hey everyone...im looking to replace my cv axles on both sides....any suggestions where would be the best place to purchase them? im gunna install my bj spacers soon so i wanna change the axles while im in there. thanks!!!

 

Buy a used axle from a wrecking yard, or buy a remanned one from a parts store. Whatever you do, DON'T get the new ones. They are cheap knockoffs made in China, and often times do not fit correctly or have problems or issues associated with install. To add on to that, they are made of inferior materials, and have a tendancy to break easier.

 

what is a remmaned axle and would some place like NAPA are Automotive Supply Center have them?

 

I have had good luck with Downeys cv, I put them in this summer

 

I bought the remanned (re manufactured) CV's from Autozone for $69 each that have a lifetime warranty on them. I actually screwed up installing one of them and tore the boot and took it back down and swapped it out no questions asked. A lot of people around here are running them and I haven't heard anyone complain yet about them.

 

any body got any experience with napa? idk if we have an autozone in hawaii

 

the downey fully assembled axles are expensive!!

 

any body got any thoughts?

 

i used to work for a shop and put napa axles in a few yotas and never had any complaints or comebacks, im planning on getting some myself soon. mine are all torn up. lol

 

Life time warranty on them? Dang that's a deal! If you ever snap one wheeling then take it in and get a new one for free

 

Ya the full downeys are expensive, i just bought the outers. Do you need the full set or just your outer cv's?

 

What do they mean by don't buy the new ones? Aftermarket or Toyota? I just ordered two new ones from Toyota for my truck.. can't imagine they would be made in China.

 

i work at napa and you can get reman cv's, they do come with a core charge but they're prob cheaper than autozone... autozone sucks btw... they come with a limited lifetime warranty which means if the product breaks cuz of a defect then its covered, if it breaks cuz it was installed wrong, then the warrenty is cancelled... but if it breaks, just take it back and tell them it broke, nothing else, they'll most likely order you a new one if they dont have it in stock... they really dont care cuz they arent losing out on the money situation, they're just the middleman... i havent had anyone come back cuz of defective products like that, i was thinking about buyin two new reman ones cuz they only cost me 40 bucks a peice with my discount ha ha

 

Exactly. Like I said, I ruined one installing it and they replaced it no questions asked. I don't see why anyone uses anything else.

 

I installed a NAPA reman, it's a good deal but check the boot clamps because mine were loose and let grease spill out of the boot.

 

If yours aren't broken why change them? Just get new boots (if you need them) and grease. My original 93 CVs are still doing good (knock on wood), I did put new boots (OEM) in 2002 and they come with new grease.

Its not like you have to take off the CVs to do ball joint spacers.

 

well, it's a lot easier to take the cv out when the upper BJ is disconnected. And after 16 years on an original cv, its worth changing just for the peace of mind, IMO.

 

Well I do carry spares, just in case. And I pressed out the studs on flanges so they are easier to replace on the trail.

 

Right, but that's you. For joshuapc's purpose, replacing them completely while doing the bj spacers is the way to go.

 

When I had my front end apart doing the lift I also changed out the old front diff to one I bought with 5.29's in it. While I had everything all apart and separated I went ahead and installed remanned CV's for piece of mind. I also had a torn boot on one of the old ones so it was just so much easier to change all of it out.

Now that I have the lifetime ones in I also don't have to worry about buying them again either.