2009 - 2013 Infiniti FX35 Struts, Shocks, and Springs Removal and Installation
*** Disclaimer: Use this DIY at your own risk, as I will not be responsible for any problems and damages to you or your vehicle.
This DIY will serve as a guide to help you remove and install the factory front struts and rear shocks and springs from the a second (2009 - 2013) generation Infiniti FX35 vehicle.
Once factory suspension components (struts, shocks, and spring) are removed, you can either install a complete Coilovers suspension or simply replacing the worn out strut cartridges or shocks. If you're replacing worn out struts cartridge to the front suspension, you will need a spring compressor tool to compress the spring down to safely remove it from the strut assembly. If you're replacing the factory suspensions part with a entirely new Coilovers suspension application, simple swap in the new Coilovers part as they general comes completely assembled. This DIY is show how to install a new Coilovers suspension.
Tools:
Floor jack and jack stands
Impact gun (will be handy if you have one)
A set of metric socket set and racket and box wrenches
Break bars and extension
Spare scissors or bottle jack
Front Struts:
1. Jack up the vehicle, put it on jack stands. Never work under a vehicle with just a jack.
2. Remove the wheel and tire.
3. Remove the Upper Link by undo the three 14 mm bolts that mount it in place. There is one thin rubber gasket/washer on each outer side of the two inner bolts. be sure to put them back in place on the re-install. Before removing the Upper Link from the vehicle, be sure to use wooden blocks or jack stand to support the knuckle brake assembly.
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4. For AWD, remove this 17mm bolt to separate the strut cartridge and the shock absorber arm.
For RWD, front strut is one piece, so skip this step.
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5. Remove the 17mm shock absorber arm bolt
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6. Slide a spare jack stand or wood block under the lower control arm to support the knuckle and brake assembly.
7. Remove the three 12 mm bolts on the top of the strut tower in the engine bay.
8. Wiggle and work the struts assembly off the car. I found by inserting the jack handle bar between frame and the stabilizer bar as a lever and press the down on the stabilizer bar down to create more space to work the strut assembly off the car.
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9. Once the strut assembly remove from the vehicle, you can replace the stock spring/shock with after market spring such as H&R spring or new coilovers setup.
If you're upgrading the stock spring with after market performance spring, be sure you use a quality spring compressor tool for safety and use the following steps:
Be sure to use a
spring compressor tool to compresses the spring
before loosening the nut on top of the strut.
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Once the spring is compressed enough to relief the pressure against the strut mount, to separate the spring from the strut cartridge, use 17mm box wrench on the top nut with a wrench holding the strut stem from spinning. If you have an impact gun, use it, it will be much faster and easier to remove the strut nut.
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If you're replacing a worn out strut cartridge:
a) Insert the bellow into the new strut cartridge
b) Insert bellow & strut cartridge through the compressed spring
c) Insert the strut mount over the strut cartridge & spring assembly
d) Tighten the 17 mm top strut nut to 44 ft/lb
e) Slowly release the spring compressor and making sure the spring is set correctly on the perch at the bottom and the rubber seat on top
f) Be sure to put the red paper gasket back onto the strut mount and put the strut assembly back into car.
If your replacing the stock spring with after market spring:
a) Slowly release the stock spring from the spring compressor tool
b) Put the aftermarket spring on the spring compressor tool
c) Compress the aftermarket spring with the spring compressor tool
d) Insert the bellow into the new strut cartridge
e) Insert bellow & strut cartridge through the compressed aftermarket spring
f) Insert the strut mount over the strut cartridge & spring assembly
g) Slide strut bellow and strut mount over the strut cartridge
h) Tighten the 17 mm top strut nut to 44 ft/lb
i) Slowly release the spring compressor and making sure the spring is set correctly on the perch at the bottom and the rubber seat on top
j) Be sure to put the red paper gasket back onto the strut mount and put the strut assembly back into car.
If you're replacing the stock suspension with coilovers, simply swap the coilovers in as most coilovers are already pre-assembled. Be sure to put the red paper gasket back onto the strut mount and put the strut assembly back into car.
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10. Tighten the bolt/nuts with the following torque specs:
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11. Tighten the three strut tower nuts to 22 ft/lb in the engine bay
Rear Shock and Spring:
1. Jack up the vehicle, put it on jack stands. Never work under a vehicle with just a jack.
2. Remove the wheel and tire.
3. Use a spare scissors jack to support the spring bucket
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4. Remove the spring bucket bolt with a 17 mm socket and a 17 mm wrench on the nut (on the other side of the bolt).
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5. Push down on the spring bucket to remove the spring.
6. Remove the shock bolt with a 19 mm socket.
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7. Remove the two top shock nuts with 12 mm socket.
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8. Pull down on the shock body to remove it from car.
9. Remove the rubber dust cap and loosen the top shock nut to separates the shock mounting bracket and bellow from the shock cartridge.
10. The installation just the reverse order of removal steps:
a) Re-assemble the bellow and bracket onto the new shock cartridge, tighten the top shock nut to 66 ft/lb, and install the rubber dust cap.
b) Insert the shock and tighten the bottom 19mm bolt to 98 ft/lb
c) Be sure to re-use the paper/plastic gasket between the upper shock bracket and frame. Align the shock upper bracket onto the two bolts and tighten the two 12 mm nuts to about 15 ft/lb to 20 ft/lb.
d) Be sure to move the bottom rubber seat onto the new spring, align the spring onto the rubber seat properly, and the align the spring and rubber seat onto the spring bucket properly. Use a scissors jack at the bottom of the spring bucket to raise the bucket to the knuckle. Insert a screw driver into the knuckle and spring bucket mounting hole to align for ease of inserting of the mounting bolt. Tighten 17mm the bolt and nut to 98 ft/lb.
All Done, you just saved yourself at least $300 to $400 of labor at a shop. Time it takes varies upon your skills, but I would estimate at least 3.5 hours for the front and another 3.5 hours for the rear. Difficulty scale at 6/10.
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