How to Replace Front Struts 06-12 Nissan Altima

Difficulty: Advanced · About 100 min · Nissan Altima

Replace the front struts on a 2006-2012 Nissan Altima.

Steps

1. Remove the wheel

   Loosen the 21mm lug nuts with the car on the ground, raise and support it, remove the lug nuts and hub cap, then pull off the wheel.

2. Remove the old strut

   Remove two of the three top 13mm mounting bolts (leaving the last loose for safety), remove the sway bar link from the strut by holding it with a 19mm wrench while removing the nut with an 18mm socket, pull the ABS wire grommets from their brackets, tap out the brake line bracket's retaining clip with a hammer and pry bar and free the hose, remove the two lower 21mm bolts and nuts with a wrench, socket and breaker bar, then remove the last top 13mm bolt and take the strut out.

3. Install the new strut

   Hold it in place and loosely thread the three top 13mm bolts, seat the knuckle in the lower mounting bracket, replace the two lower 21mm bolts and nuts and torque them to about 103 ft-lb, refit the ABS wire grommets, reconnect the brake line hose and its retaining clip, reattach the sway bar link, compress the strut to ride height by jacking under the knuckle, torque the top 13mm bolts to about 26 ft-lb, then remove the jack.

4. Reinstall the wheel

   Slide it into place, attach the hub cap, start the 21mm lug nuts by hand, lower the car partway, torque the lug nuts to about 83 ft-lb in a star pattern, then lower it completely.

Check your vehicle’s repair manual for exact specifications and fit.