Lotus axle discussion. Just a tundra Cv?

[troyboy162]

If you havnt been following the threads on other forums know that "lotus" is offering a upgraded CV axle through toytech right now for $500. It has been portrayed to include a new custom chromo race and cage with significant strength increase. Later it was reviled that a new outer housing was involved as well. Sounds great right?..keep reading

Turns out this is almost certainly(not 100% sure yet, more like 99.9%) a OEM tundra outer joint on a 4runner shaft and inner joint. The info is toward the end of the below thread and I agree the "custom" story fell apart. Drama aside, 3rd gen owners may need to start sourcing OEM tundra axles. The product may be falsely advertised or misrepresented, but the guys running them are claiming they cant break them. Its not going to be RVC strong, but looks like a good increase in strength for possibly very very cheap.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/124093-lotus-cv-axles-here.html
http://lotusdevelopmentllc.mybigcommerce.com/lotus-axles-chromoly-cage/

development posts:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/54708-how-many-cvs-have-you-broken-7.html#post815688
http://threeg4runners.freeforums.org/3rd-gen-cv-axles-t218.html

Also of interest is that the Inner tundra joint is better then ours and LT guys have fit it into our diffs already. I'm not sure why its not included on the lotus axle yet...maybe our short shaft has the wrong splines on the inner joint side to be compatible.


in prep for doing this:
removing a CV joint without a press:
CV axle and joint dissambly - CV man (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8iZpjPG4xM&feature=related#)
Going 4WD - Replacing A Broken CV Joint Boot (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZoa1hTM74U#)
How to remove a Toyota 4x4 Birfield joint off an inner axle shaft (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0_jL83jMH8&feature=related#)
Toyota tacoma outer cv (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ry-3ckI8Cnk#)
Late Model Toyota Tacoma cvAxle Disassembly (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bTJRzrv4iA&feature=related#ws)


CV boot kit OEM comes with clips, boots and OEM grease #04438-35060 for $35 This could help your parts guy get you the grease and C-clips if you wanted themhttp://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/113724-rebuilding-cv-axles.html

Porche aka long travel inner cv boots for $10...These might last a long time so putting a good boot on might be worthwhile
http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,carcode,1262629,parttype,2284
Total Chaos inner CV boot on stock '96 4runner ADD CV (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G96zhH3VPwo#)

Source for OEM tundra axles cheap: TBD

[troyboy162]

sorta update to this. My friend Jason bought a aftermarket Tundra CV joint and was not the right cage we were looking for. bear in mind this was a $60 brand new axle so what you get for the money is just normal 4runner/tacoma joints with a longer shaft. The inboard joint was even the tripod/spider style we all have (real tundra has cv on both ends). We did get more info into it though.

-If they are using 4runner joints then the outer splines on both sides must be interchangeable. This is something already known but the fit is so exact that aftermarket uses the same joint on all three vehicals

[troyboy162]

and more of an update...I saw a picture of the lotus side by side with a stock Cv and could not tell a difference. This makes me think they are using the CV from RVC to rebuild stock CV's. RVC used to make a stock axle with beefed up internals and likely still produces the parts to either service the axles or they are a cross part from another CV they make.
I contacted them about a CV cages 4-5 months ago and they asked for the dimensions of my stock cage. They are $145 for the kits
http://www.rcvperformance.com/categories.aspx?catID=RCVP_CV_REBUILD_KIT

you can read about the old axles RVC made here:
http://www.yotatech.com/f2/tacoma-ifs-cv-axle-upgrade-lifts-suspension-mods-03-tacoma-build-201758/