Hey y'all, I purchased a 2000 Maxima SE a few months ago and have been doing some work on it. Currently I am doing front end work and I'm stuck on the CV shaft and Control arm/ball joint. I replaced the CV and put it all back together, started the car and got a lot of reddish/brown liquid coming from under the passenger side, where I replaced the CV shaft. On the control arm/ball joint I can't seem to get the large nut on the alignment bracket off, and the 19mm bolt holding in the ball joint is rounded and I can't seem to get a good bite on it and break it loose. Please help me out with any advice/instructions guys! I love my car and want to fix it!

 

Greetings! All I know about the 5th Gen Maxima I learned from YouTube/Internet. That's my suggestion for repair.

However I did recently replace the passenger side CV axle assembly (torn boot) so I replaced the whole thing instead of trying to fix it with a boot kit. I did not have any real trouble getting it back together, alas. The brown liquid coming out is of course transmission fluid, so you will likely need to top off the fluid after you get everything buttoned back up. Or better yet, drain it all and replace it, especially if it is due.
Is yours manual or automatic?

 

it's always a good idea to change the output shaft seal when you change out the CV axle. I would also recommend to do a few drain and fills on the transmission to get all the old fluids out. it's common for people to never even service their transmissions. the fluid should be red not brown...

 

Thank you guys for responding, it's so nice to know there are people who will help. Mine is an automatic, I doubt the people I got it from did much service at all to this poor car. Would you have any suggestions on where to find the correct seal so it won't leak anymore?? Also, any suggestions on getting off the stupid 19mm nut on top of the ball joint? Mine was rounded and stripped when I got to it. Also having the same problem with the nut that's holding the alignment bracket in the control arm, rounded and can't get it to break. Will I need to take a grinder to it and just buy new hardware??

 

I've gotten the alignment bracket off and the ball joint out of the knuckle, now I'm stuck on getting the output shaft seal out.. I've gotten a seal removal tool, needle nose pliers all kinds of stuff I can't seem to get it out. It's the seal where the CV shaft meets the housing, any suggestions guys?? I really need some help here

 

they like to get stuck hard in there. spray some penetrating oil around the seal

 

Would WD-40 work? The seal is all torn up the outer lip of it is gone so it's hard to get a bite on it, any suggestions on what to use to pull the seal out? And what to use to put the new seal in? When I try and reach it from under the car theres not enough room to reach into the housing

 

i usually use my biggest wrench to pry it out...

 

What angle are you reaching it at man? I've tried coming from under the car but there's that bracket in the way and I tried reaching it from under the tire, the output shaft seal is torn up so there's not much to grab onto

 

unfortunately gotta get creative. its a pita for sure

 

it's been a while since I changed it with the transmission in the car. just removes the lower beam and engine mounts. it's only 6 bolts and I believe some wire clips. make sure to use OEM seals.