99 Maxima - Comments on CV Boot Changeout - What did we do wrong?

[NutriaforBreakfast]

My buddies and I worked on the CV axle

My friend just wanted to change out the boots andnot the entire axle.

The axle tapped out ok and the seals to the transmission did nottear and most everything was ok until.....

We tried to get the boot over the ball cage. It was so tightthe three of us had 5 needle nose plier on it in a vice. We finallygot band around it and it went in fine. I just can't believe it wasthat much trouble to get it on.

We were like three greased up monkeys in a..........

[maxhopper]

Soaking the boot in hot water might have helped.

I just replaced the whole axle when my boots ripped.

[NutriaforBreakfast]

We didnt take the balls out of the cage

Just cleaned out the old grease and looked for pittingetc. Save a lot of $!

[Sentientbydesign]

Save a lot of $!

Not really. How much did the boot cost you? $15-$20?

And how much time did it take to replace it? 2?...3? hours?

I got a rebuilt axle for $50 after getting my $5 core back. It took my father-in-law and me about an hour and a half to change it out and that was with my internet intermission to find pictures.

So for $30 you could have saved an hour or two and had a "new" axle with a one year warranty.

[NutriaforBreakfast]

You are correct.

It wasnt my car but a friend's who was broke

I tried to tell him what u said but he had nutria fur in hisears and wouldnt listen

[NutriaforBreakfast]

Who rebuilds these CV joints in Dallas Texas?Or if I need one do I have to go to Auto Zone or someother auto supply?

What type of place rebuilt yours? Was it a long wait?

[maxhopper]

You can get remanufactured axles from pep boys or autozone for about $50-65 with a lifetime warranty.

[Sentientbydesign]

I got mine from a local independent parts place. They had the part for me the same day.

If I remember correctly, it was a Cardone part.

[NutriaforBreakfast]

Well I found out my instinct to NOT resuse the old CVjoint was correct. Apparently a clip on the shaft was notput on right.

He was turning to get a hamburger and the half shaftpopped out of his transmission. I toasted somethinginside the tranmission.

The moral of the story is: DONT REUSE OLD PARTS unlessu know what your doing

[Sentientbydesign]

That worries me now. I don't remember a clip on my cv axle.

Was it on the transmission side or at the joint?

Is there a difference between the 96 and 99 for that area?

[NutriaforBreakfast]

Not sure which side but can find out later

There appears to be a snap ring on the end of the shaft

I told them both not to reuse those joints

I guess since he was in a turn the transmission got its gearsin a bind. Anyway the transmission wont turn and just makesa whole bunch of noise.

[xerexabante]

You have to tap the axle back in the trans until it locks (snap ring) or else it will pop out. you might damaged the output shaft/planetary gear on the differential.

[maxhopper]

There is a "C" clip on the end of each axle that goes into the transmission.

I'm not sure if you're referring to some clip in the actual CV joint itself.

[NutriaforBreakfast]

It was the C clamp you are mentioning

I will bet that thing got bent by hammering or movingaround

[xerexabante]

that is called a snap ring or c clip to you

[Sentientbydesign]

Whew! Ok, I was worried that there was some sort of clip at the edge of the transmission where the seal is.

Is it just me, or did it seem too easy to take out and put in the CV axle?

I expected a big to do with special tools and bolts holding the thing in, but just a large flat head popped the sucker out.

[NutriaforBreakfast]

Yeah they were easy to get out

Not like a regular u joint

[NutriaforBreakfast]

I heard now the transmission is NOT toast.

My friends went back over to the hamburger parking lotand jacked up the car. They put in two brand new CVjoints and the car runs fine.

Moral is still the same: Dont run used parts