Replacing the inner and outer CV joints on your 2000 Nissan Maxima is a time-consuming and intricate process. If you regularly hear metallic clicking from the wheel bearings while your Maxima is turning, chances are that you will need to replace the CV joints. Other than a torque wrench, there are no special tools involved in replacing the CV joint. The job should take about two hours from start to finish.
Disconnect the negative battery cable on your 2000 Maxima with a wrench. Raise the car with a floor jack, position jack stands under the frame then lower the car onto the stands. Use a tire iron to unscrew the lug nuts then set the tires aside. Place a catch pan under the engine's splash shields then unscrew them with a socket wrench.
Unbolt the caliper from each of the rotors so that the brake line and caliper are out of the way. Hang the caliper from the coil springs with a coat hanger. Remove the hub nut located in the center of the rotor with a torque wrench.
Unbolt the Maxima's steering knuckle from the strut with a socket wrench. Pull the steering knuckle out of the way so that it can be removed from the drive axle.
Pry the CV joint from the trans-axle of your 2000 Maxima by hand.
Remove the outer CV joint and boot assembly from the drive-axle. Wrap vinyl tape around the shaft spines to prevent damage to the boot while installing it into the drive-axle.
Install a new inner race retainer ring for the outer CV joint assembly. Put the axle-shaft into a bench vise and tap on the new CV joint with a light mallet and wooden block. Continue to tap on the wooden block until the CV joint has been driven onto the axle-shaft splines and the retainer ring on the shaft is sitting on the groove of the inner race of the CV joint.
Insert the outer CV joint and drive-axle back into place.
Slide the new inner CV joint into place on your 2000 Maxima. It should click into place to indicate that it has been installed properly into the trans-axle.
Remove the tape from the CV boots after the installation is finished. Check the CV joint boot length for proper size. The 2000 Maxima should have an inner joint boot length of between 97 and 99 millimeters and an outer joint boot length of 96 to 98 millimeters.
Reinstall the steering knuckle with the socket wrench. Inspect the rotor surface for any signs of cracking or unevenness. If the rotor is still in good shape and does not need resurfacing, reinstall it by tightening the hub nut to 174 foot-pounds. Hook the caliper back onto the rotor. Reinstall the tires and tighten the lug nuts with the tire iron. Raise the 2000 Maxima with the floor jack and remove the jack stands. Lower the Maxima to the ground and reconnect the negative battery cable.
