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Time to replace CV Axle, Need recommendations for replacement

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by prerunnerSD, Jan 20, 2021.

  1. Jan 20, 2021 at 7:27 PM
    #1
    prerunnerSD

    prerunnerSD [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I have a torn CV axle boot, I am hearing popping sounds in the vicinity and need to replace it.

    I was quoted from Toyota that a single CV axle was $400+, yet AutoZone quoted me one of theirs for around $90

    I have a non OEM one on now and it did last for many years. I am looking for a good value, possibly one I can re-grease too. Does anyone have any good recommendations for a CV Axle?

    Are the ones from AutoZone any good? BTW Should I replace both at the same time, even though the other one is not causing an issue? Is that best practice?

    Thanks

    -PrerunnerSD
     
  2. Jan 20, 2021 at 7:56 PM
    #2
    Kiloyard

    Kiloyard Road Warrior

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    The OEMs are beefier than the aftermarket axles, worth the $400 to me... but people will tell you to buy from NAPA and make use of the lifetime warranty - it's sound advice as long as they keep making them. You don't need to replace both at the same time, but you oughta check the boot on the other side for cracks while you're down there.
     
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  3. Jan 20, 2021 at 7:58 PM
    #3
    JasonLee

    JasonLee Hello? I'm a truck.

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    If you drive on the road and are your own mechanic, get the Napa/AutoZone/etc lifetime warranty one that when it breaks, you can swap it yourself.

    If you want peace of mind, I'd go OEM. Take the old one off, reboot it (I have two kits for sale, not listed - send me a DM) and keep the old one as a spare.
     
  4. Jan 20, 2021 at 8:00 PM
    #4
    eon_blue

    eon_blue Most Improved Member

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    Check out the new CV axles that O'Reilley's is selling for 1st gens, supposed to accommodate high angles/lift better than traditional axles. @Kwikvette is running them on his 97 4runner.

    Otherwise I'd try and grab some reman OEM axles from Toyota if you can find them, or get reman ones from CVJ. Remans are about $175 after core exchange

    Most parts stores like Autozone sell aftermarket ones for cheap with lifetime warranties which is nice, but if you have a lift and/or do any moderate offroading they won't last as long as OEM or the like. The boot material is weaker too and usually the first thing to go in my experience with those
     
    Clucky, prerunnerSD[OP] and Kwikvette like this.
  5. Jan 20, 2021 at 8:15 PM
    #5
    Kwikvette

    Kwikvette Chief Executive Officer at Kwik Fab

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    @prerunnerSD

    My axle boots went to shit on both sides not too long after I lifted my 4R -





    Bought a pair of extended travel axles from O'Reilly's -







    Got them installed, and have noticed that even though the angles remain, the boots don't rub. They also claim to be a bit longer while extended versus OEM axles -





    Got turned to them after seeing a few guys on IG running some gnarly trails while using these axles; if it's good enough for them it's good enough for me.

    Plus the lifetime warranty is hard to beat.
     
    17taco4x4, jbrandt, chrslefty and 2 others like this.
  6. Jan 20, 2021 at 9:52 PM
    #6
    prerunnerSD

    prerunnerSD [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Very nice I will call O'REILLY'S tomorrow. My broken boot axel looks a lot like yours did.

    I have a suspension lift with Bilstein 5100's and Eibach Front Coil Springs. Is this the type of lift that would benefit from the extended travel CV Axle?

    Also would I need to change both front axels into an extended travel CV Axle? Does this cause any other changes to the angle, geometry of the suspension parts that are attached?


    -PrerunnerSD



     
    Kwikvette[QUOTED] likes this.
  7. Jan 20, 2021 at 11:06 PM
    #7
    Kwikvette

    Kwikvette Chief Executive Officer at Kwik Fab

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    So, since you are ok with rebooting yourself etc, do you have OEM cv axles to begin with?

    If so, I would save those and reboot with high angle inner boots from Off Road Solutions (or whoever else sells them).

    Since I didn't have OEM cv axles, I decided to just buy a pair of new ones.

    No, you do not need to go with the same axle on both sides or whatever as the suspension up front is independent from one side to the other; hence IFS.

    What I'd suggest is buying cv axle seals (I need to replace one of mine), new drain and fill plug gaskets, Lexus plug to replace the drain plug, and some 75W-90 diff fluid.

    20210120_230143.jpg

    20210120_102524.jpg

    20210120_102531.jpg

    20210120_102746.jpg

    Speaking of, I had just replaced my axles recently and drained/filled my diff fluid earlier today.

    Fill plug takes a 10mm hex; I went ahead and undid this one first. Some people undo their drain plug only to find they can't undo their fill plug.

    Drain plug takes a 12mm hex.

    20210120_114342.jpg

    Stupid convenient with a pump -

    20210120_115945.jpg

    New plug -

    20210120_120202.jpg
     
    TWJLee likes this.
  8. Jan 21, 2021 at 12:38 AM
    #8
    TWJLee

    TWJLee Well-Known Member

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    upload_2021-1-21_2-38-21.jpg

    Thanks
     
  9. Jan 21, 2021 at 8:32 PM
    #9
    prerunnerSD

    prerunnerSD [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Grill guard Front and rear Bilstein 5100's Front Coilovers Rear AAL "I Brake for Tailgaters" Firestone Destination A/T (P265/75/R16)
    Called O'Reilly's and they told me its a special order, the brand is "Import Direct" Is this what people have had luck with in the past?

    Autozone has their own extended travel CV Axle for around $190.00 from their Duralast brand. Similar warranty.

    NAPA does not supply extended travel CV Axles.

    Is the Autozone one any good in case O'Reillys is out of stock?

    FYI, I did spray some generic spray lubricant into the outer CV axle at the point of the broken boot and the popping sound that I was hearing has gone away. Not a permanent fix but atleast this might hold me over till I get either a new boot or a new axle installed.

    -prerunnerSD
     
  10. Jan 21, 2021 at 8:39 PM
    #10
    Kwikvette

    Kwikvette Chief Executive Officer at Kwik Fab

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    Yep, special order as it wouldn't make sense for any one location to keep them on hand like they would an oil filter; I had to special order mine as well when I bought them.

    Import Direct is the brand; would take a picture of the box but they're in storage.

    Never heard of or seen any of the other brands so can't say anything about them.

    As for the O'Reilly's, you can just order them online.
     
  11. Jan 21, 2021 at 8:55 PM
    #11
    prerunnerSD

    prerunnerSD [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for the great info! In the past I have tried to do a full drain and refill of my front diff but I could not get off the drain plug, I think there is some slight rust holding it in place. Any times at getting it to turn? I was just using hand tools. I actually rarely ever use 4X4 as I am currently in SoCal and never really go off-roading.

    -prerunnersd




     
  12. Jan 21, 2021 at 8:58 PM
    #12
    Kwikvette

    Kwikvette Chief Executive Officer at Kwik Fab

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    Tons of places to wheel in So Cal, or any part of CA.

    The drain plug on mine required the use of a breaker bar, as seen in the pictures.

    I used no heat, or any solvents but I did whack it once or twice before trying to tackle it.

    Make sure you clean out any dirt and grime caked up in there as you want the hex tool to be fully inserted otherwise you'll strip said plug.
     
  13. Jan 22, 2021 at 8:06 AM
    #13
    Actionjackson

    Actionjackson Well-Known Member

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    Ok so here is my 2cents. I have one bad one . It was a new replacement forgot the brand. But I think a rebuilt toyota axle would have lasted longer. You can tell by the shape of the part under the boot end. It is triangular (rounded corners) vs. round.

    I am going to investigate rebuilt oem from dealer but don't 'have much confidence in them knowing anything about it. My local dealer parts dept is lousey and it is too heavy to get shipped from another dealer.

    SO I will probably get a rebuilt but open the box and only buy a rebuilt toyota unit. No new non oem for me any more because the last one didn't last .

    There is a real good supplier of rebuilt units where you can pick your angle and boot material but it is very expensive and you have to ship the old one back and it has to be toyota oem type. That shipping was too expensive for me also. For got the name but if money was not an issue, I would get with silicone boots.
     
  14. Jan 22, 2021 at 8:16 AM
    #14
    eon_blue

    eon_blue Most Improved Member

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    CVJ is the company that has the boot options, their basic/cheapest option though is essentially the same thing and same price as a Toyota reman. Even with Toyota if you don't return an OEM core it's about $75 more iirc.

    Supposedly Toyota stopped making reman axles for our trucks so unless you find them in stock somewhere they might be difficult to get. CVJ would be my next stop if I couldn't find them at a dealership. The core shipping charge does suck though.
     
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  15. Jan 23, 2021 at 3:57 PM
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    prerunnerSD

    prerunnerSD [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Camelback Toyota in Phoenix has OEM CV Axles they ship anywhere in the US and their
    prices are very competitive. I think I am going to go with the extended travel CV axle from O'Reilly's as I have a lift and theirs is half what the OEM Toyotas cost

    -prerunnersd
     
    eon_blue[QUOTED] likes this.
  16. Jan 23, 2021 at 4:56 PM
    #16
    eon_blue

    eon_blue Most Improved Member

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    Ya Toyota is still making new OEM cv axles but they are apparently discontinuing the remanufactured ones they used to sell for under half price. But you can get them through CVJ still. And any dealership that might still have them in stock

    Those O'Reilley's ones look good, I'll probably go for them next as well
     
  17. Jan 23, 2021 at 5:09 PM
    #17
    Kwikvette

    Kwikvette Chief Executive Officer at Kwik Fab

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    If you're quiet enough, you can hear your cv axle boot tearing :crapstorm:
     
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  18. Jan 23, 2021 at 5:32 PM
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    eon_blue

    eon_blue Most Improved Member

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    Says the guy that tore both sides recently :luvya:
     
  19. Jan 23, 2021 at 5:35 PM
    #19
    Kwikvette

    Kwikvette Chief Executive Officer at Kwik Fab

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    Who says I didn't cut my own boots for the attention :luvya:
     
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  20. Jan 23, 2021 at 5:35 PM
    #20
    eon_blue

    eon_blue Most Improved Member

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    I'm not sure if that's better
     

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