Shock-Strut replacement '98 QX4

[mtbhadfield]

I have done strut replacements in other vehicles so I understand the concept, but was wondering if there is a writeup anywhere that lists the procedure to replace the front struts and rear shocks on a 1998 QX4?

I searched this forum but didn't come up with anything.

Thanks in advance for your help,

Brian

[NISTECH]

the rear shocks are a simple bolt off and on. The struts are a bit more difficult the hardest part is doing it safely ,you need to use a very reliable spring compressor so you dont loose any limbs are get impaled by the spring. other then that it too is simply unbolt the three nuts at the tower,DO NOT remove the center bolt till the spring compressors have compressed the spring which is done after the struts out of the car. after you undo the 3 nuts lift the truck up by the "frame rail" under neath till the tire is off the ground, remove the tire, remove the 10mm bolt holding the ABS wire to the strut and pop it out of the retianer on the other side, undo the brake line clip holding the brake line to the strut. undo the sway bar link nut at the strut, then remove the 2 bolts holding the strut to the spindle, rotate the steering wheel to give you room to wiggle the strut out of the car. Use a grease pencil or something to mark the spring and hat alignment start at the notch on the bottom of spring on the strut spring base and mark all the way to the hat plate. This is where the job becomes dangerous. you need to install the spring compressor and compress it till it moves freely in betwwen the strut bottom on the hat. this is when you remove the center nut. once you have the center nut off do not bang the spring around to much. remove the old strut, extend the tower on the new one till it is fully extended. NOTE: these particular struts like to retract rather then extend so you may need to poke a pair of long nose pliers and a rag [you dont want to scar the strut rod]through the spring to hold the tower extended till you get the hat nut started. from that point on it is pretty much install in reverse order. when you go to reinstall it back into the top where the three nuts go you put the tire back on and slowly lower the car down a little at a time while you keep aligning the strut so it will line up into the three holes in the strut tower.

[mtbhadfield]

Thanks NISTECH! I appreciate the help. Sounds about like what I expected. I have a decent set of spring compressors so it shouldn't be too bad.

Thanks again,

Brian