I'm wondering whether improvements made to an IFS front end to increase articulation (ie. swaybar disconnects) causes the CV's to spend more time at an extreme angle, leading to damage of the CV's? Before anyone flames me, I'm planning on doing the disconnects anyways to improve offroading capability, its just something I was thinking about.

 

I would have to guess you are correct in your assumption. CV axles don't like to be stretched to thier limit and then rotated. This will definitely shorten the life of the CV axle, but by how much I have no idea. Since so many people have enjoyed the extra articulation from using the swaybar disconnects, I have to agree that I would put them on my truck as well. Nothing beats more articulation than none at all.

.02

 

but the amount of time where your axles are in the more extreem angles and turning isn't really all that long compaired to mos tof the miles (still not as good for them though)

Also it depends how far they can go safely, some cv joints can go farther then others with no troubles

 

You guys are right that the CV's aren't turning very much when they're at the extreme angles, but the CV's aren't going to fail from fatigue or wear any time soon. If they're going to fail when off roading then they're going to fail catastrophically. It seems the way most people are breaking their CV are if the tire is spinning and abruptly stops (comes down on a rock), or backing up and turning sharply while at full drop or compression. So you're probably not going to wear them out from articulating.

Having said that, I did tear my CV boot at pismo from bombing around, but then again, it's ten years old.

 

very good point...