Questions and Answers

Pathfinder Shock Absorber Q. I just wanted to say I really enjoy your site. I'm 37 yrs old and I've always wanted to be a mechanic and now I'm taking appropriate courses to acquire the education I need to get in the field. I feel its never to late to do what one really wants to do. Do to personal financial obligations I cannot just up and quit my job and start over just yet, but I keep on.

I'm trying to arrange to work in a garage for free just so I can gain that valuable experience. That will come too. I must be learning something because I don't do to bad on your quizzes.

I would like to ask some questions please. I own a 1992 Nissan Pathfinder 4 x 4 and I want to replace all the shocks. I ordered factory shocks and I'm not sure if all the hardware will be there such as the lower bolts. I know they will be metric. Is there anyway to know what size they are so that I will have them on hand when I remove the old shocks? Would it be easier to remove the wheels or will that matter?

This truck has regular suspension, not electric. If a nut or bolt breaks what would be the procedure to continue? Cut them out? I have replaced shocks before and I'm attempting this because labor is almost as much as the shocks themselves.

On the rear bumper, the bracket that holds the two lamps that illuminate the license plate has rusted away. There are three 17mm bolts that go up through the bumper and I can get them to turn. However, what do I hold the piece of metal on top with. It just spins around because the bracket is missing. It looks flat with a slightly raised center where the bolt goes through. Is there a special tool to remove this? I'm stuck on this one. I look forward to your reply and any suggestions you might have. I look forward to visiting your site.

Take care and have a great day.

A. The front shock absorber mounts a lot like any other shock. You have to remove the 14 mm nut from the top. This can be a challenge because the nut rusts into the shock piston. What I usually do instead of fighting with it, I put a 14mm socket on a long extension, put it on the nut and move it back and forth until the it breaks. You get a new nut and bushings with the shock so breaking the top off is no big deal. The bottom two bolts have to be reused or you can get new ones. They do not come with the new shock absorber.

If you have leaf springs in the rear, all you need to do is remove the top and bottom shock absorber nuts and remove the old shock absorber. The new shock absorber will come with new bushings but no new nuts.

If you have coil springs in the back, the shock absorber mounts are similar to the front with a nut and lock nut on top. You'll get new nuts and bushings with the new shock absorber. The lower mount is just one through bolt that you will need to reuse.

If the bolts you are trying to loosen are the ones I think they are, then they are carraige bolts. They have flat rounded heads and below the head is a square section. This square section fits into a square hole and this is what keeps it from spinning. The trick is to hold the square of the bolt in the square hole to hold it while you take the nut off.