Let's talk non OEM cv shafts

Strip them down Stephen,,and snag a couple SDHQ boot kits, and some of the good grease from there.
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/sdhq-offroad/317579-tacoma-cv-boot-kits.html

Still rocking these boots without issue after the install.

I put a link up on that thread for the part numbers of the correct length Napa band clamps that are the good ones to get.

It's not to scary,,just a bit of greasy work.

 

Since Im posting, figured I should post a direct link to the SDHQ CV boots:
http://store.sdhqoffroad.com/tacomacvbootkits.aspx

$29.49 for one side plus shipping


Now with that said, do people break their shafts or are the boots the real issue? I come from the Jeep world, where you carry several sets of extra axle shafts since they snap pretty quickly in stock form.

Are there any aftermarket alloy/chromo shafts that can be used? Im tempted to buy the cheap Vatozone/Napa shafts to keep as spares, but if I upgrade the shafts the stockers could be my spares.

 

3rd one bit the dust a week or so ago. O'Reillys did refund my monies at my request.

Haven't decided if I'm going to make the 20 mile drive to the nearest napa or get boots from starboard. Starboard, not sure if you've answered this but do you know how your boots work with aftermarket shafts? In particular napa/a1 Cardone?

 

Just saw this. Best i can say it's how you wheel/locked front if you will actually break it. I'm not very hardcore and open so I usually just go through boots. I have a feeling most people will just go through boots.

 

Why are you ripping boots so often?

I ask because I've got 140k miles on my truck, a 3" lift and only on the 2nd set of boots. Wondering what about your setup or driving is different.

 

My a1 cardone on the other side has over 50k miles with 2-3" of lift ever since I put it on. Nearest napa is 20 miles away so I was trying to save some time but that didn't work.

 

Roger that.

 

I put two New ones from Napa some time early last spring

Put Napa in my 92 4Runner as well

They fit no problems installing them

 

Good read so far...

So my neighbor has a pair of new still in the box Masterpro Selects that he was going to install on his wife's Tacoma. Now that she is an ex-wife he offered to sell both to me for $50 total. But after reading all of the reviews I not so inclined to install them even at this price.

Those of you that have installed A1 Cardone (from NAPA correct?) how has your experience with them been?

 

You could buy some better shafts, but at that point you run the risk of blowing up your diff. It's easier to replace a CV axle than it is to replace the spider gears in a diff

 

You didn't say how you use your truck or what has happened that you feel the need to replace what you have. IMO, this make a big difference in what you do.

The advantage to new, aftermarket CV axles, is their warranty. Many come with a lifetime replacement if you break one or the boots tear. This is good because they are not as well made as OEM CVs. But Toyota axles will cost you more to buy or to have them rebuilt.

Do your neighbors axles come with a lifetime replacement warranty?

 

Still spinning. They've been as reliable as a hammer.

 

Anyone use or heard of this brand of axle and its quality?

 

My truck is a daily driver with occasional towing and dirt roads.

I spoke with O'Reillys about transferring the MasterPro Selects' lifetime warranty over into my name since the axles are still new in the box. They didn't seem to confident about their answer of "if you have your neighbors account phone number we should be able to".

My original axles are still good with 100k miles currently on them, so is it even worth the $50 to buy these off of my neighbor for future use (with or without the ability of transferring the warranty)?

 

If you did the kind of wheeling where there is a chance you might break one, then one of these might be nice to have as a trail spare. But it's unlikely you'll need it for how you use your truck.

 

Hey all, surprised nobody responded to this since...

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is a diff spacer in the front with all the boots tearing.

I just put coilovers on the front of my truck and they ended up jacking the truck up front way too high, like two inches more in the front than the rear (was about the opposite before hand). Drove to pismo to go dirtbiking and arriving there noticed my inner cv boots were torn.

Just bought 2 brand new cv shafts from oreillys, the "import direct" from oreillys and going to put them in friday while local shop adjusts my coilovers (have to take them out to adjust). The oreillys shafts are new, not rebuilt, and DO come with a lifetime warranty.

I figure it's the same amount of work to just put new cvs in, especially with lifetime warranty (probably be really fast changingem the second time around, haven't done them before yet...)

Oh, and I think I have auto locking hubs in the front so they tell me from the dealer based on my vin.

The shop that's going to adjust my coilovers says I may not need a diff spacer since I'm only going to have ~1.5" - 2" of lift in the front after. Some of you guys with 3"+ lifts may consider a drop down spacer - supposed to be really easy to put in, 2 bolts.

 

Guys at the shop don’t have a clue. If you have any lift at all, a 1” diff drop would do you some good. Lots of folks use them, including me, on 2-2.5” of lift. A 1” diff drop essentially rotates the front end of your diff down a little bit, so you really only drop your CV angles by 3/4” or less. That being said, it’s better than nothing.

@BYJOSHCOOK is a good example of how crappy AutoZone/Advance/Oreilly’s CVs are. Totally busted the outer joint (almost in half) when wheeling.
He’s running some proper OEM spares now.

 

I need a Diablo sandwich and a Dr. Pepper....Love Buford T. Justice!

 

So now I'm just really not sure which CV's to run. I bought the "import direct" from oreillys, comes with a lifetime warranty buuuut clearly says made in china on the box.

Called the dealer, they want 500 bucks, each. I'm not doing crazy 4x4, just some light stuff in the sand or snow. It looks like I have stock CV's on there now (has the triangular shape on the metal part of the CV next to the diff).

How many people run the CVJ axles? Are those worth it, or any other options to consider?

Thanks

 

I run two autozone cv axles. I have beat on them hard. I was pretty sure I was going to break one a few times but I have never needed my spare.

I was beating on them bad enough that the people watching were telling me I was fixing to break an axle. I replied it’s ok I have a spare and kept going