Best cv boots/axles?

Hey guys I have a 2002 tacoma 4x with 2.5 OME lift kit I also installed the 1" diff drop and I am going threw cv boots like crazy!!! the angle of the shaft causes the ribs of the boot to rub onto each other and disintegrate I have ran napa cv and now orileys auto parts cv does anyone know of a cv shaft that has more of a v style boot ? Or is this just the name of the game with lifting......

 

OEM cv's, they have better travel than the auto part store brands.

There are a few brands that offer high angle cv boots, too. Like All Pro, they make some specifically for "long travel" which should be more than enough.

 

Thank you for the tip I didn't think of all pro checking them now!!

 

http://store.sdhqoffroad.com/tacomacvbootkits.aspx

 

Awsome this is half the price of all pro I have 2 extra cv shafts that I'm going to put these on and be done at last hopfuly the cv shaft boots I have now tear in about 4-6 months....inner only thank you again guys

 

Basically, just avoid the auto parts stores for this kind of stuff, imo. Most reputable "off road" retailers will have something better than auto part store brand, even if not "real" OEM...

If you don't want to spend the money on new OEM, there's always the junk yard or ebay. There are plenty of guys going long travel and selling their perfectly good oem cv assemblies.

 

I've had good luck with A1 Cardone from Napa. I've lost count on how many miles my old one on the driver side has. 50k minimum, Possibly 70k. Always had either a 2" spacer or 3" eibach lift. Passenger went out at about 50k.

 

While replacing CV's, I've seen people say to do the diff seals too? Mine do not appear to be leaking, so is that necessary?

 

Only replace a seal if it leaks.

 

Don't mean to thread jack, but...

I need to re-build my CV axles, and wanted to do it RIGHT. Do I need to take the whole CV axle apart and put back together or can I just take the "inboard" side off/apart, remove the boots, clean, re-grease and re-boot?

I really want to make sure I do this right. I have "auto part store" cv's in there now and want to get my OEMs back online for "spare" until those rip and then I'll just exchange those.

Thank you!

 

Here's a video showing you how to do it. This video also discusses a technique to stretch the boot to limit the boot ribs rubbing and causing tears.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/vcCT4UgFUTw


For you Dudes interested in renewing the differential axle shaft oil seals, here's a video describing how to do it:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/mh1BK5--KrU

 

Nice video I did my inboard seals the last time I replaced the CV shafts make sure you got something the exact diameter of the seal to drive it in I tried to use a punch and walk it in slowly took me 3 tries on one side had to keep going back for parts then I found a pipe the same size that makes it nice and easy and only drive it in 5mm past the first lip

 

I think it all comes down to how the truck is used having it lifted does not help.

I went with the New Napa CV axles so far so good about 60,000 miles

Then the only off Roading I see is my driveway and Job sites

I have the Boots from Toyota to replace mine just not at the top of the list

 

Subbed for the information. So basically a long travel boot with OEM cvs seems like the way to go. My inner boots are leaking and have been for a couple months now. I've got a little grease lost on lower control arms and such. Tightened the clamp down and still doing it. I'm sure I'm about to throw a boot soon.

 

Replaced my OEM cv's with NEW napa cv axles. 3 years and over 70k miles. No torn boots, no clicking, nothing. They have a lifetime warranty too. I paid around $100 per side.

I don't do rock crawling or anything crazy 90% of the time but it's seen thousands of miles of washboard and rutted fire roads and trails at 5-40mph and they're still solid.

 

Just ordered some CVJ's for ($108) each plus $48 per side for the silicone CV boots (optional). I'll have a review in a couple weeks/months!

 

My CVJ inner high angle silicon boot just ripped over the weekend at 18,000 miles. The replacement boots are $35 and if you ship it to them they're reboot it for you for free. Round trip shipping is about$60...so $95 for a reboot. I'd be okay with that if I didn't feel it's gonna rip again in 18,000 miles.

I'm exploring other boot options and gonna do it myself.

 

Makes me feel like some people may be having better luck with cheap aftermarkets. Especially if they have a lifetime replacement warranty. Weekend wheeling cause the tear? Anyone else have input on these?

 

yeah probably. The ribs rubbed together a bit.

I've been looking at these. They're a vendor on here.

http://store.sdhqoffroad.com/tacomacvbootkits.aspx

 

A few things to note.

OE Toyota boots will frequently not fit the aftermarket "new" Chinese shafts.

NAPA rebuilt shafts are done by A1 Cardone. They are actually just re-boots. That's straight from the NAPA fine print.

The SDHQ direct replacement boots are not "high angle". They made by EMPI and are dimensionally the same as OE, just a little softer. They are also sold by most aftermarket parts houses as standard replacements for lots less than any vendor with "off road" in their name.

All boots currently sold as "high angle" by All Pro, SDHQ etc are nothing more than the ancient "Porsche 930" style. There are many variants and colors in both rubber and silicone. The big end of these are round and the OE Toyota is triangular. This requires them to be clamped on top of the end of the old boot to fill the gaps. This is a poor fit and has a long history of being problematic, even SDHQ agrees. The silicone variants are prone to just plain tearing.

All new aftermarket shafts are are Chinese knock offs and suffer from all the issues mentioned on the CVJ website and then some. They are typically fine for street queens.
CVJ is a stand up company and actually "re-builds" with components replaced as necessary.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-blowing-cv-boots.146070/page-8#post-11316058