Best CV joints and drop kit

Hello all, that time has finally come where a moderate lift may have killed my front passenger CV joint. This is my first rodeo so I call upon the CV joint SMEs and veterans, what has been the most reliable/go-to replacement joints? Also anyone have a recommendation on a brand of diff-drop kit?

 

Cvj is a popular option. They are rebuilt oem toyota axles.

 

SDHQ all rubber Bates 930/934 style LT CV boots. No other solution.

 

So these boots I should use to swap out whatever OE boots come with the replacement joint, but do you have a joint recommendation too?

 

Is the CV axle actually broken or is it just the boots? Don't get rid of your OEM axles unless you absolutely have to. Reboot them if possible. Most after market axles are junk. And don't waste money on a diff drop. They don't really achieve anything. Several threads on here about it.

 

Are you looking to rebuild your axles with new joints and boots or replace the axle entirely?

 

Looks pretty good, wish they had a point, click and buy option but looks like I have to email back and forth.

 

Yeah, didn't catch the lube splatter everywhere, so didn't catch on until there is clanking and other noises, so its toast.

I was looking to replace the axle entirely as I have over 200,000 miles on them. I'd prefer OEM, or something like what you (FirstGen Jer) posted which looks to be quality referbed OEM.

I didn't do a diff drop because of the threads mentioned that indicate it doesn't do the trick, but now I can't help but wonder if it would have, as there are also threads showing the 1st gen diff drops do more than the second gen. IMO I'm right on the cusp of the limit where CV joints/boots become an issue, and diff drops are so cheap and do not come with negative side effects, I figure why not. I imagine they do not help with extreme lifts, but again mine is at that ~2" zone where visual inspection of the boots showed no rubbing of the boots at rest- so I can't help but thing my particular application may have been a good instance to use a drop kit...

I have very limited time these days, so if a rebuild kit takes X time of labor and thus ends up costing more than just being a drop-in unit, I'll go for the latter as I will not be DIY'ing this. I burned out of my DIY juice sometime ago and will only DIY on fuel, electrical and tuning as I don't really trust others to do that.

 

Here is a link to a thread on the topic. You will find most will definitely recommend cvj or oem. But some have had luck with aftermarket if you do not do to much wheeling and or don't mind replacing every so often as most the aftermarket options offer lifetime warranty.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/cv-axle-options.319630/

 

Keep OE axle shafts. They are invaluable compared to aftermarket junk axles. There are plenty of members here who have OE axles shafts for sale or for free. Put out a want to buy ad for them and you will get a response fairly quick.

 

Thanks FirstGen Jer, so looks like I can buy up front, have them swapped out and then send the bad ones in for a core refund- I like that upgraded 'stretched' boots are an option to help prevent this happening again.

Ahhh man the stupid car modder voice in my head is screaming, "while your at it, LT b*thc!!" I already have camburg UCAs and extended brake lines... crap, seriously then-- if I'm buying 'upgraded' axles already, and I already have UCAs and extended brake lines, is the only other part needed to do mid-travel is just extended range coilovers?

For sure- items like this, I want to steer clear of all the autozone/pepboys brand X crud. CVjreman looks to be the ticket for me- OEM from Toyota is way too much, and this is my DD, I don't want to idle around the sale forum, eventually get some "like new" OEM ones that arrive all f'ed up. With these OEM rebuilt units that can be bought up front without a core I can get this show back on the road with upgraded boots to boot- see those two puns in one sentence? See what I did there?

 

sooo, the upgraded boots cvjreman uses are the Porsche 930 CV boots that sound to be not so much the upgrade? Wonder if cvjreman is game to do the 'boot stretch' mod while supplying some new axles...

 

Yep, I know I they have done it for other customers on here.

 

Well hell, now I'm going to have to get mid travel coilovers...

 

As far as the diff drop recommendation get it anywhere you want to. Since its so simple, brand or manufacturer dosent really matter. Just a couple spacers and bolts....

 

Is this what you have been using in your mid-travel build- if so hasn't been an issue?

 

These are the ones good sir. I have been rolling on them for about 2 years I think and they are starting to show signs of cracking, but otherwise they have been very good to me. I will gladly swap out my current pair for a new set after these give out on me and start leaking out.

 

I replaced mine with remans from Napa. $60. Not sure if they are oem or what but in my experience cvs are a highly perishable item regardless of brand so plan to be replacing them at least one every couple of years if you want to 4x4. The replacement itself couldn't be easier. Takes me under 30 minutes.