Nissan Almera 1999 drive shaft replacement

Maintenance/Repairs
1

Hello, I have a Nissan Almera N15 1.6 Gasoline GA16DE 1999 Automatic and I wanted to replace the driveshaft on the right side (I think) because its making that clonky noise on turns…

What I wanted to ask is that is it a big hassle to do this? I checked some tutorial on youtube and there was adviced to drain gearbox fluid out and fill it back in afterwards… The tutorial was on different car though… Is it necessary to drain this fluid? Also mine is automatic transmission so does it differ from manual?

2

I’ve never drained the transmission/gear box prior to replacing a half-shaft.

I do put a pan below the gearbox in case a little leaks out when the half-shaft is removed.

Tester

2 Likes
3

+1
Through a pan under it and remove and replace the cv axle/half-shaft, check and top off with the correct ATF according to the manufacture, afterwards…

4

This is a good opportunity to drain and change the fluid. Unless it’s been changed recently, with the correct fluid, I would probably go that route. The spec for the fluid should be in your owners manual.

5

Thanks for the replies. I will try to change it and see what happens

6

Can’t speak to your car, but I’ve done a similar job on both a 70’s VW Rabbit and a 90’s Corolla, both manual trans (of course!) I didn’t drain the gear oil out of the trans, but I did shove a rag into the hole to minimize the amount that escaped to a few drops. In order of difficulty:

  • Making sure the new parts fit the application.
  • Removing the axle nut. Buy the correct size socket and a sturdy breaker bar.
  • Disconnecting the tie rod connection. Best method is using a tool designed for that task. Tie the rods up first with a strong rope or chain to the chassis, b/c it is spring loaded and may whack you in the head when you disconnect if you don’t.
  • Convincing the axle to free itself from where it has been attached for years on each end. I use a slide-hammer technique on the trans side.
  • Getting the trans end back into the trans can be a little tricky, be prepared for several attempts before it finally seats properly. Rotate the shaft a little each time. the splines on the shaft have to exactly match up with the splines in that hole. Also make witness marks before removing so you know how far it should go into trans.

I’d say this is 7.5 out of 10 on a diy’er difficulty scale. Definitely diy’er doable provided you have a good place to do the work and all the needed safety equipment, esp a level surface, jack stands, and safety glasses. .

7

Watch several videos on axle replacement for compact Nissans of that era to pick up any hints and tricks to make the job easier, and to make sure you have the needed tools, equipment, and ability.