Cheap Nissan Almera CV Joints

Yes, the Nissan Almera is a front-wheel-drive car and CV (constant velocity) joints are a standard part of any front-wheel-drive drivetrain, transmitting power from the gearbox to the front wheels through the driveshafts. Every Almera variant — regardless of engine size or trim — will have CV joints, typically one inner and one outer per side. If you are hearing a clicking noise on full lock or a vibration under acceleration, a worn CV joint or its gaiter is the most likely culprit.

The Almera ran in two main generations sold in the UK: the N15 (1995–2000) and the N16 (2000–2006), and these are distinct platforms with different suspension and driveshaft geometry. CV joints and driveshafts from an N15 are very unlikely to be a direct swap onto an N16. Always confirm the exact generation with the breaker using your registration number before ordering.

Engine size can influence driveshaft and CV joint specification because higher-torque engines sometimes use heavier-duty components, so a 1.8-litre Almera may not share the same CV joint as a 1.4 or 1.6 variant even within the same generation. When contacting a breaker, give them your full registration or the engine code from your V5C so they can match the correct part. Do not assume any N16 CV joint will suit all N16 engines without checking.

Trim level does not affect CV joint fitment on the Nissan Almera — the drivetrain components are determined by the generation and engine size, not by whether the car is badged E, SE, GX, or Sport. A joint from a lower-spec car can go onto a higher-spec car of the same generation and engine variant without any cosmetic concern, since CV joints are purely mechanical parts. Confirm engine size and generation with the breaker, and trim level need not come into the conversation.

Yes — inner and outer CV joints are side-specific because the two driveshafts on a front-wheel-drive Almera are different lengths (the NS nearside and OS offside shafts differ to accommodate the gearbox position). Always tell the breaker which side you need: NS (nearside, kerb side, left-hand side) or OS (offside, driver's side, right-hand side). Ordering the wrong side is a common and easily avoided mistake.

The changeover from the N15 to the N16 Almera happened around 2000, so cars registered in that period could be either generation depending on the exact build date, and the two generations do not share CV joint or driveshaft components. The safest approach is to check your V5C registration document and give the breaker your full registration number so they can identify the exact platform. Do not assume a 2000-plate car is automatically an N16 without confirming this first.