NTB21-045

Classification:
Reference:
RA21-002
Date:
NTB21-045
May 25, 2021
2013-2018 ALTIMA AND 2016-2018 MAXIMA;
REAR SUSPENSION LOWER LINK
APPLIED VEHICLES:
2013-2018 Altima (L33)
2016-2018 Maxima (A36)
IF YOU CONFIRM
The customer experiences a knocking or rattling noise from the rear of the vehicle,
Or
The rear wheel and tire assemblies have a large amount of positive camber.
ACTION
Replace both rear lower links.
IMPORTANT: The purpose of ACTION (above) is to give you a quick idea of the work you
will be performing. You MUST closely follow the entire SERVICE PROCEDURE as it
contains information that is essential to successfully completing this repair.
Nissan Bulletins are intended for use by qualified technicians, not 'do-it-yourselfers'. Qualified technicians are
properly trained individuals who have the equipment, tools, safety instruction, and know-how to do a job
properly and safely. NOTE: If you believe that a described condition may apply to a particular vehicle, DO
NOT assume that it does. See your Nissan dealer to determine if this applies to your vehicle.
1/14
REQUIRED SPECIAL TOOL
Each dealer has been shipped one Coil Spring Compressor, special tool J-52929.
Additional tools are available from Tech•Mate online: www.nissantechmate.com,
or by phone: 1-800-662-2001.
Support plates
Support
# 42913-BK2
plates
Pin
# 204444
Upper
ball
# 37731
Barrel nut
# 37666
Thrust
washer
# 211206
Lower ball
# 311835
Threaded rod
# 49169
Figure 1

When using the spring compressor, wear proper eye protection. Dirt or debris may
enter the eye, causing injury.

Inspect the condition of the spring compressor before each use. Do not use the
spring compressor if it is not in serviceable condition. Injury may occur when parts
are bent, cracked, etc.

Do not drop the spring compressor when it is holding a compressed spring. If
dropped, the spring may separate from the spring compressor and launch toward
your body, causing injury.
2/14
NTB21-045
SERVICE PROCEDURE
HINT: Most of the SERVICE PROCEDURE will show a repair performed on the left rear
side. The same repair will be repeated on the right rear side.
1.
Place the vehicle on a lift and raise to a suitable height to remove both rear wheel and
tire assemblies from the vehicle.
2.
Mark the suspension alignment washer to the frame on all 4 rear lower link alignment
bolts (see Figure 2).
Marking
Alignment bolts
Marking
Figure 2
3/14
NTB21-045
3.
Install the upper ball in the cavity of a support plate of special tool J-52929, upper ball
facing upward, and then place the support plate midway inside the coil spring.
HINT: The upper ball can be identified by its cross drilled pin hole.
Upper
ball
Support
plate
Figure 3
4.
Install the other support plate, with the ball cavity facing down, as low as possible
inside the coil spring.
Support plate –
cavity facing down
Figure 4
4/14
NTB21-045
5.
Assemble special tool J-52929 as shown in Figure 5.

To keep the pieces together, thread the barrel nut onto the threaded rod.
Barrel
nut
Pin
hole
Figure 5
6.
Install the assembled pieces, pin hole end first, from the bottom of the coil spring
through both support plates and the upper ball.
Rod
Figure 6
5/14
NTB21-045
7.
Install the pin of special tool J-52929 through the upper ball and threaded rod up to its
O-ring stopper.
O-ring
stopper
Pin
Upper
ball
Push the pin through
the upper ball until it
reaches the O-ring
stopper.
Figure 7
8.
Align the upper ball into the upper support plate cavity so that the pin rests in the
slots.
Pin
Slot
Cavity
Figure 8
6/14
NTB21-045
9.
Rotate the threaded rod and upper support plate together, as an assembly,
counterclockwise until the upper support plate contacts the upper rubber seat.
Rotate
plateuntil
untilitit
Turn plate
contacts
the
rubber
contacts rubber seat
seat
Figure 9
10.
Slide the lower ball up the rod and into the lower support plate cavity, while aligning
the lower ball’s notch into one of the lower support plate’s slots.
 Make sure the lower plate stays as low on the coil spring as possible.
11.
Thread the barrel nut up the threaded rod until the thrust washer makes contact with
the lower ball (see Figure 10).
Lower ball
Lower plate
Thrust washer
(barrel nut
not shown)
Figure 10
7/14
NTB21-045
12.
Compress the coil spring until the lower ball bottoms out on the threaded rod.

To compress the coil spring, use a wrench, deep socket, or other suitable tool to
turn the barrel nut clockwise.
Figure 11
13.
Remove the 2 knuckle bolt nuts and the 2 alignment bolt nuts, but do NOT remove the
related bolts at this time.
NOTE: These nuts will not be reused and will be replaced with new ones.
Knuckle bolt
nuts
Alignment bolt
nuts
Figure 12
8/14
NTB21-045
14.
Remove the nut holding the rear stabilizer connecting rod to the rear lower link.
Stabilizer
connecting rod
nut
Figure 13
15.
Remove the coil spring and special tool J-52929 as an assembly:
a. Remove both inside rear lower link (alignment) bolts.
HINT: Due to being marked earlier, these bolts need to go back to their original
locations during reassembly.
b. Swing the rear lower link downward.
c. Remove the connecting rod assembly from the rear lower link.
d. Remove the coil spring and special tool J-52929 as an assembly.
Connecting rod
assembly not
shown
Alignment bolt
removed
Figure 14
9/14
NTB21-045
16.
Remove the 2 remaining knuckle bolts, and then remove the rear lower link from the
vehicle.
Knuckle bolts
Figure 15
17.
Remove the 2 bolts, and then remove the front lower link from the rear lower link.
Rear
lower link
Front
lower link
Bolts fit through
these holes
Figure 16
10/14
NTB21-045
18.
Install a new rear lower link in the reverse order of disassembly.
 Transfer the lower rubber seat from the old rear lower link to the new rear lower
link.
HINT: To make reassembly of the front and rear lower links easier, hand tighten
the bolts, and then back off by 2 turns. This will allow for extra movement of these
parts.

Tighten all fasteners from step 18 through step 19 to the specified torque with the
vehicle unladed and the weight of the vehicle on the ground.
HINT: A drive-on lift will make it easier to tighten fasteners to correct torque.

Front lower link-to-rear lower link bolt torque: 111 N•m (11 kg-m, 82 ft-lbs)

Rear stabilizer connecting rod nut torque: 44 N•m (4.5 kg-m, 32 ft-lbs)

Nut-to-alignment bolt torque: 146 N•m (15 kg-m, 108 ft-lb)
HINT: Place the alignment bolts in their original locations, and then line up the
marks when tightening to specified torque.

Nut-to-knuckle bolt torque: 118 N•m (12 kg-m, 87 ft-lbs)

When installing the coil spring (still compressed):
a.
Make sure the orientation of the coil spring is as shown in Figure 17: A single
painted mark is above the two painted marks.
Top end of
coil spring
One painted mark
Two
painted
marks
Figure 17
11/14
NTB21-045
b. Make sure the upper rubber seat is secured to the bracket, which is secured
to the vehicle.
 Make sure the protrusion is aligned, facing into the vehicle.
Bracket
1 of 3
tabs
1 of 3
tabs
Upper rubber
seat opening
Upper
rubber
seat
Protrusion
Figure 18
c. Align the coil spring by placing its lower end as shown in Figure 19.
Coil spring seat
Lower end of
coil spring
Maximum gap:
5 mm (0.2 inches)
Figure 19
12/14
NTB21-045
19.
Perform steps 3-18 on the other rear lower link.
20.
Reinstall both rear wheel and tire assemblies.

Wheel lug nut torque: 113 N•m (12 kg-m, 83 ft-lbs)
21.
Perform a 4-wheel alignment.
22.
Reset the steering angle sensor (neutral position adjustment) with C-III plus.
13/14
NTB21-045
PARTS INFORMATION
DESCRIPTION
PART NUMBER
QUANTITY
Rear Suspension Lower Link - RH
551B0-3TA0D
1
Rear Suspension Lower Link - LH
551B1-3TA0D
1
Nut (Alignment)
54588-JA060
4
Bolt (Knuckle)
56280-JA00C
4
Nut (Knuckle)
40262-JA000
4
CLAIMS INFORMATION
Submit a Primary Part (PP) type line claim using the following claims coding:
DESCRIPTION
Remove and Install Both Rear Lower Link
Assemblies
(1)
PFP
OP CODE
SYM
DIA
FRT
(1)
NX29AA
ZE
32
2.7
Reference the electronic parts catalog and use the Lower Suspension Link as the
Primary Failed Part (PFP).
NOTE: FRT includes alignment; no other alignment op code is required. DO NOT claim the
alignment op code with this claim.
AMENDMENT HISTORY
PUBLISHED DATE REFERENCE
May 25, 2021
NTB21-045
DESCRIPTION
Original bulletin published
14/14
NTB21-045