aftermarket cv's as good as stock ones?

[troyboy162]

ive got a torn boot that needs to be replaced. i figured id do all 4 while im at it since the truck has so many miles and i assume they are stock. but ive also read that many people just replace the axle do to it being easier. im all for easy but im also going to lock the front end when i take things apart and need the strongest cv's i can get.

so should it keep my stock ones and put some porche inner boots on them? or are there stronger/just as strong half shafts out there?

[MTL_4runner]

I have no idea which aftermarket ones are stronger than others but I have Advance Auto axles in mine right now and they've held up just fine thus far.

[Scuba]

I have heard that the best aftermarket CV's are from napa.

But alot of the guys on TTORA who wheel their junk hard will only go with oem..

[Good Times]

you can buy half shafts w/ lifetime warranty from napa or autozone I believe for under $100 bucks with core exchange. Check with Bob (bob98sr5) cuz he just bought one w/o the core exchange for a few bucks more just to keep as a spare!

[YotaFun]

I think the advance near me does the same thing.
I will be seeing how those hold up this winter when I go to play on the competition course up at Rausch Creek

[Lee]

I have heard that the best aftermarket CV's are from napa.

But alot of the guys on TTORA who wheel their junk hard will only go with oem..
not to burn anyone, but thats stupid. oem break as easily as an aftermarket shaft.

napa had good ones, but I always went with advance auto, they have a lifetime warranty, no questions asked.

[Nick]

I usually go with whatever retail place has it cheaper; NAPA or Advance Auto has worked for me in the past.

[ToyRunner]

if you want the best you will need to pony up a little doe and get the Downey Toyota ones they are stronger and have more flex than stock ones. also you could have a set croyoed and they would be damd near impossible to break. also look into birfield cv joints

[Scuba]

Yeah your alittle late with that Downey comment. They went under a couple months back..

[troyboy162]

hmm looks like ill rebuild the stock ones and try and find a spare of any type. theres lots of opinions on ttora about this but seeing as i have two OEM ones, i aought to rebuild those with nice boots while they are still good.

[Jeff the marmot]

Just DON'T buy Newfield CV axles (if they still sell them). They are much more expensive but the same strength as any auto part store axles. Newfield supposedly heat treats them to make them flex a little more under a shock load, but they still break at essentially the same torque. The front axle for these vehicles is so weak anyway due to the small diameter axle (1.1") that it's not worth it to throw any money at these wimpy axles. I wouldn't recommend the money for any cryo treating of any of these axles either - they are just weak to start with. Just pick your favorite auto parts store that has a good breakage warranty.

[MillerPKA]

I have heard that the best aftermarket CV's are from napa.

But alot of the guys on TTORA who wheel their junk hard will only go with oem..
not to burn anyone, but thats stupid. oem break as easily as an aftermarket shaft.

napa had good ones, but I always went with advance auto, they have a lifetime warranty, no questions asked.


I'm going to have to disagree. More or less you're looking at the same thing, OEM cv's are tough as hell to break, I'd put money on them holding out longer. At the same time you can swap out your autozone cvs no problem. But I will attest to the oem axles, I've been running busted and dry boots inside and out on both sides for over a year while the truck has been submerged wheeled and rally jumped, those things are still solid as a rock, going to change them out friday finally. There is just no way aftermarkets would hold up to that kind of abuse

[Crinale]

iv been wheeling mine pretty hard, and one of my boots has been torn since i bought the truck in april... the oem axles are holding strong...

[Good Times]

thread hijack!

Jeff! Good to see ya buddy :) Hope married life is treatin ya well!

Carry on :D

[troyboy162]

bought a new (bot reman)napa unit today for $88 to use as my spare. the low price made me nervous but napa has done well in the past for me. i called the local stealership and they wanted $220 plus $70 for the core on re-man OEM half shafts. thats nuts considering a nice used OEM is under $100. anyhow heres pictures for any one to compare them to others.

NAPA PART# NMD944013
http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/ww234/troyboy162/P1020870.jpg
http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/ww234/troyboy162/P1020873.jpg
http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/ww234/troyboy162/P1020875.jpg

[Scuba]

Not bad, You gonna get those swapped in before you jet ?

Dont forget to call me so I can give you some good wishes ;)

[troyboy162]

Not bad, You gonna get those swapped in before you jet ?

Dont forget to call me so I can give you some good wishes ;)

i thought about it but im just gonna wait. the rip isnt really bad yet. in fact it may ahave been there awhile now cause its been leaking grease since the lift. Kimi isnt really fired up to take the truck without me so i dont think ill be spoiling her fun.
besides id like to rip the whole front end apart at once when i get back.
-RD90 locker
-UCA's
-new lower ball joints
-883 coils?

i talked with my diff guy today and he said $350ish if i bring him the third and axle housing assembly. i might find lower but i trust this guy.

[Scuba]

Ah you goin air locker up front you bastard ?

I figured out im just going to twin stick mine and throw in an aussie..

[CJM]

Seal the boot with RTV for now, I did it to an older truck my friend had and it lasted for a good long while.

[troyboy162]

Seal the boot with RTV for now, I did it to an older truck my friend had and it lasted for a good long while.

nice thank you! i hadnt thought of that. that aought to keep it good enough for Kimi to beat on once or twice!

[Jeff the marmot]

thread hijack!

Jeff! Good to see ya buddy :) Hope married life is treatin ya well!

Carry on :D

I'm doing well. You have an awesome website here, dude, and your truck is looking great!

Regarding the strength of the front axles on these vehicles, check the ARB website at www.arbusa.com (http://www.arbusa.com) and look closely at the axle shaft diameter specs for the front diff. I'm surprised most owners are generally content with this front diff and axles. It's only 1.1" compared to 1.31" on the newer 4Runners and Tacos and most other Toyota SUV's (with the exception of the 1.37" axles that's in the newest Tundras, 200-series Land Cruisers, and Sequoias with a new front diff that's said to be stronger than a Dana 60).

Max torque of an axle is calculated with the radius to the fourth power, so a very small change in diameter makes a huge difference in strength. As soon as you get a front locker, you have to be careful to not break a front axle in 3rd gen 4Runners and similar Tacos, although the locker makes the front diff itself stronger.

[troyboy162]

thats interesting they inreased the diameter on the shafts. i think the most common break is to rip the CV cage out of one of the ends of the half shaft. ive read about a few axle shaft breaks but most breaks apear to be a drooped, turned, wheels that break the cage.

[Bighead]

Seal the boot with RTV for now, I did it to an older truck my friend had and it lasted for a good long while.


Or try Shoe Goo...that seemed to work better for me.