How to Replace a Coil Spring in a Nissan Pathfinder

Your 1996 to 2005 Nissan Pathfinder has coil springs in the rear suspension. This is a rarity among other large sport utility vehicles, and earlier model years of the Nissan Pathfinder were factory produced with leaf springs as well. Replacing the coil springs on a Nissan Pathfinder is easy compared to performing the same procedure on most large vehicles.
Difficulty: Moderate
Instructions
Things You'll Need
Safety stands
Floor jack
Wrench
1

Raise your Nissan Pathfinder and support it at the frame with safety stands, then lift the rear axle with a floor jack in order to relieve the tension on the coil springs. Do not support any of the vehicle's weight on this second independent lift.
2

Remove the rear wheels and disconnect the shock absorbers and stabilizer bar links. Disconnect the lateral control rod as well, the disconnect and remove the coil springs from the vehicle. Make certain that the springs are not under any tension, whether elongating or compressing, as you remove them; adjust the height of the floor jack supporting the rear axle to accomplish this.
3

Place new coil springs into the Nissan Pathfinder and, if necessary, raise the rear axle sufficiently to ensure they are properly seated. You might also need to raise the rear axle a little bit to line up the connectors as you reconnect the lateral control rod, stabilizer bar links and shock absorbers.
4

Reinstall the rear wheels, lower the rear axle and move the floor jack aside, then carefully lower your Pathfinder from the safety stands.