2001 Nissan Xterra - Project Xterra - Part I

Remove the front wheels and support the lower control arm with a jackstand. Then remove the shock and, if applicable, separate the ABS cable from the upper control arm. Loosen the upper ball-joint nut and separate it from the knuckle. Remove the upper control arm adjusting bolts and the droop stop from the frame bracket.

Place the Rancho upper control arm underneath the ABS cable and bolt it to the brackets on the frame using the provided washer. Attach the bushing assembly to the frame bracket with the original control arm's bolt.

Install your new shock absorber and droop stop, making sure to align the pad with the upper control arm. Tighten the components. Then attach the ABS cable to the front of the upper control arm. When done, tighten the adjusting nut on the torsion-bar anchor bolt.

Remove the bumpstop and enlarge the mounting hole in the lower control arm to ½ inch. Once done, file down the outside corner of the OE bumpstop (A) to provide clearance for the sway bar. Then attach the new bumpstop spacer (B) to the lower control arm (See Following Image As Well).

When installing the add-a-leaves in the rear, first support the rear axle with jacks. After disconnecting the end links of the antiroll bar, remove the rear shock absorbers. Also, take the U-bolt nuts, spring pad and U-bolts off. Remove the leaf-spring shackles and the front eyebolt.