Operation Nissan Almera Classic inevitably leads to suspension wear, especially on domestic roads. One of the first elements to fail are those responsible for damping vertical vibrations—the front shock absorbers assemblies.
If you notice a characteristic knocking noise when driving over bumps, your car pulling to the side, or uneven tire wear, it’s time to think about replacing front struts. Ignoring this problem can lead to accelerated destruction of levers and silent blocks.
The replacement process requires care and the availability of special tools, but if you follow the technology, you can do it yourself. We will analyze all the stages from diagnostics to the final tightening of fasteners so that you can return the car to its former smooth running.
Diagnostics and selection of components
Before proceeding with dismantling, it is necessary to accurately determine the condition of the suspension. Often owners Nissan Almera Classic they hear a knock and immediately change the shock absorbers, forgetting to check support bearings and anthers. If the support is worn out, even a new rack will knock.
To diagnose, just rock the car with your hands from top to bottom. If, after stopping the effort, the machine makes more than one oscillation, the shock absorber has lost its properties. Also carefully inspect shock absorber strut for oil leaks and mechanical damage.
When choosing spare parts, it is important to understand the difference between buying only a cartridge and a stand assembly. For Nissan Almera Classic Most often it is recommended to replace the entire assembly, since the life of the spring and support is often comparable to the life of the shock absorber itself.
Here is a list of popular brands that perform well on this model:
- 🔧 KYB (Excel-G or Ultra SR) - excellent balance of price and quality, the most popular choice.
- 🔧 Monroe — reliable shock absorbers with a good margin of safety.
- 🔧 SS20 is a domestic brand offering comfortable and sporty versions.
It is important to consider that reinforced springs are often installed on the rear axle for carrying loads, but it is not recommended to install them on the front axle without a good reason.
⚠️ Attention: Never buy the cheapest analogues without checking for authenticity. A fake can collapse after 5,000 kilometers, which will lead to loss of controllability.
- KYB
- Monroe
- Sachs
- SS20
Necessary tools and preparation
For successful work, you will need a standard set of wrenches and several specific tools. Without spring remover (ties) it will not be possible to safely dismantle the rack. Trying to compress the spring with a pry bar may result in injury or part failure.
Prepare the socket heads for 12, 14, 17 and 19 mm, as well as keys of the same size. Don't forget about hammer, wheel wrench and jack with reliable stands. It is advisable to have a penetrating lubricant like WD-40 on hand.
If the nuts are stuck, use grinder or oxygen burner, but be extremely careful with rubber suspension elements. It is better to carry out work on a pit or a lift, since access to the lower fastenings from below is often limited.
List of necessary actions before starting work:
- 🔧 Secure the car on a flat surface, turn on the handbrake.
- 🔧 Lift the front part and install it on coasters under the thresholds.
- 🔧 Remove the front wheels for free access to the components.
☑️ Preparation for replacing racks
Removing the old rack
We start by unscrewing the upper nuts securing the shock absorber to the body. They are located under the hood in a niche shock absorber strut. We unscrew the three nuts securing the support, holding the rod from turning with a hexagon or wrench.
Next we move on to the lower mount. Nut fastening to steering knuckle usually has the size 19 mm. If it does not unscrew, do not use excessive force to avoid stripping the threads. It is better to warm up the junction.
To release the strut from the steering knuckle, you will need to knock out the bolt. This can be done using a hammer and drift. Sometimes the bolt jams and then you have to use screed for the spring directly on the machine to relieve the assembly a little.
Once the bolt is removed, carefully pull the entire rack down. Be careful not to damage the brake hose and ABS sensor wiring (if equipped). The entire assembly is removed entirely, including the spring and support.
⚠️ Attention: Before unscrewing the bottom bolt, make sure that the stand is not under load. A slight compression of the spring can cause the assembly to fly out at high speed.
What to do if the bolt is stuck tightly?
Use a penetrating lubricant an hour before work. If this does not help, carefully heat the nut with a gas torch, avoiding heating the stand itself and the rubber elements. Sometimes you have to cut off the nut, leaving the bolt for later knocking out or cutting a new thread.
Assembling a new rack
Now that the old part has been removed, you need to transfer the elements to the new rack or install the finished assembly. If you are changing only the shock absorber, rearrange upper support, bearing and boot from a used part.
Inspect support bearing. If it has play or is noisy when rotating, it must be replaced. The new support should rotate easily and without jamming. Also check the condition compression buffer - it should not be torn or flattened into a piece of rubber.
Assembly occurs in the reverse order, but with important nuances. The spring must be compressed before installation to prevent it from flying out. Make sure that the ends of the spring fit correctly into the seats of the upper and lower supports.
Observe the correct tightening sequence:
- 🔧 First tighten the shock absorber rod nut (inside the spring).
- 🔧 Install the unit on the car.
- 🔧 Tighten the lower bolt attaching to the fist.
- 🔧 Finally, tighten the upper support nuts.
Before fully tightening all the nuts on the new assembly, make sure that the spring fits into the grooves without distortion. This is critical to the longevity of the suspension.
Technical nuances and specifics of Nissan Almera Classic
Feature Nissan Almera Classic is the design of the steering knuckle, which may be susceptible to corrosion. When removing the lower bolt, pay attention to the condition of the threads in the knuckle itself. If it is damaged, the part will need to be repaired or replaced.
It is important to orient the rack correctly during installation. Some modifications have marks or a specific shape of the lower support, which does not allow the part to be placed upside down. However, it never hurts to double-check the direction.
When tightening the shock absorber rod nut, use a torque wrench if possible. The recommended tightening torque is usually approx. 30-40 Nm, but it’s better to check the technical documentation for a specific modification.
| element | Recommended tightening torque (Nm) | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Shock absorber rod nut | 35-40 | Keep the rod from turning |
| Nut fastening to the knuckle | 85-100 | Castle nut + cotter pin |
| Upper support nuts | 25-30 | Three nuts, tighten crosswise |
| Stabilizer bolt | 25-30 | Often requires replacement with a new one |
⚠️ Attention: Do not tighten the lower strut nut all the way until the vehicle is lowered onto its wheels. This will create incorrect tension on the rubber bushings and lead to their rapid destruction.
The correct orientation of the spring and the absence of distortions during assembly are the key to the fact that the new rack will serve its entire intended life without any extraneous noise.
Wheel alignment and final check
After replacing the front struts with Nissan Almera Classic procedure is required wheel alignment. Any intervention in the suspension geometry changes the wheel alignment angles, and operating the car without adjustments will lead to “eating” the tires in a matter of kilometers.
At this stage it is also worth checking the tightness of all connections. Rubber-metal hinges may change their position slightly under load (when the car is on wheels), so a final check of the tightness of the lower bolts is highly desirable.
Take it for a test drive. Pay attention to the behavior of the steering wheel and the absence of knocks. If the car pulls to the side, perhaps one of the racks is installed skewed or the wheel alignment angles are incorrect.
Regular diagnostics of the suspension after replacement will help avoid repeated repairs. After 1000 kilometers, it is recommended to check the tightening of the shock absorber rod nut again, as it may become loose during the running-in process.
Why is it important to do a wheel alignment after replacing the struts?
When dismantling the rack, the factory geometry of the wheels is violated. Even if you haven't touched the adjusting bolts, changing the position of the arms and knuckle changes the camber and toe angles. Without adjustments, the car will be unstable in a straight line and will quickly wear out the tires.
Common mistakes when replacing
One of the most common mistakes is trying to compress a spring without special ties. Using a pry bar or vise is extremely dangerous because the spring may come off and cause serious injury. Always use spring compression tool.
Another mistake is ignoring state silent blocks of levers. If you are changing struts, check the play in the arms at the same time. Installing new shock absorbers on worn arms will not give the desired effect of comfort and controllability.
Also, don't skimp on support bearings. A new strut with a worn bearing will make squeaks and knocks when you turn the steering wheel, which will force you to crawl under the hood again in a couple of months.
Here is a list of what you should absolutely not do:
- 🔧 Do not use an impact tool to unscrew the shock absorber rod.
- 🔧 Do not try to compress the spring without special ties.
- 🔧 Do not tighten the lower bolts before lowering the machine to the ground.
How often do you need to replace the front struts on a Nissan Almera Classic?
The average service life of the front struts on this model is 60-80 thousand kilometers, but it greatly depends on the quality of the roads and driving style. If you drive on bad roads, check them every 30 thousand km.
Is it possible to change racks one at a time?
Technically possible, but not recommended. Shock absorbers wear out at about the same rate. If one fails, the second is most likely close to it. Replacing in pairs will ensure uniform suspension behavior.
Is it necessary to do a wheel alignment after replacing the struts?
Yes, definitely. Replacing the struts changes the suspension geometry. Without correcting the wheel alignment, the car will pull to the side, and the tires will wear unevenly.
What happens if the support bearing is not replaced?
If the bearing is worn out, the steering wheel will make noise, knock when turning, and driving will become less accurate. In the worst case scenario, the bearing may seize.
What tool is needed to compress springs?
Special ties for shock absorber springs. This is a metal tool with a screw mechanism that allows you to safely compress the spring from both sides. Using improvised means is dangerous.