The Nissan Path

So I purchased the BILSTEIN hd struts and shocks for my 2011 pathfinder, thinking," what the hell, I'll see if I can do this ". Well guys I've gotten the old struts out but I'm having trouble using spring compressors on the coils to fit inside the housing. The rods that the hooks are attached to are way to long to allow the strut to slide into position. So I guess what I'm asking is, is there any secret I don't know,'or some special way to get these in. Any and all suggestions are welcomed because I've been beating my head against my garage for days. Thanks guys

Sounds like you may not have the right spring compressor for the job.

Could you take to a shop and have them do it for $20-30?

t

I'm pretty sure that is the problem, but I haven't been able to find any other spring compressors. I also can't take it to a shop because I've got both from struts and coils out of the car, and it's on jack stands.

Post a picture of the compressor you are using.
Most of them are the same and all should screw all the way out and all the way down.

Haven't forgotten about you guys, my iPhone won't let post a picture onto the website for some reason. I'll get on my computer and do it tonight. Thanks for
The help guys

I use the photobucket app so you can copy and paste the img url.

Hopefully that works it's those top threaded bars on the spring compressors they won't allow the coil and strut to be put into place [/img]

According to what i see in the picture you have removed the center nut on the shock shaft. You will have to install that bolt back on and before you try the spring compressor again you will have to remove the 3 nuts holding the entire assembly ontop. You have to remove the entire shock and spring off the Pathy as a whole piece and then try the spring compressor.

The strut and coil are just free standing in the housing, I have already removed all the bolts attaching strut to the frame. My problems is compressions the spring enough to fit, but a the same
Time leaving enough room for the threaded rod on the spring compressors to fit.

Im really bad at explaining things i usually use the forum on my phone. But you need to remove the whole strut and spring off of the vehicle and build it outside of the pathy. You dont need to build it inside the pathy. Remove the top plate of the strut off the coil bucket.

Yeah, you are doing it incorrectly. As mentioned, you should have left the center nut on top alone. There are three nuts around it that get removed and the strut assembly gets pulled out; the coil spring will be retained in the assembly by the top strut mount secured by the center nut.
Once you have the complete strut assembly removed, that's the time you install the compressors onto the spring and tighten them. This will remove the tension off of the top mount.
Then, you can remove the top nut, mount with insulator and coil spring w/ compressor tools installed on the spring. Note, you should take a wax crayon or some touch up paint and make alignment marks on the mount, spring and strut prior to disassembly to help you realign everything when you put it back together.
Then you put the coil spring onto the new strut, install the mount and the top center nut. Align the marks accordingly and loosen the compressors, adjusting as necessary to get all three components to line up properly. Once all of the tension is removed from the tools, take the tools off.
Then, you can put the complete, strut assembly into place and install the top three nuts to secure the mount to the upper mount plate of the vehicle.

[/img]




Ok guys happy to report that I have gotten the struts into the vehicle. Now I am putting the tire rods back on, but I'm having trouble to tighten the bolt down to the housing. Any ideas what I'm doing wrong ?Yet again thanks for all the help guys!

Assuming the threads aren't damaged...you just need to put some pressure on the tie rod end to force it up enough for the stud to get enough grip so it won't turn as you tighten the nut.