New cv axle not fitted all the way in?

Hello all,

I recently installed new CV Axles on each side of my 2018 TRD Off Road 4X4 and one side seems to have a little gap on the inner connection. The other side does not have this gap. I have attached an image. Is this normal, or am I going to have to disassemble the truck again to get it punched in further?

I am wondering if this has anything to do with the new light clunk sound I hear when first engaging the breaks after the install, or if there are any ideas of what could be causing that as well. Cheers!

 

Use OEM only. Autozone and orielly cv axles are crap

 

That gap is normal however

 

Seems that way lol. These Napa axles were about 2 inches shorter than the OEM. Making them work for now until I can get a rebuild kit for my OEM axle’s torn boot.

 

Roger that. Thank you. Figured I was overthinking it haha.

 

I ran napa for years and really never had issues even off-roading, however I went back to OEM as they are superior

 

that light clunk is fairly common with third GEN front brakes. Add a second set of pad retaining springs.

 

I must be missing something - how do axles that are 2" shorter work?

 

Was wondering the same. Thought it would all be revealed in the comments or maybe I was a bit obtuse. But now inquiring minds want to know.

 

Re-reading it I wonder if he is referring to boot being 2" shorter?

 

Here is an image! I may be wrong.

 

Noted. Thank you!

 

The left ends aren't aligned, for one.

And comparing cv axle length with them laying down ain't the best methodology. I can make my OEM axles a wide variety of lengths, depending on how much I 'stretch' the axle (i.e. slide the bearings in and out of the couplings at the ends).

Fully compress them both and then stand them up on end and they'll be the same length. A CV axle that is 2" different in length will not function.

 

Exactly. Left ends aren’t aligned, old one may be less compressed due to use. The center shafts of both axles are the same length. I believe this was just a bad image, because the new axles are operating on my truck just fine lol.