Are all CV axles equal?

Is this one of those parts that it’s best to replace with OEM? Napa or others just as good? Or a better aftermarket option? School me fellas because I’ve never had to replace one before.

 

I've heard the OEM is the best quality but people seem to be happy with Napa's lifetime warranty. I opted to rebuild my OEM axles with the boot slide mod. I'm very happy with the results.

There are some companies that rebuild OEM CV's using boots designed for lifted trucks. I think CVJ makes them.

 

OEM is best, but for regular use aftermarket is usually just fine for most. Napa axles are probably the best aftermarket parts store brand you can get according to popular opinion. Most parts store brands offer lifetime warranties on them which is a big plus.

I've had an FEQ brand CV axle installed for almost a year now which is impressive for me, considering its lasted longer than the other two that preceded it.

 

I'll just offer my 2 cents here. I too believe OEM is the best quality you're going to find based on many years of experience. Does that mean you should always replace with OEM parts? Not always. I think it depends on how long you plan on owning your vehicle and how hard you use it. If you're going to trade it in next week, go aftermarket. If you plan on going way off road, don't even think about it. And as for "lifetime warranties," from what I've seen, all that means is they'll be happy to give you another piece of crap when the original piece of crap aftermarket part they sold you craps out. And you get to eat the installation costs.

As for me, I almost always go OEM.

 

There's guys that are more nuts about OEM parts than I am (Landcruiser guys on IH8MUD), but my personal experience with CV's on my first gen Tacoma was the OEM CV boots lasted over 10 years/120,000 miles on my 3 inch lifted truck. I made the mistake of trading the OEM's in on core for some O'Reillys when the OEM boots tore. With the O'Reilly's, I'm pretty sure the boots tore every year from then on (enough for the parts guy to question why I was trading them in every year) and there was a weird vibration on the highway that happened at different speeds depending on that year's CV. After 5 years of replacing them every year with the "lifetime" warranty, I found a used OEM set, rebuilt them with factory boots and they've been on for years without issues/vibrations.

I would rebuild your old OEM's with new boots. Plus, I like the idea that I can advertise that I use only OEM parts when I go to sell the truck. Toyota truck, Toyota parts.

 

Are you actually wheeling the truck and breaking CVs? If not, any CV axle from a box store will work just fine.

For rocks and locker use the absolute best is RCV https://www.rcvperformance.com/axlesets/toyota/toyota-ifs-rcv-axle-set.html

Next best is OEM. You can find used OEM CVs are eBay for ~$80/each

Then a long way down are the box store CVs.

 

I always find it entertaining when somebody poses a question like the OP here and twelve guys post replies that are all variations on the following:

"I replaced my original equipment Half Shafts / Ball Joints / Flux Capacitor at 120,000 miles with an aftermarket / eBay / Amazon / Dorman replacement part that cost half as much. I've now got 27 miles on it and haven't had any problems at all."

Yea, based on that scientific analysis, let's use it on the mission to Mars. Words fail me.

At least you gave a very complete, factual and honest reply detailing your longer term experience. Oh, and your experience is about what I've run into the few times I was dumb enough to go aftermarket. Thanks for the great post!

 

Hilarious! I'm stealing this line!

 

I'm sure @tacobell007 will tell you all about his issues with aftermarket CV axles.

 

By lifetime warranty do they mean they'll replace it if you go offroad and bust one?

 

In my case, yes. I bought an Advance Auto CV, blew it up the next weekend in a rock garden, and took it back the following week. Though I did get some weird looks when I carried in the axle in three pieces

I'll only buy used OEM from now on (Eventually RCV when I'm not a peasant)

 

Hold on to your oems if you can. I had mine rebuilt on my 4runner from 2007. They were original to the truck. Great company here (Axles unlimited) that rebuilds them stronger than oem for nationwide sales for over 30 years. And they only leaked once before rebuild, never snapped. 134000 and still rolling. 3 year 36000 mile warranty.

On my taco, I've snapped one and had one leak. Only had it a year. They were aftermarkets. 12 month warranty. Ymmv.

 

Cheap CV's cheap out on the races and they tend to A: not articulate as much and B: not nearly as strong. They tend to break lot.

Good news is they usually come with a life time warranty because companies don't expect users to run them offroad. Can get warranty turn in's for torn boots and some 1st gen owners run them with front lockers because they will brake before the 7.5 front gear box spider gears which are pretty chintzy themselves.

For $40ish a piece, you can afford a couple of trail spares. They aren't a hard swap.

 

OEM is best quality and will last. Aftermarket from a parts store is only good for daily driving, I would NOT use it on any sort of trail what so ever, even as a spare. Best upgrade is RCV axles, but that's a lot of money

 

Yes, in my experience O'Reilleys and Napa will replace the axle no questions asked if you bring the failed one back in.

Even if you bring in a non-warrantied axle you'll get a discount on a new one in exchange for the used core.

 

Good to know incase I ever break one, thanks

 

OEM is best look for a good deal on Ebay from a Factory dealer.

 

Advance auto too.

2 different axles, both on the driver's side, the last 2 pics are from the last one I blew up

 

So maybe you are hard on your axles,of have extreme angles.

 

For the guys that have asked, yes I wheel and have for over 30 years. I’m out weekly and sometimes 2 or 3 times in the snow and woods with camping, fishing , etc. also thrown in. Not much for rocks around here but I do have Moab in the plans for July. Never broke one......yet. But I was a Boy Scout back when the motto was still be prepared. RCV are probably veeeeerry nice, but I don’t abuse my stuff anymore so looks like it’s OEM for me.