[1992 WD21 Pathfinder SE front axles, bushings, thxs?]

22 hours ago, 92SEPathFindr said:

Hey thanks very much for your input 95-50.  Yeah, all the the bushings look about the same 30 year vintage and it makes sense to me to replace all those pieces one by one and like your wrote easy does it and little by little, carefully.  I'm planning to reread through your tips there as I get ready, and buy a few tools as needed.  After the suspension, axles, and porbably the pending engine work, there will not be much left to replace...  haha.  looking forward to when it's done.  Thanks for the video links, SUPER helpful for me as an infrequent mechanic.  Cheers and best regards, Aaron    

No problem man, another thing i ran into was on the new tie rods, the new castle nuts that came with them were taller than the old castle nuts. I actually stripped the threads out of the nut trying to get it up enough to get the cotter pin through it. Ended up putting the old castle nuts on. I would keep all the old hardware until you are done just in case you have that issue or misplace something. Yeah the video is helpful. Lets you see what you are getting into. 

[1992 WD21 Pathfinder SE front axles, bushings, thxs?]

 

 

https://youtu.be/QYSKgeSd5Gg

[1992 WD21 Pathfinder SE front axles, bushings, thxs?]

I pretty much just did everything you are about to do lol. Ball joints, sway bar end link, tie rods, centerlink, idler arm. I didnt mess with the axles though. I would definitely look into buying a good brand of kits. You might aswell replace as much as possible honestly. The stuff really isnt that expensive. I got the whole tie rod assembly as kit. Its a TRQ from 1a auto for just over $100. Didnt see the point in trying break all the old tire rods apart. Popped one joint and unbolted the idler arm and the whole assembly came out. Its not a super hard job. Just go slow, pay attention how everything comes apart. There is a video on you tube of a guy pulling the hubs apart. Just search for our year model pathfinder ball joint replacement. On the axles and hubs i would pull 1 side and put it back together asap just so you dont forget how it goes or get parts misplaced. If you get lower ball joints with the grease zerks be sure they are 90 degree ones. Mine are straight and il never be able to get a grease gun on them. Had i known that before i probably wouldve just got non greasable ones. Once you get the hubs loose you may need a hand getting the knuckle off and holding everything together. I started out just wanting to do ball joints. After i got in there i pretty much have a brand new front end except for the front strut rod bushings which im about to order. I would get a pickle fork for sure. The narrower one seemed more helpful for me, the tie rod pickle fork i think. I bought 2 pullers and niether seemed to really work very good honestly, another reason why i just replaced everything. I used 2 jack stands, 2 jacks to help lift the a A-arms for angles and such and holt the knuckle up instead of letting it droop down. 2lb sledge for banging on the pickle fork. Bearing grease. Check your brake pads when you pull them, might aswell clean your slide and re lube them also. Time and patience it can be done. Dont force anything and strip something out. If it doesnt feel right, its probably not lol. Yup i slide my tires under the frame right below the front of the cab just in case also, actually had an extra jack stand so i poked it under there also just as a back up.