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You are correct in that a wheel bearing can be replaced without replacing the bushings. However the manual shows the bushings with a X after them, which means "always replace after every disassembly", which I interpret as meaning they want you to replace them if you unbolt the axle housing. I find most 20 year old rubber in such poor shape that I routinely replace rubber parts when working in the vicinity. The dust cover on the ball joint at the rear of the axle housing is particularly bad. Currently the axle housing is still attached to the car by a ball joint on the lower arm. Basically, I've been following the method described here:
[ http://www.twinturbo.net/net/viewmsg.aspx?forum=technical&msg_id=860079&forum=technical&dtSearch=6, ] which does not discuss disconnecting the axle housing from the lower arm. I 'm a bit nervous about doing so for fear of screwing up the ball joint, although that may be my next step. I've been able to replace the two smaller upper bushings using a kit I borrowered from Carquest and a couple of my sockets as drifts, but the larger lower bushing and the ball joint at the rear have so far resisted my efforts. I have located the source for Nissan special service tools (800-345-2233). They tell me the ST38280000 arm bushing remover "equivalent" is J-38198 ($101.31). The manual says to attach a "drift" on the outer shell of the bushing and remove the bushing with the arm bushing remover. The commercial service tool page of the manual lists several ball joint removal drifts (listed by dimension only, no part numbers) but says nothing about bushing removal drifts. A little more detail and clarity would be greatly appreciated.
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21:21:18 06/12/11
