CVJ Lifted CV Axle or NAPA Extended CV Axle

Need to replace my CV axles on my 2020 soon. Has anyone had any experience with either of these two CV axles?

The CVJ is a remanufactured OEM and its about $330 + $175 core but it requires me to send in my old axles and if theyre in acceptable condition then I get the core deposit back.

The NAPA are $320 and dont require sending back the originals so I can keep them and rebuild them if they are in good enough condition. They also claim they are for lifted applications, which I hope will help prevent future boot tearing. Im just worried theyre not as good as the CVJ OEM refurbs.

If anyone has any insight lemme know.

Thanks!

 

Your instincts are good. Just pony up for the CVJs and be done with it unless you like changing out CVs. Or just get new/reman OEM and do the boot slide mod.

 

I did the boot slide mod, did not help in my case unfortunately. You have any experience or know anything about the NAPA CVs? The thing that makes me want to get them is the fact they say they are designed for lifted applications. Other than that OEM would be preferred

 

Nah, no personal experience with the Napa CVs

 

So I have a messed up issue. With my current suspension set up at full droop, I am literally pulling the tulip bearings out of the inner cup and destroying cv's. I tried putting my sway bar back in to limit droop and it's still an issue. Does anyone have dimensions of the extended travel CVS from Napa? It looks like I need at least another inch of axle or an inch of inner cup. Not trying to spend our RCV money at this time

 

Do you have limiting straps for your lower control arms? If you're allowing that much droop, you're likely also maxing out the swing in your ball joints and putting those under a lot of extra stress.

 

Limit straps are ordered, after pulling measurements I've only got 2"of down travel with no moment. Planning on setting 8" straps to 1" of down travel expecting them to stretch another half inch. But even at one inch of droop I can still feel the tulip bearings coming out of the cup on the inner CV. Ball joints are a constant problem. But I don't mind changing them once or twice a year.

 

Just to chime in I know this is an old post but don't buy napa extended travel ever biggest waste of money you can ever spend. Broke 2 at outer shaft within 2 months and put 10 miles on a brand new one to find a rip in the boot next to the clamp. They lock up on my tacoma on level ground full lock and their shaft is bigger and hits the shock tower and lower bolt. Not worth the hassle they have put me minus 1800

 

I went the route of non-OEM CV axles (forget the brand but they were from Extreme Terrain) and they were crap. Ripped boots within 10k miles. Decided to just drop the cash and do it right - went with RCV. Best choice hands down when considering CV axles IMO.

 

I don't know what you guys are doing wrong I have 2 aftermarket cv's one napa one i can't recall the name of only replaced due to torn boots still have my oe's to rebuild.

The napa has been going strong for nearly 2 years now. The other just over a year. The trucks lifted 2" it sees trail days. No boot slide mod and no issues.

 

RCV is known for strong bomber axels not boots. There are a ton of complaints about the RCV boots failing Although I think they came out with a new boot design somewhat recently.

 

Miles driven?

 

Guesstimate around 40k+ it's been in there longer than my MT's have been mounted

 

That's a lot of miles

 

Yet to be seen if so, but 13k+miles (installed in March 2024) and so far so good with a pretty decent amount of off-road use, some good articulation here and there, and more than a few water crossings. Still better than the crap ones from extreme Terrain and the boots still look solid.
The inner boot has a large rubber washer that sits between the first two splines closest to the differential. I was curious about this washer when I got them and further reading of the install said to leave it in place, I forget the purpose though. I don't know if they've always done this or if it's part of the new boot design you mentioned.
RCV does have a, "no questions asked," return policy against breakage. I would think this covers the boots too, but honestly haven't read the fine print. Time will tell.

 

My guess was close as it's in the ball park of 60k km so that'd be 37,500 miles

 

Thats cool. I got axels from CVJ and they also use the big washer. Its there to keep the fins separated and prevent rubbing.
The guy on this video below had a hell of a time with his orange RCV boots blowing out but eventually they came up with a fix. I think if you are rock crawling with the front locked RCV is a great option because they're super strong. If you're only concern is better CV boots than I would recommend buying the boots and installing yourself or you can swap your axles out with cvj for a couple thousand dollars less than RCV.