: If the cam head bolt is not installed

 

in its original position, a wheel alignment 
must be performed.

 

(7)  Tighten  the upper retaining  nuts  to  the 

specified torque. 

(8)  Install the brake hoses to the suspension unit. 

Lower the vehicle to the ground. 

(9)  Check the front wheel alignment and adjust 

as necessary. Refer to the Suspension and Steering 
Angles heading in this section. 

5.    CONTROL ARM

 

Special Equipment Required:

 

To Renew Ball Joint and Control Arm Bushes — 
Press, suitable tubes and mandrels 
To Test Ball Joint — Small torque wrench or 
preload gauge, spring scale

 

TO REMOVE AND INSTAL

 

(1)  Loosen the front wheel nuts, raise the front 

of the  vehicle and support  it on chassis stands. 
Remove the front wheel. 

(2)  Remove the split pin from the ball joint 

retaining nut and remove the nut. 

(3)  Disconnect the ball joint from the control 

arm using a suitable puller, or alternatively place a 
suitable dolly against one side of the control arm eye 
and strike the opposite side with a hammer until the 
ball joint stud is free from the control arm eye. 

(4) 

Remove the nut retaining the stabilizer link 

to the control arm.

 

(5)  Remove the nut and through bolt from the 

front control arm bush. 

(6)  Remove the bolts from the rear control arm 

bush bracket and withdraw the control arm from the 
vehicle. 

(7)  Inspect the control arm for cracks, damage 

and distortion and renew if necessary. 

(8)  Inspect the ball joint and bushes for damage, 

deterioration and excessive wear. If necessary renew 

BALLJOINT

View of the control arm and associated components. 

162

 

Front Suspension

 

 

the ball joint or bushes as described later in this 
section.

 

Installation is a reversal of the removal procedure 

with attention to the following points:

 

(1)  When   installing   the   control   arm   bush 

bracket, ensure that the protrusion on the bracket is 
towards the inside of the vehicle. 

(2)  Do not fully tighten the control arm bush 

bolts and through bolt nut until the curb weight of the 
vehicle is on the suspension. 

NOTE: Curb weight is with the vehicle 
unladen except for a full tank of fuel and 
normal amounts of oil and water and with 
the spare lyre, jack and hand tools in their 
normal positions.

 

(3)  Tighten the ball joint nut to the specified 

torque and retain with a new split pin.

 

TO CHECK AND RENEW BALL JOINT 

(1) 

Remove the control arm from the vehicle as 

previously described.

 

(2)  Install the ball joint nut and turn the ball 

joint at least ten revolutions to ensure that the ball 
joint is correctly seated. 

(3)  Using a spring scale with the hook placed 

over the split pin hole, check the ball joint swinging 
torque. A new ball joint should measure 15.7-80.4 N 
and a used ball joint should measure 7.8-80.4 N. 
Renew the ball joint if necessary. 

(4) 

Using a small torque wrench or preload 

gauge, measure the force required to rotate the ball 
joint.  A new  ball joint   should   measure  between 
1.0-4.9 Nm and a used ball joint should measure 
between 0.5-4.9 Nm. Renew the ball joint if neces- 
sary.

 

(5)  To renew the ball joint, remove the snap ring 

from the stud end of the ball joint using snap ring 
pliers. 

(6)  Support the control arm in a press, ball joint 

stud uppermost, with a suitable tube that is large 
enough for the ball joint to pass through. 

(7)  Press the ball joint out from the control arm. 
(8)  Press a new ball joint into the control arm 

using a suitable tube that pushes on the outer circum- 
ference of the joint only. 

(9) 

Install the snap ring and install the 

control 
arm to the vehicle as previously described.

 

TO RENEW CONTROL ARM BUSHES

 

(1)  Remove the control arm from the vehicle as 

previously described. Mark the position of the rear 
control arm bush. 

(2)  To remove the rear control arm bush use a 

bearing puller and a press. When installing the bush 
use a suitable tube that pushes on the inner edge of the 
bush only. 

NOTE: Ensure that the bush is installed 
with the flat portion in its original location.

 

(3)  To remove the front control arm bush use a 

suitable tube that pushes on the outer circumference 
of the bush and a split tube supporting the control 
arm. 

(4)  After the bush has been pressed out approx- 

imately half way, cut the protruding part of the bush 
using a hacksaw. Cutting the bush in this way will 
allow removal. 

(5)  Support the control arm and push the new 

bush in from the outside using a suitable tube that 
pushes on the outer circumference only. 

(6)  Install  the  control   arm  to  the  vehicle  as 

previously described. 

6.    STABILISER BAR

 

TO REMOVE AND INSTAL

 

(1)  Raise the front of the vehicle and support it 

on chassis stands. 

(2)  Remove the bolts at the flexible joint retain- 

ing the front engine pipe to the exhaust pipe located 
below the stabilizer bar. 

(3)  Remove the bolt  from the exhaust pipe 

mounting below the stabilizer bar. Disconnect the 
exhaust pipe at the flexible joint and allow the front of 
the pipe to hang down. 

(4)  Remove the stabilizer bar bracket retaining 

bolts and remove the stabilizer bar brackets from the 
vehicle. 

(5)  Remove the stabilizer bar lower link nuts 

from each control arm. When removing the lower nuts 
it may be necessary to hold the upper nuts with a 
spanner. 

(6)  Maneuver   the   stabilizer   bar   from   the 

vehicle. 

Installation is a reversal of the removal procedure 

with attention to the following points:

 

(1) Ensure that the stabilizer bar mounting rub- 

bers are in a serviceable condition and secure in the 
mounting brackets.

 

Dismantled view of one end of the stabilizer bar.

Front Suspension

 

163

 

 

(2)  Ensure that the stabilizer bar links are in 

good condition. Renew if necessary. 

(3)  When installing the stabilizer bar ensure that 

the links are installed perpendicular to the control arm 
with the ball joint socket face parallel to the end of the 
stabilizer bar. 

(4)  Ensure that the brackets are installed with 

the flat portion facing towards the front of the vehicle. 
Tighten the retaining bolts securely. 

7.    SUSPENSION AND STEERING ANGLES

 

ADJUSTMENT

 

NOTE: Extensive knowledge and special- 
ised equipment are required to measure and 
correct the suspension and steering angles 
with the exception of the front wheel toe in. 
Therefore, as it is not a viable proposition 
for the average person to carry out a com- 
plete wheel alignment, the vehicle should be 
taken to a wheel alignment specialist.

 

Prior to carrying out a wheel alignment, a thor- 

ough inspection of the steering linkage, front hub 
bearings, ball joints and suspension units should be 
carried out. Faulty components should be renewed or 
repaired as necessary.

 

The tread of the front tires should be examined 

for excessive or uneven wear as certain conditions of 
tire wear are indicative of damaged or worn compo- 
nents in the suspension, steering linkage and/or wheels 
and bearings. Refer to the heading Tire Wear Trouble 
Shooting in the Wheels and Tires section. If the tires 
are found to be defective, renew them with serviceable 
lyres.

 

TO CHECK AND ADJUST TOE IN/OUT

 

NOTE: The vehicle should be unladen ex- 
cept for the normal amount of fuel and with 
the tires inflated to the correct pressures.

 

(1)  With the vehicle on a level floor, raise the 

front of the vehicle and support it on chassis stands. 

(2)  Spin each front wheel in turn and using a 

piece of chalk, mark a line around the periphery of 
each tire as near to the centre as possible. 

(3)  Lower the vehicle to the ground and bounce 

the front several times to stabilize the suspension. 

(4)  Set the wheels in the straight ahead position. 
(5)  Mark the centre chalk line on both tires at a 

point approximately 200 mm above the floor and 
forward of the suspension. 

(6)  Using a tape measure, measure and record 

the distance between the two marked points on the 
tire centers. 

 

Diagram indicating the front wheel toe in. Refer to 

Specifications for the  correct  difference   between 

measurement A and B. 

(7)  Maintaining the wheels in the straight ahead 

position, roll the vehicle forward until the marks are 
the same distance from the floor but to the rear of the 
suspension. 

(8)  Again using the tape measure, measure and 

record the distance between the marks on the tires. 

(9)  The difference between the front and rear 

measurement will give the correct toe in/out reading. 
If the larger measurement is at the front, the wheels 
are in a toe out position. If the reverse is true, the 
wheels are in toe in position. Compare the reading 
obtained with the figure given in Specifications. 

(10)  If adjustment of the toe in/out is necessary, 

loosen the tie rod locknuts on both sides. 

(11)  Remove the retaining clips from the small 

end of the steering rack rubber boots. 

(12)  Turn the tie rods as required until the correct 

toe in/out reading is obtained. 

NOTE: It is important to turn each tie rod 
equally to maintain the central position of 
the steering gear. Ensure that the lengths of 
the tie rods are the same.

 

(13)  Tighten the tie rod locknuts to the specified 

torque without changing the positions of the adjusters. 

(14)  Install the retaining clips to the small end 

of 
the steering rack rubber boots, ensuring that the boots 
are not twisted. 

164

 

REAR SUSPENSION

 

SPECIFICATIONS

 

Type...........................Independent MacPherson strut

 

Shock absorber.................... Oil filled, non-repairable

 

Maximum hub bearing end float ................. 0.05 mm

 

Rear wheel alignment:

 

Toe out ........................................3 mm ± 2 mm

 

Camber .............................................  - 1 °  ± 45'

 

TORQUE WRENCH SETTINGS

 

Hub retaining nut ......................................... 255 Nm

 

Suspension unit retaining nuts ....................... 29 Nm

 

Upper mounting retaining nut ........................ 72 Nm

 

Suspension unit to knuckle nuts ..................  118 Nm

 

Control arms to knuckle nut ........................  118 Nm

 

Control arms to crossmember nut ...............  118 Nm

 

Stabiliser bar mounting bracket bolts ..........  108 Nm

 

Stabiliser bar retaining nut.............................. 83 Nm

 

Backing plate bolts........................................... 45 Nm

 

1.    REAR SUSPENSION TROUBLE SHOOTING

 

REAR END NOISE

 

(1)    Defective suspension unit or mounting: Re- 

new the faulty components.

 

 

(2)  Loose or worn control arm bushes or pivot 

bolts: Check and tighten or renew the worn compo- 
nents. 

(3)  Broken coil spring: Renew the coil spring, 

preferably in matching pairs. 

(4)  Worn rear hub bearing: Check and renew the 

hub bearing as necessary. 

(5)  Loose or worn stabilizer bar bushes: Check 

and tighten or renew the worn components. 

NOTE: As a quick guide to suspension unit 
condition, bounce the vehicle up and down 
(one side at a time) and observe if the vehicle 
comes to rest in a single movement If the 
vehicle bounces two or three times before 
coming to rest the suspension unit is suspect. 
If suspect, remove the suspension unit and 
check for fractures and leaks. If the 
suspension unit is found to be unserviceable, 
it is good practice to install two new 
suspension units as a matching pair.

 

To check the control arm bushes or pivot 

bolts, insert a lever between the suspect unit 
and its mounting and lever the unit back 
and forth checking for excessive movement.

 

Check the coil springs visually for breaks. 

If the spring is found to be unserviceable, it 
is good practice to install two new coil 
springs as a matching pair.

 

Rear hub bearing noise can be diagnosed 

by raising and supporting the rear of the 
vehicle, spinning one wheel at a time and 
listening for a rumbling noise.

 

POOR OR ERRATIC ROAD HOLDING ABILITY

 

(1)  Low or uneven tire pressure: Inflate to the 

recommended pressures. 

(2)  Incorrect rear wheel alignment: Check and 

adjust the rear wheel alignment as necessary. 

(3)  Defective suspension unit: Renew the faulty 

suspension unit, preferably in pairs. 

(4)  Loose or broken stabilizer bar: Check and 

tighten or renew the faulty components. 

Check the stabilizer bar bushes and mounting rubbers 

for wear and deterioration.