FSU-1
FRONT SUSPENSION
E SUSPENSION
CONTENTS
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SECTION FSU
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FSU
Revision: 2006 November2007 350Z
FRONT SUSPENSION
PRECAUTIONS .......................................................... 2
Caution ..................................................................... 2
PREPARATION ........................................................... 3
Special Service Tools ............................................... 3
Commercial Service Tools ........................................ 3
NOISE, VIBRATION AND HARSHNESS (NVH)
TROUBLESHOOTING ................................................ 4
NVH Troubleshooting Chart ..................................... 4
FRONT SUSPENSION ASSEMBLY ........................... 5
On-Vehicle Inspection .............................................. 5
INSPECTION OF BALL JOINT END PLAY OF
EACH LINK ........................................................... 5
SHOCK ABSORBER INSPECTION ..................... 5
Wheel Alignment Inspection ..................................... 6
DESCRIPTION ...................................................... 6
PRELIMINARY CHECK ........................................ 6
GENERAL INFORMATION AND RECOMMEN-
DATIONS .............................................................. 6
THE ALIGNMENT PROCESS .............................. 7
INSPECTION OF CAMBER, CASTER AND
KINGPIN INCLINATION ANGLES ........................ 7
Components ............................................................. 8
Removal and Installation .......................................... 9
REMOVAL ............................................................. 9
INSTALLATION ..................................................... 9
COIL SPRING AND SHOCK ABSORBER ............... 10
Removal and Installation ........................................ 10
REMOVAL ........................................................... 10
INSTALLATION ................................................... 10
Disassembly and Assembly ................................... 10
DISASSEMBLY ................................................... 10
INSPECTION AFTER DISASSEMBLY ................ 11
ASSEMBLY .......................................................... 11TRANSVERSE LINK ................................................. 13
Removal and Installation ........................................ 13
REMOVAL ........................................................... 13
INSPECTION AFTER REMOVAL ....................... 13
INSTALLATION ................................................... 13
UPPER LINK ............................................................. 14
Removal and Installation ........................................ 14
REMOVAL ........................................................... 14
INSPECTION AFTER REMOVAL ....................... 14
INSTALLATION ................................................... 15
COMPRESSION ROD ............................................... 16
Removal and Installation ........................................ 16
REMOVAL ........................................................... 16
INSPECTION AFTER REMOVAL ....................... 16
AXIAL END PLAY INSPECTION ......................... 17
INSTALLATION ................................................... 17
STABILIZER BAR ..................................................... 18
Removal and Installation ........................................ 18
REMOVAL ........................................................... 18
INSPECTION AFTER REMOVAL ....................... 18
INSTALLATION ................................................... 18
FRONT SUSPENSION MEMBER ............................. 19
Removal and Installation ........................................ 19
REMOVAL ........................................................... 19
INSPECTION AFTER REMOVAL ....................... 19
INSTALLATION ................................................... 19
TOWER BAR ............................................................ 20
Removal and Installation ........................................ 20
COMPONENTS ................................................... 20
REMOVAL ........................................................... 20
INSTALLATION ................................................... 20
SERVICE DATA AND SPECIFICATIONS (SDS) ...... 21
Wheel Alignment (Unladen*) .................................. 21
Ball Joint ................................................................. 21
Wheelarch Height (Unladen*) ................................. 21
FSU-2
PRECAUTIONS
Revision: 2006 November2007 350Z
PRECAUTIONSPFP:00001
CautionNES00001
When installing rubber bushings, final tightening must be carried out under unladen conditions with tires
on ground. Oil will shorten the life of rubber bushings. Be sure to wipe off any spilled oil.
Unladen conditions mean that fuel, engine coolant and lubricant are full. Spare tire, jack, hand tools and
mats are in designated positions.
After servicing suspension parts, be sure to check wheel alignment.
Caulking nuts are not reusable. Always use new ones when installing. Since new caulking nuts are pre-
oiled, tighten as they are.
Avoid burden to front cross bar.
FRONT SUSPENSION ASSEMBLY
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Revision: 2006 November2007 350Z
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On-Vehicle InspectionNES00005
Make sure the mounting conditions (looseness, back lash) of each component and component statues (wear,
damage) are normal.
INSPECTION OF BALL JOINT END PLAY OF EACH LINK
1. Set front wheels in a straight-ahead position. Do not depress brake pedal.
2. Check ball joint axial end play of each link.
CAUTION:
Be careful not to damage ball joint boot.
Upper Link Ball Joint
Measure axial end play by installing and moving up/down with
an iron pry bar or something similar between upper link and
steering knuckle.
Steering Knuckle Lower Ball Joint
Measure axial end play by installing and moving up/down with
an iron pry bar or something similar between steering knuckle
and wheel.
Compression Rod Ball Joint
Measure axial end play by installing and moving up/down with
an iron pry bar or something similar between compression rod
and transverse link.
SHOCK ABSORBER INSPECTION
Check shock absorber for oil leakage, damage and replace if necessary. Refer to FSU-10, "COIL SPRING
AND SHOCK ABSORBER" . Axial end play : 0 mm (0 in)
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Axial end play : 0 mm (0 in)
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Axial end play : 0 mm (0 in)
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FRONT SUSPENSION ASSEMBLY
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Revision: 2006 November2007 350Z
Removal and InstallationNES00008
REMOVAL
1. Remove tires from vehicle with power tool.
2. Remove brake caliper with power tool. Hang it in a place where it will not interfere with work. Refer to BR-
26, "FRONT DISC BRAKE" .
3. Remove undercover with power tool.
4. Remove fixing bolts and nuts, then remove front cross bar from vehicle with power tool.
5. Remove steering hydraulic piping bracket from front suspension member. Refer to PS-33, "
HYDRAULIC
LINE" .
6. Remove steering gear and front suspension member attachment bolts and hang steering gear on vehicle.
Refer to PS-17, "
POWER STEERING GEAR AND LINKAGE" .
7. Set jack under engine.
CAUTION:
When setting jack to engine, use a wooden block or an equivalent for the setting.
8. Remove fixing bolt and nut between shock absorber and transverse link with power tool.
9. Remove cotter pin of upper link ball joint, then loosen mounting nut.
10. Use a ball joint remover (suitable tool) to remove upper link from steering knuckle. Be careful not to dam-
age ball joint boot.
CAUTION:
Tighten temporarily mounting nut to prevent damage to threads and to prevent ball joint remover
(suitable tool) from coming off.
11. Remove fixing nut and washer located at the bottom of stabilizer connecting rod, and then remove stabi-
lizer connecting rod from transverse link with power tool.
12. Remove fixing nuts between engine mounting insulator and front suspension member. Refer to EM-101,
"ENGINE ASSEMBLY" .
13. Remove fixing nuts between front suspension member and body with power tool.
14. Remove front suspension assembly form vehicle.
INSTALLATION
Refer to FSU-8, "Components" for tightening torque. Install in the reverse order of removal.
NOTE:
Refer to component parts location and do not reuse non-reusable parts.
Perform final tightening of shock absorber lower side (rubber bushing) under unladen condition with tires
on ground. Check wheel alignment. Refer to FSU-21, "
SERVICE DATA AND SPECIFICATIONS (SDS)" .
1. Mounting insulator 2. Bound bumper 3. Spring upper seat
4. Coil spring 5. Shock absorber 6. Stopper rubber
7. Upper link 8. Cotter pin 9. Front axle
10. Steering stopper bracket 11. Compression rod 12. Washer
13. Transverse link 14. Stabilizer connecting rod 15. Tower bar
16. Front suspension member 17. Stabilizer bar 18. Stabilizer clamp bracket
19. Stabilizer bushing 20. Stabilizer clamp 21. Front cross bar
Refer to GI-11, "
Components" ,for the symbols in the figure.
FSU-10
COIL SPRING AND SHOCK ABSORBER
Revision: 2006 November2007 350Z
COIL SPRING AND SHOCK ABSORBERPFP:54302
Removal and InstallationNES00009
REMOVAL
1. Remove tire with power tool.
2. Remove undercover with power tool.
3. Remove harness of wheel sensor from shock absorber. Refer to BRC-73, "
WHEEL SENSORS" (With
TCS), BRC-128, "
WHEEL SENSORS" (With VDC).
CAUTION:
Do not pull on wheel sensor harness.
4. Remove mounting nuts of brake hose from shock absorber.
5. Remove mounting bolt and nut between shock absorber and transverse link with power tool.
6. Remove tower bar. Refer to FSU-20, "
TOWER BAR" .
7. Remove mounting nuts on mounting insulator with power tool, then remove shock absorber from vehicle.
INSTALLATION
Refer to FSU-8, "Components" for tightening torque. Install in the reverse order of removal.
NOTE:
Refer to component parts location and do not reuse non-reusable parts.
Perform final tightening of shock absorber lower side (rubber bushing) under unladen condition with tires
on ground. Check wheel alignment. Refer to FSU-21, "
SERVICE DATA AND SPECIFICATIONS (SDS)" .
Disassembly and AssemblyNES0000A
DISASSEMBLY
NOTE:
Make sure piston rod on shock absorber is not damaged when removing components from shock absorber.
1. Install strut attachment (SST) to shock absorber and fix it in a
vise.
CAUTION:
When installing strut attachment (SST) to shock absorber,
wrap a shop cloth around shock absorber to protect it from
damage.
2. Using a spring compressor (commercial service tool), compress
coil spring between spring upper seat and spring lower seat (on
shock absorber) until coil spring is free.
CAUTION:
Be sure spring compressor (commercial service tool) is
securely attached to coil spring. Compress coil spring.
3. Check that coil spring between spring upper seat and spring
lower seat is free and then secure piston rod tip so that piston
rod does not turn, and remove piston rod lock nut.
4. Remove mounting insulator, bound bumper, spring upper seat.
Then remove coil spring from shock absorber.
5. Gradually release spring compressor (commercial service tool),
and remove coil spring.
CAUTION:
Loosen while making sure coil spring attachment position
does not move.
6. Remove strut attachment (SST) from shock absorber.
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COIL SPRING AND SHOCK ABSORBER
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Revision: 2006 November2007 350Z
INSPECTION AFTER DISASSEMBLY
Shock Absorber Inspection
Check shock absorber for deformation, cracks, damage, and replace if necessary.
Check piston rod for damage, uneven wear, distortion, and replace if necessary.
Check welded and sealed areas for oil leakage, and replace if necessary.
Mounting Insulator and Rubber Parts Inspection
Check mounting insulator for cracks and rubber parts for wear. Replace them if necessary.
Coil Spring Inspection
Check coil spring for cracks, wear or damage, and replace if necessary.
ASSEMBLY
NOTE:
Make sure piston rod on shock absorber is not damaged when attaching components to shock absorber.
1. Install strut attachment (SST) to shock absorber and fix it in a
vise.
CAUTION:
When installing strut attachment (SST) to shock absorber,
wrap a shop cloth around shock absorber to protect it from
damage.
2. Compress coil spring using a spring compressor (commercial
service tool), and install it onto shock absorber.
CAUTION:
Install coil spring as shown in the figure.
Be sure spring compressor (commercial service tool) is
securely attached to coil spring. Compress coil spring.
3. Apply soapy water to bound bumper and insert into mounting
insulator.
CAUTION:
Do not use machine oil.
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FSU-14
UPPER LINK
Revision: 2006 November2007 350Z
UPPER LINKPFP:54524
Removal and InstallationNES0000C
REMOVAL
1. Remove tires from vehicle with power tool.
2. Remove undercover with power tool.
3. Remove shock absorber. Refer to FSU-10, "
COIL SPRING AND SHOCK ABSORBER" .
4. Remove cotter pin of upper link ball joint, then loosen mounting nut.
5. Use a ball joint remover (suitable tool) to remove upper link from steering knuckle. Be careful not to dam-
age ball joint boot.
CAUTION:
Tighten temporarily mounting nut to prevent damage to threads and to prevent ball joint remover
(suitable tool) from coming off.
6. Remove bolts holding upper link to body with power tool.
7. Remove upper link from vehicle.
INSPECTION AFTER REMOVAL
Visual Inspection
Check upper link and bushing for deformation, cracks, or damage. If any non-standard condition is found,
replace it.
Check boot of ball joint for cracks, or other damage, and also for grease leakage. If any non-standard con-
dition is found, replace it.
Ball Joint Inspection
Manually move ball stud to confirm it moves smoothly with no binding.
Swing Torque Inspection
NOTE:
Before measurement, move ball joint at least ten times by hand to check for smooth movement.
Hook spring balance at ball stud. Confirm spring balance mea-
surement value is within the specifications when ball stud begins
moving.
If it is outside the specified range, replace upper link assembly.
Rotating Torque Inspection
Attach mounting nut to ball stud. Check that rotating torque is
within specifications with a preload gauge.
If it is outside the specified range, replace upper link assembly.Swing torque:
Less than 2.0 N·m (0.20 kg-m, 18 in-lb)
Measured value of spring balance:
Less than 34.8 N (3.5 kg, 7.8 lb)
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Tool number A: ST3127S000 (J−25765−A)
Rotating torque:
Less than 2.0 N·m (0.20 kg-m, 18 in-lb)
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