I wouldn't bother carrying an aftermarket CV as several people who have tried them have had subsequent failures. If you're going through the effort of swapping one in (either one the trail or in a shop) and giving up the space/weight to carry one, why go back and do it a second time? The cost isn't that significant and if you never use it I suspect you can sell it for whatever you paid to someone else on the forum as people are regularly looking for spare CVs.If, say, I found a way of getting a aftermarket CV axle for $40, is there any merit in carrying that as a trail spare as opposed to either an OEM one or a reman from CVJ?
Only reason I ask is, if I'm slinging stuff around offroad, is there a risk that I'm going to puncture a boot on an OEM one? Planning on stashing trail spare in my drawers, held "in place" by a handful of Voila straps to limit movement, but don't want to pinch or cut a boot and then basically be limping it back home looking for a second OEM one.
Well aware of the quality and integrity issues with aftermarket CVs, but just thinking I'd be more willing to swap one on in the middle of nowhere, find out its punctured or just generally a piece of garbage, and pull a front driveshaft on the way home if it cost me $40, as opposed to $300+. Granted, my only real concern is damaging boots while it's in my drawers... probably pretty low risk exposure on that?