Nissan Titan Front Strut Removal

Introduced in 2004, the Nissan Titan was intended from the outset to be a different kind of truck for a new generation of truck buyers. Technology from all across Nissan's wide model range went into this advanced platform; the chassis underpinnings from an Infiniti Q45, a VK-series V6 related to the one found in Nissan's 490 horsepower Super GT GT-R race car, and a strong fully-boxed frame helped the Titan win a nomination for 2004 Truck of the Year and a best-in-class award from Edmunds. The Titan uses an easily maintained hybrid coil-over shock/strut arrangement that is unusual for a vehicle in this segment.

Things You'll Need

  • Floor jack and jack stands (2)
  • Lug wrench
  • Metric sockets, wrenches and gear-wrenches, full set
  • 6-inch extension
  • Hammer
  • Loosen the lug nuts on the wheel you're working on but do not remove them. Slide a floor jack under the Titan's frame just behind the front wheel and lift the truck until the wheel dangles about 2 inches off the ground. Insert the a jack stand under the frame just behind the floor jack and lower the truck onto it. Remove the wheel lug nuts and wheel and set the wheel on the floor to use as a seat.

  • Use a 17mm gear wrench to remove the bolt that secures the sway bar (anti-roll bar) end link to the sway bar itself. You could remove the sway bar end link from the lower suspension control arm, but removing the link from the bar is quicker and will simplify re-installation.

  • Loosen the upper ball joint nut with a 22mm deep-well socket but do not remove it. You need only a little extra room to work the strut free; removing the bolt entirely will only complicate reassembly.

  • Remove the strut-to-control arm bolt with a 19mm wrench and socket with a 6-inch extension. Slide a floor jack under the lower control arm and raise it until it just contacts the arm. The jack is there only to keep the brake rotor from dropping on your foot, so don't use it to lift the suspension in any way. Tap the bolt free with a hammer and remove it.

  • Lower the floor jack to move the control arm away from the strut bottom. Use a 14mm gear wrench to remove the three bolts that secure the top of the strut to the upper strut mount. Have an assistant carefully lower the strut as you remove the final bolt.