1st & 2nd Generation Maxima (1981-1984 and 1985-1988)Learn more and share information about the 1st and 2nd Generation Maximas.
Welcome to Maxima.org!
Welcome to Maxima.org,
You are currently viewing our forum as a guest, which gives you limited access
to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our community, at no cost, you will have access to start new topics, reply to conversations, privately message other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is free, fast and simple, so please join Maxima.org today!
Last week I noticed that one of my cv boots was blown out. I also noticed that one of the boots on the rack was busted also.
So, I'm going to replace the halfshafts on both sides, along with the tie rod ends, ball joints, control arm bushings, rack boots and brake pads.. I figure if I'm down there, I'm doing it all just to be done with it.
What kind of time am I looking at? I was thinking 5 hours, but it sounds like the rack boots are a real pain in the ***.
Winter is coming up, which means tons of road salt and sand. I'd rather do the halfshafts now than later. They put so much of that stuff on the road.
I really don't want to do the rack boots. That is something I'd really like to leave alone, and I'm actually thinking about doing just that. It just sounds like too much of a pain in the ***.
Last edited by Fatty Matty; 08-11-2008 at 02:18 AM.
are the half shafts bad? just because the boots are gone doesent mean you have to replace the whole shaft.
Why take a chance? If the boots where split, who knows how long they have been like that and what crap has gotten into the CV joint. Besides half shafts are cheap enough you might as well replace them. My experience rebuilding half shafts says it's more pain than it's worth. It's a horrible mess, and the chances are even with the new boot, is the life of the CV joint is much less than replacing the shaft.
Winter is coming up, which means tons of road salt and sand. I'd rather do the halfshafts now than later. They put so much of that stuff on the road.
I really don't want to do the rack boots. That is something I'd really like to leave alone, and I'm actually thinking about doing just that. It just sounds like too much of a pain in the ***.
Matt, my thoughts is if you're already in there, just do it. You'll have the satisfaction of knowing you took care of it, and not have to worry about it for the winter.
I did teh steering rack boots today. absolute pain in the *** at first. both were wasted.
Passenger side was 15 minutes, including pulling and replacing the tie rod end.
driver side turned into 2 hours and i started getting fairly pissed off. But i figured out the trick to getting the boot on the rack on that side.
take a 3" hose clamp and cut the screw part off. wind it up to compress it, then fit it inside teh boot. you can do this from outside the drivers side of the car. this expands the boot so that it will fit over the end of rack. once you get it over, carefully fish it out. took less than five minutes.
tomorrow is the ball joints and halfshafts. woulda done it today, but had to order a 36mm socket that i didn't have.
10 hours total. 2+ for the boots, and under 8 for the axles and ball joints. this includes some time waiting for a ball joint since 1 was defective, and 1 hour ****ing with the driver side axle, which i discovered had mis-machined threads. the passenger side is kind of a pain in the ***, due to the bearing carrier. driver side is easy.
tomorrow its in for an alignment, then it's finished.
this will be the last time I buy a really old car with low mileage. **** that sits falls apart.
Last edited by Fatty Matty; 08-28-2008 at 06:40 PM.
I did teh steering rack boots today. absolute pain in the *** at first. both were wasted.
Passenger side was 15 minutes, including pulling and replacing the tie rod end.
driver side turned into 2 hours and i started getting fairly pissed off. But i figured out the trick to getting the boot on the rack on that side.
take a 3" hose clamp and cut the screw part off. wind it up to compress it, then fit it inside teh boot. you can do this from outside the drivers side of the car. this expands the boot so that it will fit over the end of rack. once you get it over, carefully fish it out. took less than five minutes.
tomorrow is the ball joints and halfshafts. woulda done it today, but had to order a 36mm socket that i didn't have.
Now you tell me...I wish I'd thought of that trick to get the boot on about a year ago. I remember trying to roll up some stiff plastic sheet inside there but it didn't have enough force to expand the boot. I'm guessing it took me over 3 hours to get that one blasted boot on.
Linear Mode
