Any Decent CV Axle outside of CVJ

premium options are the new RCV gen 2 axles. but I haven't seen pricing.


It's the "premium" option until using that axle blows up your front diff.

Using OEM keeps the weak point at the axle. Beefier axles move the weak point to the diff.

Can chew up a bunch of axles before spending the same money to replace a diff.
 
It's the "premium" option until using that axle blows up your front diff.

Using OEM keeps the weak point at the axle. Beefier axles move the weak point to the diff.

Can chew up a bunch of axles before spending the same money to replace a diff.

100% agreed
 
It's the "premium" option until using that axle blows up your front diff.

Using OEM keeps the weak point at the axle. Beefier axles move the weak point to the diff.

Can chew up a bunch of axles before spending the same money to replace a diff.

As far as I know nobody has broken a front ring and pinion. It might become the weak point once you upgrade shafts but its all just speculation at this point. Nobody really has the RCV's.
 
OEM or CVJ thats it.. everything else is sub par and will result in a bad day if you go wheeling.

If your OEM is not broken, I suggest rebooting with SDHQ boot kits. Its a messy job but its much cheaper then all the other options.

premium options are the new RCV gen 2 axles. but I haven't seen pricing.

*Ive been daily driving and wheeling my OEM axles with 147k on them. Ive rebooted them twice over the years.

Did you reboot twice with SDHQ boots? I am need of a reboot and can't decide if I should go OEM or SDHQ.
 
Did you reboot twice with SDHQ boots? I am need of a reboot and can't decide if I should go OEM or SDHQ.

Yes, the SDHQ boots are better for high angles on your CVS then stock. if you were rebooting stock then oem would be fine. Depending on conditions and abuse, figure 3 to 5 years out of a set of boots is acceptable. If you live outside the salt belt then probably longer
 
Yes, the SDHQ boots are better for high angles on your CVS then stock. if you were rebooting stock then oem would be fine. Depending on conditions and abuse, figure 3 to 5 years out of a set of boots is acceptable. If you live outside the salt belt then probably longer

I have a lift kit in the closet waiting to be installed [bilstein 5100 w/ OME springs], should I go for SDHQ and call it a day? or would you go OEM? I think either one would be a win.
 
Would anyone care to post a link to CVJ? I am interested to see what they offer. I recently bought a Cardone heavy duty from Rock Auto thinking it would be ok. Now you guys have me rethinking that.
 
Thoughts on below situations?

Car 1
96K mile V8 4Runner. I just ordered a lift kit and was under the car looking around. Passenger side CV ripped and leaking. That means my lift is on hold until I figure out how to repair.

Should I just replace passenger side with OEM/CVJ and call it a day, or replace both as long as I am down there?

for 2" lift, are OEM ok, or are people using CVJ with the red boots ($250 ea!)


Car 2
185K mile V8 4Runner. I was going to lift this one too. Last time it was at the dealer, he said the rubber boot was torn, but not leaking. I haven't been under there to check lately.

Can I just reboot this one, or should I replace both of them? How long do these last before they explode?
 
Thoughts on below situations?

Car 1
96K mile V8 4Runner. I just ordered a lift kit and was under the car looking around. Passenger side CV ripped and leaking. That means my lift is on hold until I figure out how to repair.

Should I just replace passenger side with OEM/CVJ and call it a day, or replace both as long as I am down there?

for 2" lift, are OEM ok, or are people using CVJ with the red boots ($250 ea!)


Car 2
185K mile V8 4Runner. I was going to lift this one too. Last time it was at the dealer, he said the rubber boot was torn, but not leaking. I haven't been under there to check lately.

Can I just reboot this one, or should I replace both of them? How long do these last before they explode?
If your boots are torn for any length of time I would replace them


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napa maxdrive lifetime warranty have a pretty good reputation. i researched this decently not too long ago. have had two new of the maxdrives for mos now, no issues
 
So I called local Toyota dealers and none have a Reman axle. New is $579 which is the same price the mechanic down the street quoted.

Napa has 3 different axles

Constant Velocity (CV) Driveshaft - Front Left - Remanufactured
NMD 954271
NAPA MaxDrive
$65

Constant Velocity (CV) Driveshaft - Front Left - New
NMD 944052
NAPA MaxDrive
Supplied w/ Standard Neoprene Outboard Boot
$97


Constant Velocity (CV) Driveshaft - Front Left - New
NMD 944082
NAPA MaxDrive
Supplied w/ Optional Heavy Duty Thermoplastic Outboard Boot
$118

I can pick the HD $118 one up tomorrow.
Edit: I can get 2 of these for $190. I need one for both 4R. $80 each.


How are the Napas compared to the CVJs?
9808 T $199.00 + $95.00 core

Toyota Steel,
OEM Toyota Boots
Closest to OEM Toyota
Long lasting Plastic outer CV boot
Same Right and Left; takes 2
$199 + core +$30 shipping + core shipping
 
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I just put the Napas HDs on with my lift this past weekend. So far so good.

Can't beat a lifetime warranty. I'm gonna reboot the stockers when I get some time.
 
Toyota Dealer Reman CV's

I have to disagree with this. I replaced both of mine with re-mfgr'd CV's straight from Toyota. Go to the parts counter and you'll be able to buy brand new OEM or re-manned OEM for less than half. I forget exactly now, but I'm pretty sure I paid about $150 for each. I'm a regular customer so "my parts guy" gives me a discounted price (I have a parts guy ?! :nod:) I could have turned in my originals for a $50 core refund on each but I kept them so I can re-boot and 2 ready to go if I need to replace again. I've had them for at least 60k if not more.

Just wondering how the dealer's remans held up, and do they have the quality OEM boots? I called my local Dealer and they can get me one.
 
I debated this for a long time when deciding to replace my CV axles. I was dead set on getting CVJ until I found out that I had aftermarket ones on my truck.

After investigation it turns out that I had Napa axles on my truck. They’ve been on since I purchased it which is about 55,000 miles ago. Who knows how long they were on prior to that. Granted the boots have been torn for the last 25,000 miles since I’ve owned it. Even with them torn, I’ve taken the truck to the west and east coast two times and did some mild off roading.

I just finally replaced them with Napa heavy duty ones last week. Even up until this point, they were still making no noises as far as I could tell. I felt if the Napa ones could handle all that it would be worth another try.

I’m a big fan of buying better quality, but in my case, since I didn’t have the cores I couldn’t justify the price gap. If I can get three solid years with the kind of miles I’ve been driving, I think I’d be happy with that.

I will say this though, the folks at CVJ were very nice to deal with and answered all my questions when I was going through this whole process.
 
Theres a guy on FB/Insta (toothles.t4r) that uses Import Direct from Oriellys. His rig is pretty decked out running 37s and crazy travel. He said he's only broke one.
 
Just wondering how the dealer's remans held up, and do they have the quality OEM boots? I called my local Dealer and they can get me one.

Hey, sorry I've taken a while to respond to this. Been super busy.. anyway, yes they have held up terrific. I did recently finally re-boot my originals and swap them back on. My re-mans has developed tears on the outer boots, on the inner sides, right where the bellows starts. i had been keeping an eye on them for a few months after I first noticed it. I would say they lasted almost 100K. I'll have to go back through my notes to tell for sure. I'm pleased with them. I plan on doing a re-boot on those now. The only thing I noticed that was "bad" was that there was a little corrosion on the outer end of the shaft. Not bad, a wire brush should clean it off but somehow moisture had gotten behind the dust cover. I recently re-did my front brakes and decided to pop off the dust covers while I had the wheels off and I sprayed it down with WD-40 (wiped off excess) to hopefully prevent rust formation.

Incidentally, here is a tool I discovered that works awesome for getting the CV bands tight enough (crimp style). The crimp pliers wont get them tight enough and I had some grease seep out of the outer boots on the outer ends.

Amazon.com: OTC 4722 Stinger Heavy-Duty CV Boot Clamp Installer: Automotive

The humble mechanic, on youtube, has a video of this tool.

This tool is very similar to the SST shown in the service manual for the re-boot instructions. The "teeth," however are a bit thick, so a pair of the crimp pliers are a good start, then finish up with this OTC tool. The crimp has to be really tight, like less than 0.8mm gap at the crimp. Its in the service manual.

Also, it would help to have some spare CV bands. I broke one that comes in the kit. you get a few different styles. The one I broke secures with a fold over tab, and then locks down with 2 smaller tabs. I had to get one that used the crank and cut style tool, which worked fine. I decided to order some crimp style bands (the re-manned axles are assembled with them) that are open and have several little hooks that allow you to custom size them a little. Don't get the ones off amazon. they're cheap but I read several reviews saying people had them break. Oetiker makes them and they are much higher quality with thicker material. They also make the clamps used to joint Pex pipe.
 
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FWIW, I just ordered a remanufactured CV from Camelback Toyota.
1996-2002 Toyota 4Runner Axle Assembly 43430-35030-84 | Camelback Toyota Parts

Total price including shipping and the $75 core charge = $253.52. So I figure it’d be around $200 once I pay to ship the core back and get my refund.

The local dealer quoted me $308 including tax and $75 core charge. So even with shipping the core back, Camelback will be a bit cheaper, and the local dealer didn’t have it in stock anyway so I’d still have to wait a few days.
 

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