Ok, well I know i should know the answer to this but, can you put 97 tailights in a 95 maxima??? Are they the same size and all, and if so is there any cutting or fitment issues?? I would like to do this if it is possible, can you guys please inform me of this...Thanks . Ok well I found this on another thread.......is it correct?....The outer taillights are interchangable but the inner taillights aren't the same so you need a new trunk lid or you need a lot of custom work

 

Well you do not need a lot of custom work, simply a trunklid and/or bumper (if you want a compete 97-99 rear end conv.) and then the tails will match flush. The inners are a different size on 95-96 compared to 97-99.

 

So I just got to go to a junk yard and pull a trunk lid off an 97 and put it on and it will fit the same and then the lights will all match up, then from there I can do the red/clears on them...right?

 

Swap the lids. If you need to swap bumpers then do it but I don't believe its a most.

 

Yep you guys are correct. I do not think the bumper MUST be changed...it just completes the 97-99 rear end conversion.

 

u will need the 97-99 tail lights, along with the trunk lid for it. the bumper is only needed if you dont want a gap between the trunk and rear bumper. i guess it depends how ****/perfect you are. i personally wouldnt be able to see the gap and leave it alone

 

95&96 max'es was blessed with those chrystal clear tails.....

 

Now my next question fellas is this, well yesterday i went and measured my max(95) and then another max which was a 98, and the taillights are the same size and all.......so how easy is it to take off the outer taillights? When I look at mine it looks hella hard to get out, it is really snug in its place? I just don't want to damage anything I can't replace. Any one have done this before, what is needed and what screws need to come out and what tools do I need? If anyone has done this and has pics that would be great!!

 

Very easy to take the tail lights out. it's 4 nuts behind the carpet.

 

yep theres 4 nuts/screws to take out. then get a heat gun or hair dryer to make the black putty stuff soft. while ur heating it you should slowly be able to pry it out. should really take no force

 

Or if you don't have a heat gun or hair dryer, just do it like I did, on a hot sunny day.

 

Just use a hair dryer and heat up the RTV and make it a little loose. Apply a good amount of pressure to the center of the housing and it will come out pretty easily. 1 hour job to do both of them if its your first time.

 

the outter tail lights will bolt in. however, for the inners, u need 97-99 trunk lid cuz the shape of the trunk is different. BUMPER swap isnt needed for the tail lights, however, it is needed for a complete 97-99 rear swap

 

The shape of the trunk is different, but it still fits in just fine right? What did you mean when you said the shape of the trunk is different, did you mean the lights shape is different?

 

Park youself next to a 97-99 and compare..
it fits, no prblem, but the shape is slightly different.
THe 95-96 Trunk lid is flat with a slight "fold" near the lip/bottom of the trunk.
THe 97-99 Trunk lid doesn't have the "fold" but has a kink near the top of the trunk lid..

 

OK OK< I have measured the lights on my 95, and a lights on a 98, You say the fold is slightly different, I just wanna make sure there is no differences that I am going to find out about later, when it doesn't fit properly

 

97 inners WONT fit in 95 trunk lid. trunk lids are totally different and so are the light housing and lights.

 

I did this swap, all you need is the trunk lid. The inner lights are shaped differently, that is why you can't interchange them. Each light has four bolts held on by a 10mm nut. It is easy to do, but you will also need the wiring harnesses for the bulbs. When you find a trunk lid at a junk yard try to get the tail light harnesses (the part that clips in and the part that holds the bulbs). 97-99 has a different brake light so the bulb wont fit correctly. I used my stock 95 harness and taped it in, but it eventually melted the taillight.

 

See thank you, no one told me that I would need the wiring harness for the bulbs..............You say all i need is the trunk lid, but won't I also need the outer lights also, since they dont match up correctly, meaning the red/clear does not match up? Do u understand what I mean? So I will also need to pull those also? Right guys?

 

Also do u think u could post a pic up of the tailllights on ur max since u did this swap?? Is ur max also a 95, or 96?

 

Look at my signature..
I have a 96Max and I swapped the - Trunk lid, - Trunk lights and outer tail lights.. I kept the 96 maxima rear bumper ( find it looks better)..

as for wiring harness, my outer Red/clears came with the harness and my inner trunk lights came with the harness as well, I had no worries..

if you swap trunks, I recommend you remove your original key lock and latch from the trunk and install those on the new trunk ( so that way, if your power trunk stops working, you can still open up the trunk old fashionned key way)..

 

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In that second pic, I didnt have the trunk lined up 100%. It looks crooked, but I fixed that by readjusting the trunk. But you can see the gap between the bumper and the bottom of the trunk- the only way to get rid of that is to have a 97-99 bumper.

My car is a 95, with a trunk from a 97, with ebay red/clears for a 97-99 Maxima.

What you need for the swap:

1. 97-99 trunk lid
2. 97-99 tail lights- 2 inners- the ones on the trunk; and 2 outters the ones on the body of the car
3. Tail light harnesses from a 97-99 maxima. Should be around 30 bucks from a junk yard

It's easy to do, its pretty much 4 bolts on the trunk, and 4 bolts on each light. Total of 20 bolts and you are set from there.

I dont really check the forums too much, so you can pm me and I would see that if you need help.

Oh yeah, swap out your lock and put it in the new trunk. Someone did it for me, its doable but not extremely easy. The other thing is, with a 97 trunk, you wont be able to pop it from the driver door. The latch on the trunk is different than what is in your bumper. You can use the key and do it still. You can get it to open from the driver door if you have someone continuously press it as you pull up but its annoying.

 

Dude why didn't u like the red/clears on the original tails?? I just want red/clears, but the orange on the originals is impossible to clear I heard.....did u sell ur 95 red/clears? I would rather do that, but I don't know how people do it.

 

I really dont know why to be honest with you, I just like the updated look of the 97 style. I liked the fact that no one else has the clears for 95/96's since they are so rare. You cant make them, unless you buy crystal clear altezzas, bake them open and mess with the lenses. I have mine still, they're actually for sale. 250 shipped negotiable.