DO NOT BUY AXLES FROM DETROIT AXLE!!!! (1 Viewer)

[Matchu]

I've worked on cars my whole life and have become really cheap on most auto parts because they all tend to be of similar quality. However, OEM is definitely the way to go for CV's. I'm in the same boat as you and I've cried a couple of times trying to use aftermarket and rebuilt alternatives.

The Autozone ones I had made my rig vibrate between 50-60mph and during uphill accelerations. It was $60, so really no big deal.

I went with CVJ, and spent $200 shipped to my house. The CVJ axle I put in just this past weekend already started clicking when I went out for a test drive. I knew they had a pretty good rep, so I thought It was something I did wrong during the installation, I put the autozone ones back in and the clicking was gone. I'm not sure what CVJ does during the reman, but it's completely unacceptable for a freshly rebuilt CV to be sent out like that. I will say though, they are trying to make it right. They are sending me a new one (at my expense), but are refunding my full purchase of the failed CV including shipping it back once they receive the crappy one.

 

[gatormark91]

I've worked on cars my whole life and have become really cheap on most auto parts because they all tend to be of similar quality. However, OEM is definitely the way to go for CVS's. I'm in the same boat as you and I've cried a couple of times trying to use aftermarket and rebuilt alternatives.

The Autozone ones I had made my rig vibrate between 50-60mph and during uphill accelerations. It was $60, so really no big deal.

I went with CVJ, and spent $200 shipped to my house. The CVJ axle I put in just this past weekend already started clicking when I went out for a test drive. I knew they had a pretty good rep, so I thought It was something I did wrong during the installation, I put the autozone ones back in and the clicking was gone. I'm not sure what CVJ does during the reman, but it's completely unacceptable for a freshly rebuilt CV to be sent out like that. I will say though, they are trying to make it right. They are sending me a new one (at my expense), but are refunding my full purchase of the failed CV including shipping it back once they receive crappy one.

And that is exactly why I have given up on remans forever. I've lost three weeks of enjoying my truck trying to save a few dollars. Lesson learned.

 

[FxFormat]

My CVs were torn since i lifted the truck, i looked at reman CVs and they were really cheap, then I read people's nightmares with them so I looked OEM CVs and almost shat myself when i saw the price. So i bit the bullet and spent the entire day to reboot both CVs with toyota OEM boot kit, $88 for both with grease and clamps is not bad.

Sorry you're going through this, i'd be upset too.

 

[bucfl]

Damn! Sorry to hear this. I have Napa on DS and OEM PS. Napa is vibrating at 55-60 plus.

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

And I will disagree on that one, Jason. T4Rs are still made in Japan, and that still means something. We traded a 16 T4R Limited on our 17 Taco Off Road (needed the Taco to tow something the T4R could not because of weight). The T4R fit-and-finish was on par with any LC I've seen. It was just not as over-built.

The Taco... it's nice, but it ain't made it Japan. That is all I need to say about that.

Well it may be made in Japan but go to any dealership and look in the bays and feed yards (as I like to call them)... #1 Tundra, #2 4R followed by Tacos and then the Corolla. Mainly because of volume of these models, but in my last 14 visits in 10 different locations, I've only seen 2 Cruisers and both were at the service centers for oil changes, not repairs or warranty claims.

The Cruiser is Toyota's holy grail and I guarantee the parts are scrutinized 10 fold over that of the 4R or other models.

Toyota sold 128,296 4Runners, an increase of 14.6 percent from 2016’s 111,952 units. Compare those numbers to the larger Sequoia, which sold 12,156 vehicles in 2017 and the venerable Land Cruiser with a total 3,100 units sold.

I'll bet my money on the Cruiser quality and parts any day of the week...

J

 

[Rauhwelt]

I was just getting ready to order one from CVJ =/

 

[Njck22]

the venerable Land Cruiser with a total 3,100 units sold.

I'll bet my money on the Cruiser quality and parts any day of the week...

J

I agree Landcruiser is made above all. But I will say, the 4runner is definitely still well made, perhaps even with equal parts scrutiny, but probably with an emphasis on reducing cost while maintaining dependability. 4Runner is purely targeted for the US market, and Toyota seems to have found the sweet spot.

 

[gatormark91]

I agree Landcruiser is made above all. But I will say, the 4runner is definitely still well made, perhaps even with equal parts scrutiny, but probably with an emphasis on reducing cost while maintaining dependability. 4Runner is purely targeted for the US market, and Toyota seems to have found the sweet spot.

Just to remind folks, this thread is about piece-of-crap reman axles, NOT about the merits of the T4R vs. the Land Cruiser.

 

[FrankieJoe14]

I too had an issue recently with Detroit Axle. Their steering rack seemed OK in reviews but out of the box the bushing was torn and the inner tie rods were the cheapest steel I've ever encountered. Just screwing on the lock nut for the outer tie rod smashed up some threads.

Thank god for amazons return policy.

 

[planomateo]

I replaced both axles with new Toyota axles a few months ago and I now have a spare set.

Keep your OEM one @gatormark91, you can always rebuild it yourself with a bit of effort and have an extra set laying around.

 

[LEX]

Wow. I came this >< close to ordering one from them, but I needed one quick. I went with one from NAPA and so far so good. Already took a road trip and no complaints. It's a hit or miss I suppose.

 

[gatormark91]

I replaced both axles with new Toyota axles a few months ago and I now have a spare set.

Keep your OEM one @gatormark91, you can always rebuild it yourself with a bit of effort and have an extra set laying around.

It's already been rebooted, and is set aside as a spare. It actually takes almost as much time to clean the grease out than it does to disassemble and re-assemble one with new boots. I'd have re-used it, it wasn't making any noise, but I wasn't really thrilled by the condition of the cage and the tulip, so I ordered new.

 

[abuck99]

Fwiw McGeorge does a very good job of re-packaging the CV for shipping- like bombproof. If you ordered elsewhere open your box and inspect everything including the knuckle side dust seal to ensure it wasnt bent during shipping. Toyota has marginal packing and they must be repackaged to withstand the shipping/handling abuse .

 

[2001LC]

Fwiw McGeorge does a very good job of re-packaging the CV for shipping- like bombproof. If you ordered elsewhere open your box and inspect everything including the knuckle side dust seal to ensure it wasnt bent during shipping. Toyota has marginal packing and they must be repackaged to withstand the shipping/handling abuse .

Thanks to you!

 

[abuck99]

Thanks to you!

ha-lol yeah after receiving my first set damaged and them paying return freight, they took the coaching very well and responded to the input. They are now my go-to parts dealer on the large orders.

Box-in-box packaging.

 

[gatormark91]

Fwiw McGeorge does a very good job of re-packaging the CV for shipping- like bombproof. If you ordered elsewhere open your box and inspect everything including the knuckle side dust seal to ensure it wasnt bent during shipping. Toyota has marginal packing and they must be repackaged to withstand the shipping/handling abuse .

I ordered from them without knowing that. Maybe the axle gods are smiling on me again.

 

[Leandro]

FWIW, I bought a Advanced Autoparts axle, I believe the brand is carquest.
With a 10% discount for buying online ended up paying around $60 for it with lifetime warranty.
This was 1 year ago, no issues at all. 5 months ago I lifted the truck 2 inches with no diff drop, no issues there either.
When I was installing it, I accidentally teared the boot. Took it back and they replaced it, no questions asked, the boot is part of the axle so it's covered by the lifetime warranty.
I know it's not an OEM, possibly lasts 2 years instead of 20, but I'll keep getting them for free and the labor to replace the CV is not crazy, especially once you've done it a couple of times.

 

[2001LC]

FWIW, I bought a Advanced Autoparts axle, I believe the brand is carquest.
With a 10% discount for buying online ended up paying around $60 for it with lifetime warranty.
This was 1 year ago, no issues at all. 5 months ago I lifted the truck 2 inches with no diff drop, no issues there either.
When I was installing it, I accidentally teared the boot. Took it back and they replaced it, no questions asked, the boot is part of the axle so it's covered by the lifetime warranty.
I know it's not an OEM, possibly lasts 2 years instead of 20, but I'll keep getting them for free and the labor to replace the CV is not crazy, especially once you've done it a couple of times.

Good to know!