I have a 99 with the oem 5 spokes on 215 tires and with a tape measure the diameter seems like 17 but i thought the 5spokes were 16. I've never installed springs/struts until now and I've heard going lower than a 1.5" drop ruins your axles so how do I measure this when adjusting? I wish I had taken measurements beforehand but didn't think of it and now this is the last thing keeping me off the road after a bunch of work under the hood and under the car

 

Someone with stock maxima with OEM spec tires needs to chime in with the distance from top of tire to middle of fender. Note tire wear will play a small factor. Then you can subtract 1.5" from that.

Or you go on a hunt to your nearest grocery store and I'll bet you'll find one.

Honestly though, you're fussing a little bit here. Get it dialed in so you have 2 or 3 finger gap and you'll be good to go.

 

See page FA-27 (the last page) for stock height.

http://boredmder.com/FSMs/Nissan/Maxima/1999/FA.pdf