I did a search (works much better) about the drive shafts and ran into this thread http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....moving+shafts. Anyway, I noticed Jeff92SE says you do not have to remove the passenger side driveshaft if this is not your first time. If this is so, this would make things much easier. Any special notes on leavin the passenger side intact? This will not be my first time dropping a tranny, but it will be my first time dropping a Maxima tranny. I have dropped a 90 Camry's auto tranny before to replace its driveplate/flywheel. The toyota is set up very similar to the Nissan, so far in my observations. Anyway, the biggest pain in the butt I've had so far is removing the driveshaft on the cars. I have not done the Nissan's yet, but is this the imfamous slip ring style?

 

dropping the tranny for axle....? i need to do drivers side on my car and it should be accessable by just dropping strut threw tower and steering bs ..and with a little persuasion it should come ..and i think they do have the locking ring

 

Getting the tranny OUT w/ the pass side driveshaft is pretty easy(but harder w/ the driveshaft it vs out) It's getting the tranny back IN that's tough. It's about 2x harder to line up the input shaft splines on the tranny AND drive shaft. If you don't have a tranny jack, forget it and just remove the other half shaft.

 

I think with the passanger side CV you can just undo the three bolts that hold the half shaft in the bracket behind the motor. The shaft joints should have enough play in them so you can pull it out of the traney. I havent done this, but in reflection on the three times Ive done a tranney change on my car in the past 90 days I'm pretty sure jeff is right.

 

I'm pretty sure on this one because I've personally done tranny removals/installs w/ and without the pass side cv.

Note: If you are going to replace the input shaft tranny seals like I know you will(Eric), you will reduce the chance at damaging the pass side seal by taking the halfshaft off first.