Nissan Navara: D22 KA24DE Front Coil Spring Fatigue Cracking

The D22 Navara with the KA24DE petrol engine uses independent front suspension with coil springs over twin-tube shock absorbers. The front coil springs are known to fatigue and crack — typically at the lower spring seat coil — after high-mileage use, particularly on vehicles used on rough rural roads. A cracked coil spring can collapse suddenly, causing rapid changes in vehicle height and steering geometry, and in worst cases the fractured end can contact and puncture the tyre.

• Front of vehicle sitting noticeably lower on one side compared to the other without any load asymmetry
• Clunking or knocking from front suspension over small bumps that is inconsistent with worn bushes or shock absorbers
• Tyre contact or rubbing sound from the inner guard with no visible tyre or alignment issue
• Visible fracture or full break in the coil spring windings, often with rust weeping from the crack

1. 1

   Check for rust pitting at cracks.

2. 2

   Measure ride height — a noticeably lower stance on one side without load indicates a failed spring.

3. 3

   If a workshop inspection is possible: With the vehicle on a hoist and front suspension hanging freely, visually inspect the full length of both front coil springs for hairline cracks or complete fractures — pay close attention to the lower two coils and the area immediately above the lower spring seat.

Parts involved: Shock absorber / strut.

$350 to $900 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

• “Have the front coil springs ever been inspected for cracking or replaced?”
• “Does the front of the vehicle sit level, or is one corner noticeably lower than the other?”
• “Has any clunking or knocking from the front suspension been investigated?”

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.