Changing 99 Altima CV axle

I am about to undertake changing both of my transaxles and I was wondering if anyone could give me any pointers on things to watch out for. Both outer boots have apparently been open for some time. I do not have ABS. I plan to remove the calipers and rotors, remove the tie rod ends, drop the strut and then knock the end of the axle shaft from the hub. Then, I plan to pull the transaxles from the transmission on both sides. Is this pretty much the basic operation or are their special things I need to watch for? I know I may need new seals in the transmission. I did this once a long time ago on a
Chevrolet and although I remember it as taking some time, it didn't seem impossible.

Loosen and remove the axle nuts. They should take a 1 5/16" socket.
Raise and safely support the vehicle and remove the front wheels.
Separate the lower ball joints with a pickle fork.
Disconnect the stabalizer bar from the control arm.
Pull the lower control arms down and away from the spindels. The control arms will catch on, bend, or brake the sheetmetal dust shield if you don't push the spindel outward at the same time as you pull the lower control arm down. Make sure that the shield doesn't touch the disc after you reassemble.
Remove three bolts that hold the half-shaft bearing.
Remove the passenger side axle.
You very likely may need to use a screwdriver and a hammer to go through from the passenger side to hit the end of the drivers side axle to release the retainer ring so you can slide the axle out.
Reassemble with new cotter pins on the ball joints.
No need to remove callipers, tie-rods, or dissconnect the struts.
Look at the cotter pin holes in the axle and align the axles in the hub so you can easilly install the pins between the wheel studs.

We have removed the control arm and the stabilizer bar but we are unable to remove the cv joint from the hub. We have it loose from the hub-that part was easy. It seems as though we need another 2 or 3 inches to get the joint out of the hub. Can you give us any advise? Should we remove some of the strut bolts. Say one of the top bolts and the bottom bolt so that we can pull the hub out to free the axle?

Turning the steering wheel will extend the tie-rod so that you can swing the hub and spindel further outward from the transmission making enough room to push the the axle through and slide clear of the hub. Don't loosen any bolts on the strut.

No good. With the control arm off and the tie rod also off and with the entire front end of the car up in the air, there is just not enough room for the end of the shaft to make it out of the hub. We even tried a hammer and a piece of brass. We can push the axle in and out of the hub, but we can not get it off the car on either side. Do you have any further suggestions?

Reveiw the original steps. I took my axles out without separating the tie-rods or anything on the struts. I checked the repair manual tonight. Something isn't separated at the correct locations.

Do you have the lower ball joint separated from the spindle??

I guess I DIDN'T follow your instuctions. When you said to disconnect the lower ball joints, for some unknown reason (hopefully other than just plain stupidity) we diconnected the tie rod ends. But, I feel comfident that we will this time "SEPERATE THE LOWER BALL JOINTS". You know, I work as a technician for a living and every day I am forced to follow ridgid procedures.
Why, I did not seperate the lower ball joints is beyond me. I feel comfident this stage of the job will go smoother now. But, we still have a lot to get confused about and things to do that are going to go potentially wrong, so please stay on line for another night or so and maybe we can provide you with a few laughs. Thanks a lot. Sincerely!

I thought I'd bring this back to the top. I'm replacing the axles in my nieces' Altima. Thanks for your instructions. Following it to the 'T' and all is going well. Just one question, in seperating the ball joints, the boots are now torn and no one makes just a replacement boot. Did either of you manage to not tear the boots? Am I stuck in replacing both ball joints? Thanks again.

Another pointer for anyone thats going to do this. With the tip about using a long screw driver to pop out the left axle, be sure its a pretty skinny screw driver. There is a cross pin that you have to get the screw driver by to reach the other axle, don't go to far as to wedge it in there.:nono: That's what happened to me. I hope I didn't damage anything. Once we got it removed, it actually bent my screw driver. I hope that's what gave way instead of damaging some internal parts. Can I get some thoughts from the Nissan gurus?

All seems well. Replaced both CV axles and both lower ball joints. Next is a broken upper motor mount.

Hi All, I have a question about the retainer clip. When I remove the halfshaft does it stay in place, or drop out?

Thanks
Steve

hello steve the retainer clip will stay in place good luck

Thanks inafogg!
Will the ATF leak out in much quantity when I do this job?

Steve