Apparently, the reason the transmissions typically go is an unreplacable "steel wool" filter that clogs in the radiator and allows the thing to overheat. Then, the planetary gears blow! The Pathfinder frame rots behind the body mounts from the rear wheel wells to the bumper because of drainage issues (or driving in the ocean / New England roads). Both of those issues I'll get to soon enough, but for now... The steering woahs!

Ok, maybe I was a bit aggressive up one particular hill. My right front wheel rolled upon an egg shaped rock and twirled it loose. Meanwhile, both wheels spun, dug in, and flailed into, and away from each other violently ,making very loud and grating sounds. Replacing all of the ball joints was a PITA! All of the steering parts were junk. Rolling at 10 MPH was dangerous! The previous Center link is a "dog bone" and under load, the pieces attatched to it may shift over or under each other. Stresses from off road driving seem to typically cause failure in the stock idler arm. Calmini has a fix for the floppy linkage, that also beefs up all the components, and improves handling in a complete steering replacement system! (The Pitman arm nut requires lots of elbow grease to liberate.) AC also offers an idler arm brace, and beefed up replacement parts for stock systems.

This sheared lower control arm mount is bolt on! It also seems like the part is the same on both sides! I'm pulling both off the other truck -one for a spare!

Transmissions are also difficult! (finding friends like these -much harder!) It was more like removing the truck from the transmission!

The frame was the most unique project. I don't know how it still rolled straight! When you buy one of these -strike the frame in these general areas! (they rot from the inside out!)