front strut/spring replacement

[jmanng]

Hi:

I have a 2001 pathfinder le (4wd) and both front springs have broken/corroded a couple of months back. since last fall, the vehicle is only for winter driving but a couple of months back I had both front springs crack/split into two pieces (corroded). I decided to start taking it apart today, see the extent of what needs to be replaced and then decide what to do if anything. I've loosened up all of the bolts (with oil) but the stabilizer link bar keeps spinning on me - they've freed up some but corrosion buildup on outside is preventing nut from coming out. It has a nut on the inside but even with a wrench on the inside it just spins free, seems the inside nut spins/loosens in the same direction and then run out of threads and spins free. I have the same issue with stabilizer links on both sides. Is there any trick to keeping the pin locked so I can get the nut worked off the last 1/4".

btw - the strut towers look to be in decent shape although the driver side does have some rot above frame (I took it in for the inspection a few years back and they said it was fine - had it back in a couple of hours so obviously they didn't do anything/much)

thanks,
Jaime

[Hawairish]

Hi Jaime,

Since it seems like that 2nd nut is doing exactly what you think it is doing (spun off the threads, no more thread), you might need to take a pair of vise-grips to the newly exposed threads, just to keep it from spinning to some extent. Unfortunately, those nuts are generally torqued on tightly. You may need to be more destructive, possibly cutting the bolt with a hacksaw. Since corrosion seems likely (considering your spring dilemma), you may have little other options.

Some links (like the ones on mine) also have an allen head socket at the end of the bolt. I think some other replacements lack this feature.

[jmanng]

Was resisting doing that but I may have no choice. maybe I'll tighten back up the back nut and then clamp in behind it.
the link does have the allen head end, but I struck out there as well.
thx for input

[Hawairish]

This might seem a little counterintuitive, but with the backing nut loose, you may want to re-try the allen and box wrench approach, but this time try tightening the nut. If the small threaded area is okay (and presumably so if the backing nut came loose without issue), then you might have a better chance of just breaking it free. Then, once free, take a brass or steel wire brush to clean up the threads before attempting to remove the nut.

If you need more leverage from the wrench, you can try hooking two wrenches together. It can be a knuckle buster for sure, but it works in pinch.

You may also have better luck disconnecting it on the sway bar end, and just pull the strut with link still attached. This will give you more working room. You can drive without the sway bar attached, if you need to just get it on the road...in that case, you're better off disconnecting the opposite end of the bar also and tying it up so it doesn't come into contact with the suspension. Of course, the truck may feel a little lighter on its feet, but it'll be streetable.