Just did a pair of CV axles on the '97 Nissan Maxi. Please remind me not to do that again. Those things kicked my butt. My hands are sore and everything.

Took me about 5-1/2 hours and yes it was my first time, not counting removing axles from junk cars in the yard. I must have smashed my hands 6 times and cut my thumb with a pry bar. The ball joints from the control arms DO NOT like to come out. Matter of fact, I didn't get them out. Then the seals that go in the tranny were hard to get out and in. I hope I got the drivers side all the way in, it wouldn't go in any further. On top of all that, the person before me stripped a wheel lug nut on a stud which broke off when I removed the wheel. More fun!!!

I might do them for myself but anyone else would have to pay me about $300 - $400 to do the job. SMH

 

Sounds brutal. I have mentioned around here that one of my sons drives a '98 I-30, which I believe is the same as your 97 Maxima.
Now we've owned the car since new, garage kept until a '08 and always babied. But you'd swear it been abused by it's condition. I absolutely HATE working on the car. Just replaced the starter - thank God for an 18" breaker bar (could have used another 6" too). Everything Nissan does requires the Hulk to help out. Then, there are wires everywhere that all have a different method of attaching to something that you can't see, half the time I break them trying to get access to something else.
Makes me appreciate Volvos.

 

Strange thing about Volvo's are that most of them are engineered for the mechanic. The RWD cars are so easy to work on you'd think a 14 year old could do most of the work. Even the things that are tough just take time, usually not really hard.

The Maxi isn't mine, it belongs to a friend's daughter. I helped a lady with a I30 or something and I read that you can destroy the throttle body by operating it with the car off. Just crazy. A few weeks ago I worked on a G35 coupe, the window motor had gone bad. The stupid thing about those and the 350Z's is that the window goes down then up about 1/2 inch ever, EVER time you open the door. Just wears those motors out. GO FIGURE.

 

I saw (on a Nissan Forum) someone refer to Nissan as the "GM of Japan".
That would explain it.

 

yeah I'm done with axles too dude...

 

Thats why I bought myself one of these babys.

 

Where can I get one?

Edit: never mind.

 

Its called a control arm tool. Online, and the tool trucks.

 

Don't do CV axles on the '97 Nissan Maxi

 

Thanks. I needed that. :P