OEM CV - disappointment

[gatormark91]

So I bit the bullet and decided to take everyone's advice here and go new OEM Toyota on my last CV replacement. Apparently, there was way too little grease in it new, and it sprung a small, almost undetectable leak at the inside boot. It didn't make any mess at all, so I never even saw it - and I am VERY good on keeping up with what is going on under my truck.

So at 12 months and TWO WEEKS after purchasing it, it began crunching. I opened it up, added grease, re-clamped it, but it was too late. The clamps that came on it were laughably loose.

This is ridiculous, considering how much these things cost. I have a $75 AutoZone reman on the other side that hasn't even needed the clamps replaced, going strong on my truck (2.5" lift, SPCs, diff drop) after three years!

Really, really pissed off about this, Toyota.

 

[ClassyJalopy]

This is disheartening. I have developed a strong drive train vibration as of last week and I am slowly working my way towards eliminating other sources. But so far everything points to the CV axles. I was getting ready to pony up for a new OEM one but now want to see if anyone else has had the same issue as you did.

Did you buy yours from a reputable dealer/ parts seller? Have you tried to talk to them about this?

 

[87warrior]

One of the OEM CV's I installed started spewing grease from the small side of the outer boot at 1 year 3 months. Like you, I found the clamp to be very loose. Patched it up with an old Pfran clamp from my old CV's. Now at 1 year 6 months, the other side has some grease 'wetness' around the small clamp of the outer boot. I suspect it is time to put another clamp on these high dollar CV's. I am only lifted about 1".

Now I am wondering if I need to inject some more grease into each boot...

 

[atnolan94]

Same problem here. New OEM CV's slinging grease. Super tired of CV issues on this thing. I ordered a part-time kit so that my CV's will only be utilized in low speed, off road situations. No more grease slinging for me.

 

[gatormark91]

This is disheartening. I have developed a strong drive train vibration as of last week and I am slowly working my way towards eliminating other sources. But so far everything points to the CV axles. I was getting ready to pony up for a new OEM one but now want to see if anyone else has had the same issue as you did.

Did you buy yours from a reputable dealer/ parts seller? Have you tried to talk to them about this?

McGeorge Toyota. I need to call them.

 

[atnolan94]

McGeorge Toyota. I need to call them.

Thats who I bought from let me know.

 

[DTCsk8er]

Pretty surprising.. I wonder if they had a bad batch time-frame.

I've been running aftermarket cardone units for over a year, no leaks, no diff drop, no problems yet. As soon as the part time kit gets released for stock CVs, i'll end up going that route.

 

[atnolan94]

Pretty surprising.. I wonder if they had a bad batch time-frame.

I've been running aftermarket cardone units for over a year, no leaks, no diff drop, no problems yet. As soon as the part time kit gets released for stock CVs, i'll end up going that route.

It is released that's what I bought, mine gets to my house on Tuesday.

 

[DTCsk8er]

It is released that's what I bought, mine gets to my house on Tuesday.

Damn! How did I miss this! Thanks for letting me know!

 

[87warrior]

Also purchased from McGeorge. I didn't try to warranty the CV's since I was well past the 12k mile point, even though it was just over 1 year.

 

[ClassyJalopy]

I can't afford to put $1000 worth of CVs every 12k miles! Perhaps an O'Reilly one for $84 is a good option! They have lifetime warranty so the worst case scenario is I will get a new Cv every 6 months!

I have used their I.port Direct brand CVs in my BMWs with great success and those cars are very susceptible to vibrations

 

[Kofoed]

I had a brand new OEM axles, complete, and the cv boot (inner, small end) start slinging grease after less than a year. I caught it early, had a re boot kit which I used the supplied greased to top it off and added Pfran hose clamps I had on hand for a rebuild of the old cv. Looks like I will just cut the small end crimp bands of the rest of the connections and add Pfran clamps

 

[gregnash]

I can't afford to put $1000 worth of CVs every 12k miles! Perhaps an O'Reilly one for $84 is a good option! They have lifetime warranty so the worst case scenario is I will get a new Cv every 6 months!

I have used their I.port Direct brand CVs in my BMWs with great success and those cars are very susceptible to vibrations

See the Import Direct/SurTrack axles are what are currently on my truck from the PO, less than 2yrs old and they are making grinding noises, splits on boots and leaking grease (not slinging yet).

Napa axles are Cardone apparently, if you go to the axle page, then download warranty then you will see that the warranty states CARDONE Industries as the parent. Unless you have a good relationship with your local Napa and want to pay the extra $30+ an axle, then you can get the Cardone HD axles from RockAuto for about $80/ea.

I need to replace a bunch of stuff on my front so thinking I may go this route for the time being instead of dumping $400/ea. into it only to have it crap out on me.

 

[ClassyJalopy]

See the Import Direct/SurTrack axles are what are currently on my truck from the PO, less than 2yrs old and they are making grinding noises, splits on boots and leaking grease (not slinging yet).

Napa axles are Cardone apparently, if you go to the axle page, then download warranty then you will see that the warranty states CARDONE Industries as the parent. Unless you have a good relationship with your local Napa and want to pay the extra $30+ an axle, then you can get the Cardone HD axles from RockAuto for about $80/ea.

I need to replace a bunch of stuff on my front so thinking I may go this route for the time being instead of dumping $400/ea. into it only to have it crap out on me.

Can't you get Orielly to replace them for free? Obviously you will need to cover the labor

 

[gregnash]

Can't you get Orielly to replace them for free? Obviously you will need to cover the labor

Haven't really looked into it. Paperwork shows that PO had 4WP install and purchase so don't know if they would honor a lifetime warranty or whatnot on the axles. If you look at my build thread you will see the garbage install they did, so even if they did replace I wouldn't want them.

How does the saying go, if you don't have the time/money to do it right the first time you better have the time/money to do over again and again until you do it right.

 

[DTCsk8er]

Napa axles are Cardone apparently, if you go to the axle page, then download warranty then you will see that the warranty states CARDONE Industries as the parent. Unless you have a good relationship with your local Napa and want to pay the extra $30+ an axle, then you can get the Cardone HD axles from RockAuto for about $80/ea.

This is exactly what I have; part number 66-5185HD, purchased from rockauto for $62.79 each.

 

[gregnash]

This is exactly what I have; part number 66-5185HD, purchased from rockauto for $62.79 each.

yeah price has gone up a bit, now they are $80 each.

 

[wvrx]

It’s interesting that aftermarket axles seem to have better rep nowadays, I’m also due for a set and will likely go with Napa axles as well.

 

[gregnash]

It’s interesting that aftermarket axles seem to have better rep nowadays, I’m also due for a set and will likely go with Napa axles as well.

I wouldn't necessarily say they have a better rep, just OEM are a bit on the cost prohibitive side for many of us and some aftermarket are showing to be reliable. If you still have OEM on your truck then your best bet is to find a good quality rebuild shop and have them use OEM boots to rebuild the axles. If not, then you are at a cross-roads of either paying out the cost of OEM and taking a slight chance they may not last or going with aftermarket at 1/4 the cost of OEM and the realization that they will likely last only a few years.

Either way, main point is that you go with NEW axles where-ever you can to ensure that the splines are not goobered up.

 

[Kofoed]

The new OEM axle assenblies seem to have suffered from a bad crimp job on the small-end bands. A very crummy job on an expensive part that can ruin it. It can be easily fixed even with the axle installed. Irritating for sure. Going for rebuilt (really just new grease and boots) and running the risk of getting a scored tulip or damaged, mis-matched ball/tulips is someting I was not willing to do. Plus I am "rebuilding" my old axles as spares.