Auto Part Store CV Axles OK?

[jrtoffroad]

I'm taking a trip to Moab in a couple weeks and thought it would be good to have a couple spare axle shafts with me. What's everyone's thoughts on cv shafts from an autoparts store? How do they compare to the OE 10k axles?

I can get new CV axles from Rock auto for ~$90ea. Brand is GSP (rear part # is NCV82999). A quick search shows OE axles from the typical surplus parts suppliers going for about 200/ea. Not trying to be a cheapskate, but love to save the $ if they strength is equivalent.

I'm sure eventually I'll upgrade to 12k axles, but not anytime soon.

 

[Coug]

So the only parts store axles I'd recommend are the autozone ones. Lifetime warranty.
They are made in China, and the quality isn't the best, but as your intention is to use it as a cheap spare to get you home. Plenty of reports of them doing okay, but a few reports of them failing. The failed ones the warranty is honored, so replacement doesn't cost.

Is the quality as good as OEM? Nope, not at all.
Will they work, at least for a while? It seems like it.

Take all the tools you need to rebuild the shafts with you, so if worst comes to worst you can take parts from multipole broken ones (provided they aren't the same broken part) and get yourself home.

Unfortunately you can't trust a lot of the "surplus" market these days either, as there are a lot of chinesium knockoffs being passed off as genuine OEM surplus.
Either buy from one of the reputable vendors, straight from AM General, or buy the autozone shafts (or from any other physical store) where you can physically return them if/when they fail.

 

[rcamacho]

AZ shafts have been fine on my M998 for several months. If they break they are under warranty.

I don’t wheel my truck. If inclined to I’d carry spares and/or upgrade to 12k style


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[jrtoffroad]

Thanks for the input! Not exactly what I was hoping to hear, but I guess about what I expected. Maybe I'll see if there's any chance of a decent deal on some ACTUAL OE shafts. If all 4 stock shafts were the same length and I could just grab 1 spare, I probably wouldn't care, but since I'll need 3, I'd like to be investing in something that I can trust.

 

[Mogman]

I have beat on the AZ shafts with as much as 435HP, the only caveat I would add is do not drive over 85-90MPH with the AZ shafts, the rubber in the boots are too soft and they expand to the point of failure.
I wish I was going to Moab with you, maybe next fall.....

 

[lpcoating]

I had a torn cv boot on my DS front shaft. My first thought was to replace the boots. After removing the shaft I noticed wear groves were pretty deep from the geared hub seal. Looked to be original shaft. I went with a AZ shaft for these reasons:
1) I put off fixing boot issue until the last minute before a day ride and didn't have another option if I was going to take Humvee. And for those wondering, no, I didn't drive the truck with a torn boot. Was parked as soon as it was spotted.
2) My truck is stock and I don't do anything extreme off road with it.
3) As stated above, lifetime warranty.
4) For $125 out the door, why not?

Guy

 

[Mogman]

I have rebuilt the AZ shafts using the military spec 10K boots to fix the high speed issue, pretty straight forward and very messy, I do not think the original 7K shafts are easily rebuildable due to being "pressed" or "crimped" together rather than having snap rings or wire rings holding them together.
I put them in the band saw and cut the ends off to include the splines and seal area so I can carry one along with shorter 10MM bolts for the brake rotor so I can limp home on three shafts rather than carrying three different spare shafts.

 

[jrtoffroad]

Good to know! Maybe I will grab some AZ shafts after all.

 

[lpcoating]

Only issue I had was after test run I noticed some grease around the large end of the outside boot. The metal strap wasn't tight enough. I used a large zip tie over the original clamp and hossed it down tight. Next day it went 170 miles without issue.
Problem solved. Will see if I can get a proper replacement strap and fix. Or, might just keep an eye on current situation and run it.

Guy