While my dad was helping me replace my front rotors and pads, he noticed that the cv boot on the front passenger side was torn. He asked me if I heard anything clicking noises from there and it was like a light shining on my head; "So THAT'S why it's noisy!".

Anyhow, I read up on motorvate and the author recommends that the CV shaft be replaced. It's sound advice, so I'll go with that. Now, I need to buy the part itself. I went on autopartsarehouse.com and found this;

http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/pr...el_text=maxima

They call it an "axle shaft". Is that the same? Pardon my ignorance, but the biggest job I've ever done were the brakes which I did today. Also, if the link above is for the correct part, what makes the parts on that site different (other than being reconditioned or not).

... And before I get flamed, I DID do a search but couldn't come up with anything really concrete.

FYI, I drive a 96 maxima SE, manual with ABS

 

your link doesnt go anywhere.

but, you are better off just going to advance auto, carquest, or autozone and picking up their cheapy lifetime half shaft (axle, driveshaft, etc, whatevery you want to call it)

itll probably run you about $60.00 after you get your core back.

the passenger axle can be a PAIN... make sure you spray some wd-40 or PB blaster on the intermediate shaft support (there are 3 little bolts holding it together). This is where the axle you are going to buy will go into, and then the intermediate shaft is affixed to the motor and runs into the transmission. While you are picking up your parts, get a small tube of anti-seize and coat the inside the sleeve that supports the union of the axle and intermediate shaft (you will thank yourself later if you ever have to change it again).

If it has never been replaced, you are going to be under the car for a while so make SURE you have jackstands!!!

 

talk to marty at www.raxles.com excellent quality replacements. wouldn't recommend diy unless you have someone who knows what they're doing.

 

Thanks guys. I've emailed sales@raxles.com for a quote. As for autopartswarehouse, here is the correct link.

http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/pr...ame=axle_shaft

I'm almost positive that page will have the part I'm looking for.

How do I find out if I have a LSD?

 

I think if you jack the car up and turn one wheel and the other side turns the same way you have LSD OR if your higher than a kite right now you may have had some LSD.

 

It doesn't matter where you get your axles from, as long as they're from Raxles.

 

If your dad can help you change the brakes the two of you shouldn't have much problem replacing an axle. It's not that difficult and will save you quite a bit of money.

I vote for the Raxles half shaft as well. I bought a passenger side from them back in 2001 and it has been fine until now (probably about 130k miles since I replaced it), it just started leaking from the inner boot. I can't see the hole but I can really see the where the grease is being thrown. I did the drivers side just a few months earlier and saved some money going with a parts store axle, but have replaced it twice since, the replacements were free because of warranty but for me the difference in cost isn't worth the time of doing it twice. Also I just replaced a half shaft on my daughter's Prelude last month and the rebuilt axle she bought at Autozone had more rust on it than the axle I was replacing. I suspected that they had given her a core by mistake but the box was banded and it had new boots, couldn't believe how crappy it looked.

 

Thanks Bob. I'll be buying my shafts from raxles. I sent a quote request this morning and got a reply back in about 20 minutes. I like them already. It's almost 2x more than other parts stores, but by the sounds of it, it's worth it. I'll let you guys know how it goes

 

Wait until you see what comes in the box.

 

Ok. So I placed the order with Marty at Raxles and will hopefully pick them up in two weeks or so. Does anyone have a link to a good DIY or should I just pick up a haynes manual?