Nissan Pathfinder: Steering System - Removal and Installation

• Steering Wheel
• Steering Column
• Lower Joint
• Steering Gear and Linkage
• Heated Steering Wheel Switch

Steering Wheel Nissan Pathfinder 2022

Exploded View

1.	Steering wheel	2.	Steering column	3.	ICC Steering switches
4.	Driver air bag module

Removal and Installation

REMOVAL

Set the front wheels and tires to the straight-ahead position.

Remove driver air bag module. Refer to Removal and Installation.

Remove steering wheel bolt.

CAUTION:

Do not reuse steering wheel bolt.

Disconnect harness connector from ICC steering switches.

Remove steering wheel using suitable tool.

CAUTION:

Place a piece of tape across the spiral cable so it will not be rotated out of position.

Inspect steering wheel near the puller holes for damage. Replace as necessary.

Remove ICC steering switches (if necessary).

INSTALLATION

Installation is in the reverse order of removal.

• Align spiral cable correctly before installing steering wheel. Make sure that the spiral cable is in the neutral position. Refer to Removal and Installation.

  CAUTION:

  • The spiral cable may snap due to steering operation if the cable is not installed in the correct position.

  • With the steering linkage disconnected, the cable may snap by turning the steering wheel beyond the limited number of turns.

  • Perform ADJUSTMENT OF STEERING ANGLE SENSOR NEUTRAL POSITION. Refer to Description.

  • Tighten steering wheel bolt to specification. Refer to Exploded View.

  • Do not reuse steering wheel bolt.

Steering Column Nissan Pathfinder

Exploded View

NOTE:

Power column shown. Manual column similar.

1.	Steering member	2.	Hole cover seal	3.	Lower joint
4.	Hole cover	5.	Steering column	A.	Refer to Installation.
B.	Refer to Installation.		Front

Removal and Installation

CAUTION:

• Do not cause axial impact to steering column during removal and installation.

• Do not move steering gear during removal and installation of steering column.

REMOVAL

Set the front wheels and tires to the straight-ahead position.

Remove combination switch. Refer to Removal and Installation.

Remove instrument lower panel LH. Refer to Removal and Installation.

Disconnect tilt and telescopic harness connectors (if equipped).

Remove lock nut (B) and pinch bolt (A). Separate lower joint (1) from steering column (2).

CAUTION:

Do not reuse lock nut (B).

Remove nut (A), nut (B), bolt (C), and steering column (1).

INSTALLATION

Install steering column to steering member with nuts and bolt finger tight in the sequence shown.

Install lower joint to steering column. Align lower joint shaft groove (A) with steering column yoke bolt hole (B).

Tighten steering column nuts and bolt to specification in the sequence shown.

Nut 1	: 16 N·m (1.6 kg-m, 12 ft-lb)
Nut 2	: 16 N·m (1.6 kg-m, 12 ft-lb)
Bolt 3	: 23 N·m (2.3 kg-m, 17 ft-lb)

Install pinch bolt (A) and lock nut (B) finger tight. Verify pinch bolt is properly seated in lower joint shaft (1) groove.

CAUTION:

• Pinch bolt (A) is directional.

• Do not reuse lock nut (B).

Tighten pinch bolt lock nut to specification.

Lock nut

: 44.1 N·m (4.5 kg-m, 33 ft-lb)

Installation of remaining components is in the reverse order of removal.

CAUTION:

• After installation, turn steering wheel to make sure it moves smoothly. Make sure the number of turns are the same from the straight-forward position to left and right locks. Make sure that the steering wheel is in a neutral position when driving straight ahead.

• Check tilt and telescopic operating range.

Lower Joint Nissan Pathfinder R53

Exploded View

1.	Lower joint	2.	Steering gear	3.	Steering column
	Front

Removal and Installation

REMOVAL

CAUTION:

Do not move steering gear during removal and installation of lower joint.

Set the front wheels and tires to the straight-ahead position.

Remove instrument lower panel LH. Refer to Removal and Installation.

Remove lock nut (B) and pinch bolt (A). Separate lower joint (1) from steering column (2).

CAUTION:

Do not reuse lock nut (B).

Remove pinch bolt (A). Separate lower joint (1) from steering gear (2).

: Front

Remove lower joint from engine compartment.

INSTALLATION

Install lower joint to steering gear. Align steering gear pinion shaft groove (A) with lower joint yoke bolt hole (B).

Install lower joint (1) pinch bolt (A) finger tight. Verify pinch bolt is properly seated in steering gear (2) pinion shaft groove.

: Front

CAUTION:

Pinch bolt (A) is directional.

Install lower joint to steering column. Align lower joint shaft groove (A) with steering column yoke bolt hole (B).

Install pinch bolt (A). Verify pinch bolt is properly seated in lower joint shaft (1) groove. Install lock nut (B) finger tight.

CAUTION:

• Pinch bolt (A) is directional.

• Do not reuse lock nut (B).

Tighten lock nut (at steering column) to specification.

Lock nut

: 44.1 N·m (4.5 kg-m, 33 ft-lb)

Tighten pinch bolt (at steering gear) to specification.

Pinch bolt

: 26.5 N·m (2.7 kg-m, 20 ft-lb)

Installation of remaining components is in the reverse order of removal.

CAUTION:

After installation, turn steering wheel to make sure it moves smoothly. Make sure the number of turns are the same from the straight-forward position to left and right locks. Make sure that the steering wheel is in a neutral position when driving straight ahead.

Steering Gear and Linkage Nissan Pathfinder SUV

Exploded View

1.	Heat shield	2.	Outer socket (RH)	3.	Inner socket
4.	Boot	5.	Outer socket (LH)	6.	Steering gear and linkage assembly
A.	Outer socket nut	B.	Inner socket lock nut		Front

Removal and Installation - Outer socket

REMOVAL

Remove front wheel and tire using power tool.

Loosen inner socket lock nut (A).

CAUTION:

To prevent damage, hold outer socket (1) across flats using suitable tool while loosening inner socket lock nut (A).

Loosen outer socket nut and separate outer socket from steering knuckle using suitable tool.

CAUTION:

Leave the outer socket nut half threaded on the outer socket to prevent damage to threads and to prevent the suitable tool from coming off suddenly.

Remove outer socket nut and outer socket.

CAUTION:

Do not reuse outer socket nut.

INSTALLATION

Install outer socket to inner socket.

Adjust inner socket to standard length (L), and then tighten inner socket lock nut to the specified torque. Refer to Exploded View. Check length of inner socket (L) again after tightening inner socket lock nut. Make sure that the length is the standard.

Inner socket length (L)

: Refer to Power Steering Gear.

CAUTION:

• To prevent damage, hold outer socket across flats using suitable tool while tightening inner socket lock nut.

• Adjust toe-in after this procedure. The length achieved after toe-in adjustment is not necessarily the above value.

• Inspect to make sure no boot deformation has occurred during toe-in adjustment. Adjust boot as necessary.

Install outer socket to steering knuckle.

Install outer socket nut to outer socket. Refer to Exploded View.

Install front wheel and tire. Refer to Removal and Installation.

CAUTION:

• Check wheel alignment. Refer to Inspection.

• Perform ADJUSTMENT OF STEERING ANGLE SENSOR NEUTRAL POSITION. Refer to Description.

Removal and Installation - Boot

REMOVAL

Remove outer socket. Refer to Removal and Installation - Outer socket.

Remove inner socket lock nut.

Remove the nuts and separate the stabilizer connecting rods from the stabilizer bar. Reposition the stabilizer bar. Refer to Removal and Installation.

Remove small boot clamp and large boot clamp.

CAUTION:

Do not reuse large boot clamp.

Remove boot.

INSTALLATION

Install large end of boot (1) to steering gear housing.

Apply silicone grease between the inner socket and small end of boot (2). Install small end of boot to inner socket boot mounting groove.

CAUTION:

To prevent boot deformation or damage during toe-in adjustment, apply silicone grease between the inner socket and small end of boot.

Install small boot clamp (B).

Install large boot clamp (A) using Tool.

CAUTION:

Do not reuse large boot clamp.

Tool number

: KV40107300 (NI-51751)

Install the nuts and stabilizer connecting rods to the stabilizer bar. Refer to Removal and Installation.

Partially thread the inner socket lock nut on the inner socket.

Install the outer socket. Refer to Removal and Installation - Outer socket.

CAUTION:

• Check wheel alignment. Refer to Inspection.

• Perform ADJUSTMENT OF STEERING ANGLE SENSOR NEUTRAL POSITION. Refer to Description.

Removal and Installation - Inner socket

REMOVAL

Remove boot. Refer to Removal and Installation - Boot.

Remove inner socket.

CAUTION:

To prevent damage to the rack bar when removing the inner socket, hold suitable tool (A) across rack bar flats (C) while turning suitable tool (B) across inner socket flats (D).

INSTALLATION

Apply medium strength thread locker to threads of inner socket. Tighten inner socket to the specified torque. Refer to Exploded View.

CAUTION:

To prevent damage to the rack bar when installing the inner socket, hold suitable tool (A) across rack bar flats (C) while turning suitable tool (B) across inner socket flats (D).

Install boot. Refer to Removal and Installation - Boot.

CAUTION:

• Check wheel alignment. Refer to Inspection.

• Perform ADJUSTMENT OF STEERING ANGLE SENSOR NEUTRAL POSITION. Refer to Description.

Heated Steering Wheel Switch Nissan Pathfinder 2022

Removal and Installation

For removal and installation of the heated steering wheel switch, refer to Removal and Installation.