[Sassle]

2009 Frontier SE 4x4
Took the truck in for an alignment. Toe was fixed but camber bolts where seized. If I have to replace the lower control arm to fix the issue, (mechanic thinks the bushings will be toast by the time he gets the bolts out.) Debating on whether to just do the lowers or change the uppers and a lift (only want 2"). Oh, I guess my "Extended Warranty" doesn't want to cover the lowers. I would understand if it was the ball joint at issue, but it's the camber bolt.
OK, gripe and question done.
Sassle

Edited, hate typing on my phone.

 

[Nomad 13]

It's quite common for those to end up seized on older trucks, especially in the salt belt. And yes, frequently when they are seized you end up destroying the bushings trying to extract the bolts. Easier and cheaper to just buy new lowers from rockauto.com than to pay someone to try to change the bushings.

 

[Dark Night 18]

If you go new lowers, which is what I did, buy new camber bolts and make sure they use antisieze on the shank of the bolts.
Good luck.

 

[NovaBeJota]

It's quite common for those to end up seized on older trucks, especially in the salt belt. And yes, frequently when they are seized you end up destroying the bushings trying to extract the bolts. Easier and cheaper to just buy new lowers from rockauto.com than to pay someone to try to change the bushings.

Unhappily, I found this out today from my mechanic. I took my truck in after putting an OME lift on it over the weekend. I wanted them to put the new camber bolts in; after 1 1/2 hours of fighting, they gave up trying to get the old bolts out. FWIW, the mechanic is an off-road guy and doesn't give it too much thought. My toe was way off, but the camber and caster had barely changed on my install.

Is it worth getting new lower control arms (they quoted me ~$1K installed); is it a DIY install; should I say the heck with it and return the camber bolts to Nisstec?

 

[Nomad 13]

Is it worth getting new lower control arms (they quoted me ~$1K installed); is it a DIY install; should I say the heck with it and return the camber bolts to Nisstec?

That's a LOT of money for a fairly simple, though time consuming, install. You can get the new arms from rockauto.com for about 70/ea. Toughest part will be cutting the bushings/bolts on the seized ones. If you're not comfortable doing the work yourself you should be able to find an alignment shop to do it for less.

 

[Sassle]

Dealer covered the repair. Ended up replacing, both LCA and camber bolts, LH front Hub and a tire($270) that had a slice in the sidewall. I bet it was a $1200 repair if I had been paying for it.
Sassle.

 

[smj999smj]

We see these all the times on Pathfinders and Titans as well. With the R51 Pathfinders, not only to the front control arm bolts seize to the bushing sleeves, but we have rear control arms, as well, that do the same thing. A Sawzall can be used to cut through the bolts. One thing I've learned is that if you are going to install caster/camber bolts, get them from Nissan. They are much better; the one eccentric is part of the bolt, so there is no play and the adjustment doesn't change as much while tightening the bolts during an alignment. The other eccentric is much thicker than the aftermarket eccentrics used. If you need the part numbers, you can get them here (Frontiers, Xterras and Pathfinders are all the same):

The Nissan Path :: View topic - R51 genuine Nissan Caster/Camber Kit part numbers