1996 NISSAN FRONTIER suspension

CAUTION
If you have to tow your vehicle with four
wheels on ground or with front wheels
raised (with rear wheels on ground),
observe the following restricted towing
speeds and distances:
Automatic transmission model:
cSpeed: Below 30 MPH (50 km/h)
cDistance: Less than 40 miles (65 km)
Manual transmission model:
cSpeed: Below 60 MPH (95 km/h)
cDistance: Less than 500 miles (800
km)
If the speed or distance must necessarily be
greater, remove the propeller shaft before-
hand to prevent damage to the transmis-
sion.
CAUTION
Never tow your vehicle from the rear
(i.e., backward) with four wheels on the
ground as this may cause serious and
expensive damage to the transmission.4-WHEEL DRIVE MODELS
NISSAN recommends that a dolly be used
as illustrated when towing your vehicle.
CAUTION
If you have to tow your vehicle with four
wheels on ground or with front or rear
wheels raised, observe the following
restricted towing speeds and
distances:
cSpeed: Below 60 MPH (95 km/h)
cDistance: Less than 500 miles (800
km)
If the speed or distance must necessarily be
greater, remove the front and rear propeller
shafts beforehand to prevent damage to the
transmission.
CAUTION
cNever tow your vehicle from the rear
(i.e., backward) with four wheels on
the ground as this may cause seri-
ous and expensive damage to the
transmission.
cBe sure to place the transfer case
shift lever into the 2H position and
the transmission shift lever into the
Neutral (N) position.
VEHICLE RECOVERY (Freeing a
stuck vehicle)
cTow chains or cables must be attached
only to the main structual members of the
vehicle.
cPulling devices should be routed so they
do not touch any part of the suspension,
steering, brake or cooling systems.
cAlways pull the cable straight out from
the front or rear of the vehicle. Never pull
on the vehicle at an angle.
cPulling devices such as ropes or canvas
straps are not recommended for use in
vehicle towing or recovery.
ACE0705
5-12
ZX

cIf the surface does not polish easily, use
a ``road tar'' remover and wax again.
Machine compounding or aggressive pol-
ishing on a base coat/clear coat paint finish
may dull the finish or leave swirl marks.
Only apply black wax or black shoe polish to
the black urethane or polypropylene
bumper.
Removing spots
Remove tar and oil spots, industrial dust,
insects and tree sap as quickly as possible
from the surface of the paint to avoid per-
manent damage or staining. Special clean-
ing products are available at your NISSAN
dealer or any automotive accessories store.
Underbody
In areas where road salt is used in winter, it
is necessary to clean the underbody regu-
larly in order to prevent dirt and salt from
building up and causing corrosion on the
underbody and suspension. Before the win-
ter period and again in the spring, the
underseal must be checked and, if neces-
sary, re-treated.
Cleaning glass
Use glass cleaner to remove smoke and
dust film from the glass surfaces. It is nor-
mal for glass to be coated with a film after
the vehicle is parked in the hot sun. Glass
cleaner and a soft cloth easily remove this
film.
CAUTION
When cleaning the inside of the win-
dow, do not use any sharp-edged tools
or abrasive cleaners or chlorine-based
disinfectant cleaners. They could dam-
age the electrical conductors, radio an-
tenna elements or rear window defog-
ger elements.
Cleaning aluminum alloy wheels
Wash regularly, especially during winter
months in areas where road salt is used.
Salt could discolor the wheel if not removed.
Chrome parts
Clean all chrome parts regularly with a
non-abrasive chrome polish to maintain the
finish.
Cleaning interior
Occasionally remove loose dust from the
interior trim, plastic parts and seats using a
vacuum cleaner or soft brush. Wipe the
vinyl and leather surfaces with a clean, soft
cloth dampened in mild soap solution, then
wipe clean with a dry soft cloth. Before
using any fabric protector, read the manu-
facturer's recommendations. Some fabric
protectors contain chemicals that stain or
bleach the seat material.
CAUTION
cNever use benzine, thinner or any
similar material.
cThe leather seats should be regu-
larly coated with a leather wax like
saddle soap. Never use car wax.
cNever use fabric protectors unless
recommended by the manufacturer.
6-3
ZX

SCHEDULE 1
Abbreviations: R = Replace I = Inspect. Correct or replace if necessary. [ ]: At the mileage intervals only
MAINTENANCE OPERATIONMAINTENANCE INTERVAL
Perform at number of miles, kilometers
or months, whichever comes first.Miles ý 1,000 3.75 7.5 11.25 15 18.75 22.5 26.25 30 33.75 37.5 41.25 45 48.75 52.5 56.25 60
(km ý 1,000) (6) (12) (18) (24) (30) (36) (42) (48) (54) (60) (66) (72) (78) (84) (90) (96)
Months 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30 33 36 39 42 45 48
Chassis and body maintenance
Brake lines & cablesIIII
Brake pads, discs, drums & liningsIIIIIIII
Manual & automatic transmission, transfer
& differential gear oil (exc. LSD)See NOTE (1)IIII
Limited-slip differential (LSD) gear oil See NOTE (1)IRIR
Steering gear (box) & linkage, axle & suspension partsIIIIIIII
Drive shaft boots & propeller shaft (
) IIIIIIII
Steering linkage ball joints & front suspension ball jointsIIIIIIII
Front wheel bearing grease (4x2)II
Front wheel bearing grease & free-running
hub grease (
)See NOTE (2)IRIR
Exhaust systemIIIIIIII
Supplemental air bag system See NOTE (3)
NOTE: (1) If towing a trailer, using a camper or a car-top carrier, or driving on rough or muddy roads, change (not just inspect) oil at every 30,000
miles (48,000 km) or 24 months except for LSD Change LSD gear oil every 15,000 miles (24,000 km) or 12 months.
(2) If operating frequently in water, replace grease every 3,750 miles (6,000 km) or 3 months.
(3) Inspect the supplemental air bag system 10 years after the date of manufacture noted on the F.M.V.S.S. certification label.
8-7
ZX

SCHEDULE 2
Abbreviations: R = Replace I = Inspect. Correct or replace if necessary. [ ]: At the mileage intervals only
MAINTENANCE OPERATIONMAINTENANCE INTERVAL
Perform at number of miles, kilometers or
months, whichever comes first.Miles ý 1,000 7.5 15 22.5 30 37.5 45 52.5 60
(km ý 1,000) (12) (24) (36) (48) (60) (72) (84) (96)
Months 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48
Chassis and body maintenance
Brake lines & cablesIIII
Brake pads, discs, drums & liningsIIII
Manual & automatic transmission, transfer & differential gear
oil (exc. LSD)IIII
Limited-slip differential (LSD) gear oil I R I R
Steering gear (box) & linkage, axle & suspension parts I I
Drive shaft boots (
) IIII
Steering linkage ball joints & front suspension ball jointsI
Front wheel bearing grease (4x2) I I
Front wheel bearing grease & free-running hub grease (
)I R I R
Exhaust systemII
Supplemental air bag system See NOTE (1)
NOTE: (1) Inspect the supplemental air bag system 10 years after the date of manufacture noted on the F.M.V.S.S. certification label.
8-9
ZX

EXPLANATION OF MAINTE-
NANCE ITEMS
Additional information on the following
items with ``*'' is found in the ``Do-it-
yourself operations'' section.
Emission control system mainte-
nance
Drive belts*Check drive belts for wear,
fraying or cracking and also for proper ten-
sion. Replace the drive belts if found dam-
aged or in accordance with the mainte-
nance schedule.
Air cleaner filterUnder normal driving con-
ditions, the air cleaner filter should be re-
placed in accordance with the maintenance
schedule. However, driving the vehicle in
dusty areas may cause more rapid clogging
of the element. Consequently, the element
may have to be replaced more frequently.
Positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) fil-
terUnder normal driving conditions, the
filter should be replaced in accordance with
the maintenance schedule. If the vehicle is
operated under extremely adverse weather
conditions or in areas where ambient tem-
peratures are either extremely low or ex-tremely high, the filter may become clogged
more rapidly. In such an event, replace the
filter immediately.
Vapor linesCheck vapor lines and connec-
tions for failure or looseness. If leaks are
found, replace the lines.
Fuel lines (hoses, piping, connections,
etc.)Check the fuel hoses, piping and con-
nections for leaks, looseness or deteriora-
tion. Replace any parts if they are damaged.
Fuel filterIf the vehicle is operated under
extremely adverse weather conditions or in
areas where ambient temperatures are ei-
ther extremely low or extremely high, the
filter might become clogged. In such an
event, replace the filter immediately.
Engine coolant*Flush and refill the cooling
system.
Engine oil & oil filter*Under normal driving
conditions, the engine oil and oil filter should
be replaced in accordance with the mainte-
nance schedule. However, under severe
driving conditions, they may have to be
replaced more frequently.
Spark plugs*Replace with new plugs hav-
ing the correct heat range.
Chassis and body maintenance
Brake lines & cablesCheck the brake lines
and hoses (including brake booster vacuum
hoses, connections & check valve) and
parking brake cables for proper attachment,
leaks, cracks, chafing, abrasion, deteriora-
tion, etc.
Brake pads, discs, drums & linings
Check these and the other neighboring
brake components for wear, deterioration
and leaks. Under severe driving conditions,
they may have to be inspected more fre-
quently.
Manual and automatic transmission,
transfer & differential gear oilVisually
inspect for signs of leakage and replace oil
for limited-slip differential. Under severe
driving conditions, the oil should be re-
placed at the specified interval.
Steering gear (box) & linkage, axle &
suspension parts & drive shaft boots
Check for damage, looseness and leakage
of oil or grease. Under severe driving con-
ditions, more frequent inspection should be
performed.
Steering linkage ball joints & front sus-
pension ball jointsCheck the ball joints for
8-10
ZX

Trailer hitch
Check the towing capacity of your bumper
hitch or receiver type frame mounted hitch.
Choose a proper hitch for your vehicle and
trailer. Make sure the trailer hitch is securely
attached to the vehicle, to help avoid per-
sonal injury or property damage due to
sway caused by crosswinds, rough road
surfaces or passing trucks.
cSpecial hitches which include frame re-
inforcements are required for towing
above 2,000 lb (907 kg). Suitable Genu-
ine NISSAN hitches for pickup trucks are
available at your NISSAN dealer.
cAxle-mounted hitches should not be
used.
cDo not modify the vehicle exhaust sys-
tem, brake system, etc. when the hitch is
installed. After the hitch is removed, seal
the bolt holes to prevent exhaust fumes,
water or dust from entering the passen-
ger compartment.
cCheck regularly to make sure that all
trailer hitch mounting bolts are securely
fastened.
Tire pressures
cWhen towing a trailer, inflate the vehicle
tires to the recommended cold tire pres-
sure indicated on the tire placard (affixed
to the glove box lid).
cTrailer tire condition, size, load rating and
proper inflation pressure should be in
accordance with the trailer and tire
manufacturers' specifications.
Safety chain
Always use a suitable chain between your
vehicle and the trailer. The chain should be
crossed and should be attached to the hitch,
not to the vehicle bumper or axle. Be sure to
leave enough slack in the chain to permit
turning corners.
Trailer lights
Trailer lights should comply with Federal
and/or local regulations. For assistance in
hooking up trailer lights, contact your autho-
rized NISSAN dealer.
Trailer brakes
If your trailer is equipped with a braking
system, make sure it conforms to Federal
and/or local regulations and that it is prop-
erly installed.
CAUTION
Never connect a trailer brake system
directly to the vehicle brake system.
Pre-towing tips
cBe certain your vehicle maintains a level
position when a loaded and/or unloaded
trailer is hitched. Do not drive the vehicle
if it has an abnormal nose-up or nose-
down condition; check for improper
tongue load, overload, worn suspension
or other possible causes of either condi-
tion.
cAlways secure items in the trailer to
prevent load shifts while driving.
cBe certain your rear view mirrors conform
to all federal, state or local regulations. If
not, install any mirrors required for towing
before driving the vehicle.
9-19
ZX