Front Suspension & Oil Cooler Questions

[The Grand Pooh-Bah]

I'm getting ready to start on the next phase of the 20 year Maintenance.

Going to replace
Ball Joints
Lower Control Arms
Rack & Pinion Boots
Inner Tie Rods
Rack & Pinion Mounting Bushings
Oil Cooler O-Rings

Suggestions, Tips, Don't Do That or other ideas???
Should I do one side at a time, tear everything apart or ???
Do you have to remove the Rack to replace the bushings?
Any trick at replacing the oil cooler o-rings?

Thanks

[mdmellott]

When I replaced the seals on my oil cooler, all I had to remove was the center stud bolt to replace the o-ring on that piece. There was just enough room to move the cooler assembly out of position to pull out the large rubber ring and replace it without having to remove the water/coolant hoses.
The steering rack mount bushings were easy enough to replace when I did mine. The rack does not have to be removed. When the four bolts (two for each bushing) are removed, there will be just enough play in the rack to lift it enough to take out the old bushings and put the new ones in.
I replaced my worn out steering rack boots and outer tie rod ends at the same time. One side at a time, so I knew my alignment would not be too far out of whack and that I would be able to drive it in to a shop for a proper alignment when I was done. My inner tie rod ends appeared good and tight so I left those alone. So far so good, two years later.
I should have done the ball joints at the same time because one of mine was worn out but I didn't realize it until I got the alignment done, and then done again two weeks later after I replaced the ball joints.
The bushings on my control arms were still in fair shape at that time. They are still doing well but I know it's just a matter of time. When that time comes, I will likely just replace the bushings since the control arms themselves are in good shape.
All the replacement parts I purchased for the above tasks were Genuine Nissan OEM.

[The Grand Pooh-Bah]

Grrr! I ended up getting the wrong rack boots. I'm assuming the 2001.5 bit me. I found that my boot is longer and has a larger opening at the rack end. The longer version should be here tomorrow. I was pleasantly surprised that the Detroit Axel upper ball joints had zerk fittings. I got the heavy duty Mevotech MK90662 lower ball joints, which also had zerk fittings. Had to postpone the alignment.

The Oil cooler repair was a challenge, couldn't get a standard socket and ratchet on the center nut. I ended up using my Channellock 39100 Ultra Access Socket and a ratchet wrench to get the nut off and back on.

Hopefully I will get this project wrapped up tomorrow.

[mdmellott]

When I bought my lower ball joints, to begin with, I too purchased the Mevotech MK90662 product. I was impressed with the technical specs but had numerous issues with supplier quality control and mixed deliveries, getting one GK90662 and one MK90662. Both were listed as fitting my '02 Pathfinder but the GK model was not the heavy duty model I ordered. The order was corrected very fast but then I found the heavy duty ball joints had an interference with the end of the CV joint at the knuckle. I suppose it will work with a 2WD but not a 4WD. I posted pictures of this on Amazon reviews.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001K ... merReviews
I ended up getting OEM after that.

As for the upper ball joint? What upper ball joint? Your '01.5 QX4 must have two if that's what you bought, regarding the Detroit Axle part. My '02 only has a lower, no upper, and I don't see an upper on the '01 or '02 QX4 at Infiniti Parts Deal. https://www.infinitipartsdeal.com/parts ... m=400_B001 I don't see an upper in the FSM either but I do see that the '01.5 QX4 is a 4WD. I have to assume you are referring to the outer tie rod end as the upper ball joint. It is technically a ball joint and it is above the lower ball joint.

Check your installation of the lower Mevotech ball joint carefully to be sure the extra tall ball cup is not pinching against the end of the CV joint. If you actually received the standard Mevotech ball joint with the short ball cup, which is more or less the same size as OEM, then it will likely fit just fine. If that is the case, as you can see in the pictures I posted on Amazon, you may have been sent the GK model by mistake, as I was mistakenly sent one of two incorrectly, even though both packages were marked with the same MK model part number.

[The Grand Pooh-Bah]

I stand corrected, I was calling the tie rod end a upper ball joint. The inner tie rod and tie rod end are made by Detroit Axle. It was the Tie Rod end that I was surprised to have zerk fittings.

I will find out this evening if the ball joint is too tall. I have a set of the GK and MK ball joints.

[The Grand Pooh-Bah]

They must have changed the Mk version of the ball joint. They are the same height as the GK version and I had no issue installing them. The Mevotech heavy duty version MK90662 ball joint works!!!

Got the alignment done today and it drives straight as an arrow.

Also if you have the KOYO steering rack then the Beck Arnley 103-3070 Steering Rack Boot fits like a glove. ****The Beck Arnley 103-2731 is too small*****