Finding the right CV axle

Do you have any shop in your area that rebuilds starters and alternators? I've done that the last several times on my Tacoma and on my wife's Highlander. Here it's half the price and a really quality build. I drop it in the morning and pick it up that afternoon.

 

im definitely going to be hunting for a shop to rebuild the oem starter, but I’m not going that route for the alternator since I’m putting a denso 105amp alt on that’s made for a different make model. Puts out more amps than the stock one, which isn’t quite enough for what I need.

 

CVJ axles. They rebuild OEM Toyota CVs and then add "improved" boots. They're spendy, but so far proving worth it

 

Yeah, I was on their site over the weekend. I think if I didn't have to pay for the axles and the core, I could do it. Might have to do one at a time, several months apart. Also looking at their rebuilt rack and pinion units.

 

But a Denso is still a OM part, is it not?

 

I know a lot of oem Toyota parts are denso manufactured but I don’t know if all are. I’ll tell ya tomorrow when I yank the oem off!
The one I’m installing is for a Suzuki car. Heard they are made in USA from someone, can’t confirm or deny.

 

Do you think there is any advantage to buying the new NAPA CVs, vs. the reman NAPA CVs?

 

Nope- just make sure whatever you get has a lifetime warranty. Also, when you change them out, if you're choosing to remove the four LBJ bolts to get the CV's out, that you should use new bolts. See the "Everything you want to know about lower ball joint bolts" thread for the correct bolts.

 

Thanks for that! I'll go look at the ball joint thread.

The video I watched on this, the guy changed the Stabilizer Arm Link (what he called it, might also be the Sway Bar Link). How do you test those to know if they are bad? I searched that topic and didn't find anything. Or is that a "change it every time" kind of part?

 

You'd only need to replace the sway bar links if they are worn out. They are also super easy, so I'd suggest inspecting them for play while you're the CVs and only if they are worn out, replace them afterwards. Being a 2002, you probably have the dual stud type, but be aware that there is also a single stud with a post type.

 

Thanks! They seemed fine to me, so I left them.

 

good question. Cannot answer, I may never have had new napa axles on my truck they may have all been remans. Never asked or specified during a purchase.
I will say I’ve had my last set on for a long damn time, no rips . Probably at least 50k miles

 

That is excellent news! I bought two and put them on. Now headed to Colorado to visit family and play in the snow.

 

it is, in fact denso oem alternator and starter, and I found a rebuild shop.

 

Awesome!

 

highly recommend this 105a alternator mod. Drill out one hole(the one on alternator that the pivot bolt goes thru, just knock the threads off) and you get 25amps extra charging output

 

We're back from Colorado, 3,000+ miles later. The truck did fine, and there were several times I was glad I took it over my wife's front wheel drive Highlander. The day we left we left in a "Winter storm" with 8 inches of snow, and passed over one of the 12,000 EF passes with no trouble at all. Yet the day I got back the truck developed a miss. On to the next project!

Thanks again to all who provided good advice on this!