This was going to be the funnest several hours I've ever spent working on my car. I was doing my suspension, and replacing the 146k mile shocks/springs with KYB AGX and Canuck Motorsports Springs. Well, I've encountered many, many problems along the way:
I couldn't get the damn dust boots over that step in the strut, but luckily was able to get advice and get that done in less than a half an hour.
Then, the strut piston rod kept turning as I was torquing the top strut nut on one of my rears, causing great problems. I brought it to my mechanic, and air tools couldn't even help the situation. I finally got that done though, rotated my tires, and let the rear end down to get to work on the fronts.
For my driverside front, I had to cut through two strut mount nuts on the bracket since the threading stripped when I was torquing those bolts to spec when installing my FSTB. That however, went smoothly.
Then, for some reason last night, I couldn't figure out why my steering knuckle wasn't going back into place. It was dark, and I realized then that I had ordered the WRONG nuts to replace the mounting ones that I had just cut, so I stopped for the night.
Today, I decided that I would finish my passenger side front, get that squared away so that when I recieved those two nuts, I would be done. Well, after removing the passenger side front strut/spring assembly, I noted how smoothly the steering knuckle went back and forth, and how easily it went into position. I returned to the driverside, only to discover a clunking sound, and a very jaged movement. The boot closest to the tranny looked VERY strained, and I just couldn't believe it.
NOW, my car is in my garage, sitting there without front wheels, or struts on either side. I will finish up my passenger side, today, and hopefully hear back from my mechanic about taking it to the shop for him to replace the axle and finish up the front suspension, and hopefully install my ypipe. I'm so fed up.
I just don't know how we're getting the car out of the garage, or how he's going to be able to remove the axle nut without the strut holding it in place. I just want this over with.
So bottom line, I'm sorry for every recomending ebay axles. I removed my front wheel yesterday, to find the shaft completely rusted out. I'm truly sorry to anyone who under my recomendation bought from this seller. I'm going to see how they handle their warrantee seeing as they state a 2 year 20000 mile warantee.
So, to sum up:

 

Oh yea, and I forgot to say, this axle is only about 4 months old, and can't have more than 5000 miles on it, unabused (mostly highway, and can't launch hard at all becuase of winter)

 

determination at itas finest. keep working.

 

Well, I'm going to finish my passenger side, and then I'm going to leave my axle for my mechanic. I don't have the strength to do that job again, seeing as I had just done it 3-4 months ago. plus, the clock is always ticking, spring break is only so long, and I have *other* things I want to be doing.

 

True, hope it works out for ya.

 

Thanks man.

 

damn...sucks to hear that

but thanks for the headsup on not to buy ebay axles

 

There is some hope now - I took out the strut assembly to look around, and after a little while, I was able to move the steering knuckle back into place. In a little while, I'm going back outside to see if I can get that strut bolted up.
But yes, due to the corrosion on the axle itself, I wouldn't recommend buying these axles. I expec thtat I'll be replacing this within one year (especially since I'm going to be lowered), but I'm happy that I won't have to replace it for now.
Oh yea, I just got done with the passenger side installation, so I'm thriving in a small sense of accomplishment before I go back outside and determine if in fact the axle is beyond use. I'm hoping for the best.

 

THere is substantial hope now, I was able to postion the steering knuckle correctly and put the strut in. Now I just have to wait until Monday to get to a Nissan dealership to pick up the mount nuts for the bracket that I had to cut off, and then I'll be able to test drive to see if my axle is screwed up or not.