No more rebuilt front CV Axles from Toyota, where instead?

Howdy all,

Have to replace my passenger’s side half shaft, called my local dealer and they no longer sell remanufactured ones

I’d bought one ~3 years ago from them when I did the driver’s side. I concluded that to be the best bet back then, now that they’re not available, what’s the second best option please?

 

CVJ Axles - CV Axles & Steering Racks for all your needs (cvjreman.com)

 

Since you're in the same state, check in with @zippsub9.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/for-sale-4x4-manual-hubs-spindles-knuckles-and-cvs.709082/

 

X2
Highly recommend his services! Been talking with him about my truck, nice guy and super knowledgeable.

 

PM Sent. I have a few sets sitting on the shelf. The only real problem right now is a nationwide shortage of Boot Kits backordered now to JAN 24. I have been able to source some from individual dealers nationwide every now and then.

 

Zipps’ rebuilt axle is very appealing but I don’t think our timelines could match up. I need to get my truck undercoated before winter slams us, and it started snowing in Buffalo yesterday.

Any other decent options available ie: aftermarket? My truck is only raised 1.25”, I don’t do much wheeling besides the deep winters here

 

Yeah I have been trying to get a boot kit for awhile- not available.

 

Andre,
I know you get slammed in Buffalo. I just had my truck done two weeks. However, rather than delay a spray. I would recommend just picking up a cheap aftermarket from a local parts store for use in the interim. Most have a warranty to swap them out if anything happens during the winter and then you can get your truck sprayed immediately. After the thaw, July 24, just kidding, but seriously then we can get an OEM set done for you.

 

I’d rather only do the job once if possible, does anyone have any decent experiences with aftermarket?

 

Understood. If I can’t get OEM then I do prefer NAPA over others. Here is one for $95 and can be shipped to you within 72 hours.

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/NCV948959

Good luck this winter.

 

The aforementioned CVJ ones are way pricey, but are OEM rebuilt axles and if in stock should ship to you pretty quick. I've been running them for about 18 months (with 3" lift) and the boots have held up.

Otherwise you're best off with NAPA ones.

 

Grabbed one from CVJ, thank you for the dialogue everyone

 

Got a 2009 OR MT with 136k with one torn boot that’s been leaking. I’ve had a rubbing vibration and slight metal scrape sound while driving. Moreso the rubbing vibration than metal scraping sound which is intermittent at most. The rubbing vibration(lack of smoothness) is more apparent in my floorboard and audibly at highway speeds on that CV(driver side, so I’m going to replace both CVs just cause they’re both so old.

Unless anyone thinks I should let the passenger side stay in place.

Cyber20 promo at Napa got me both delivered for $229.05 in California.

 

I would never buy rebuilt shafts from NAPA!
There is a reason other people replaced the entire shaft.

 

I've been running O'reilly's CV's for a while.
I have a 2"-2.5" lift.
Usually the boots tear after awhile.
I had OEM and rebooted for awhile but tired of rebooting.
Then switched the CVJ, they tore after about 15,000 miles. I would have re-booted these they also had excess play so I replaced them with the o'reilly ones thinking I'd need to replace them quickly.
I've had the current set of O'reillys for about 15,000 miles and so far no problems

 

OEM boots with the bootslide mod are the key to no ripped boots.

 

Right!
I forgot about that. Those lasted the longest.

 

Are there markings on OEM axles I can look for?

 

They usually had a green tape around the shaft, but that could have worn off by now. Usually the shape of the inner CV joint housing is different on OEM axles than aftermarket knockoffs (hard to tell in this picture, but they'll have three distinct "lobes" with concave surfaces between each "lobe").



Edit: these are 3rd Gen 4runner axles, and the shafts look slightly different than what my 1st Gen Tacomas looked like, but just trying to demonstrate the shape of the inner CV joint housing.

 

Rebuilt CVJ next to OEM