Need new CV axles

I have a few small tears in my CV boots. Driver side I noticed some wet looking spots on my lower control arm and lower part of the strut. I can’t spend the crazy $$ right now that the new OEM CV axles cost. I believe the CV axles on my truck are aftermarket from the previous owner. What’s my best option that’s not gonna cost me more than around $400?
Thanks

 

@turbodb did an awesome write up for replacing the boots on our trucks.

I'll see if I can link it here shortly

 

Thanks brother @Kwikvette

 

Real credit goes to Dan

https://medium.com/adventuretaco/how-to-rebooting-a-toyota-tacoma-cv-axle-670ee876cb66

 

I have no problem with the New Napa ones .

It seems vendors have changed since I bought mine

Unless your into hard core off road

 

I’ll check it out now. Thanks

 

I got the autozone ones cause they have a lifetime warranty or some shit. I’m lifted a bit over 3”s in the front and have had the new CV on for about 15-20k miles no problems

 

I do some off-roading mainly to go to camp spots and explore. Nothing too crazy like Moab stuff but I do use my 4WD often. Have you put your NAPA Axles through that type of abuse or do you stay on pavement? If you do the same amount of terrain on your truck like mine then I may take your advice and go NAPA. Thanks

 

That was a good thread. Very thorough.. the rebuild route seems good or may go the NAPA route. Will decide by this week. Thanks

 

Calling autozone and NAPA right now for a price check. I won’t go for the cheapest ones but it’ll still be much less than brand new OEM

 

Well people with new trucks are scared of my driveway

1000 pound loads into job sites is common

The only time I go really off road is to rescue some jeep that got stuck trying to explore on the access roads I use to get Firewood

 

Haha SOLD! Gonna give em a try! Heading to NAPA tomorrow morn. Thanks

 

Well, there's "off-road" and then there's "off-road". I've never done any of that Moab stuff but I've been on some pretty hairy trails in Utah and Nevada, some of which were much more suited for ATVs than for my truck. Like you, I use my truck to explore and to find remote campsites (which have, over the last 15 years, become gradually more-and-more populated).

 

Ik advanced auto parts does reconditioned CV axels for a good price. I have a pair on my truck right now and they work perfectly well unless your doing really extreme 4x4.

 

Utah and Nevada have great spots and trails that go on forever. I love driving then seeing a trail in the distance and going to see where it ends up. Just went to Toquerville Falls in Utah this past weekend and it was awesome

 

I went with NAPA, they have a lifetime warranty so if you break one you can just swap it out for a new one. Buy three and have a spare on hand out on the trails, and you would pretty much never have to buy CVs unless you want heavy duty ones but I suggest sticking with standard strength CVs as it would be better for a CV to break rather than an internal part of the diff, only say this as I’ve heard it happened to a couple people after using heavy duty CVs where the Cv should’ve broke but the diff broke instead

 

I went with NAPA too. I kept my old ones in the truck for Emergencies.