Are all CV axles equal?

Yes I'm hard on my axles, ride height angle isn't too bad, but lots of travel up front. I still don't think I should blow out a CV on a fire road

 

What brand are you running,O Rielly ?

 

If you are running an open front diff, you might be able to get away with cheap axles.

If you have a 1st gen and locked diff, again, some prefer the cheap axles as they tend to break before the spider gears. They are much cheaper and easier to replace.

 

Advance (Carquest) in the pics. Back to low mileage OEM junkyard axles now

 

Bought first replacement axle from CVJ. Reman oem w/oem boots. Pass side boot gave out after 12.5 years. Installed reman axle on pass side, ordered oem boot kit for the one I took out and had a local shop 'rebuild' it with the new boots. Had to install ECGS bushing on driver's side. Put the 'rebuilt' axle with new boots on driver's side and sent drivers side original axle back to CVJ for core. So I now have two reman oem axles with brand new OEM boots on them. Saved about $400 as opposed to buying two brand new Toyota oem axles. I have no doubt that they will last another 10 years or more.