How to Replace the Front Struts in a 1996 Nissan Maxima

Change the front struts on your Nissan Maxima if you feel excessive banging from the front wheels while driving. Changing the struts is a difficult operation mainly due to how heavy these components are. Use caution, as you can easily damage the suspension while changing the struts. The biggest difference in changing struts on a 1996 Maxima, compared to other years, involves the exact torque you should tighten the mounting nuts and bolts to. A torque wrench will help you obtain the needed torque specifications.

Instructions

Raise the front end of the Maxima and support it on jack stands. Remove the wheel for the strut assembly you are removing.

Grasp the retaining clip for the brake hose with pliers, and unclip the hose from the strut bracket, making sure you don't squeeze the bracket.

Remove the nuts for the two bolts connecting the strut assembly to the steering knuckle using a wrench. Knock the bolts out of their holes using a hammer and punch

Separate the steering knuckle from the strut; make sure you don't overextend the inner CV joint or make the steering knuckle fall outward.

Remove the three upper mounting nuts at the top of the strut tower with your wrench; hold the strut with one hand, or have another person support it as you remove the last nut. Guide the strut assembly out of the fender well.

Insert the strut assembly up into the fender well, and make sure the mounting studs go into the holes in the tower's top end. With your assistant holding the strut, install the nuts on the studs by hand.

Connect the steering knuckle so it slides into the strut flange and insert the bolts into their holes. Tighten new nuts on the bolts to between 103 and 117 foot-lbs.

Guide and insert the brake hose into its retaining bracket on the strut and insert the clip with the pliers.

Connect the wheel and lower the car off the jack stands.

Tighten the upper mounting nuts on the strut tower with your wrench to between 29 and 40 foot-lbs.