Hello all, looking for recommendations on front axles for my ‘08 GX. These forums have been so helpful, especially for someone new to GX ownership.

I found these on Amazon but open to recommendations and feedback, I am ok with spending a little more for a quality part.

I haven’t dealt with this brand before, buyautoparts.

Thanks again,
Rocco

 

They all suck some more than others. Notice that is completely unpainted it will rust just by looking at it. If you don't care about that then it's good enough.

 

If your current axles haven't completely lost all there grease, then I recommend installing a boot kit from Toyota: Cv Joint Boot Kit - Toyota (04427-60141). I rebuilt mine last year and they are lubricated and leak free. Last year I paid $63.40 for each kit (1 kit per axle).

 

ALWAYS reboot the Toyota axles assuming they have not been compromised via lack of lubrication. No aftermarket axle replacement comes even close to OEM quality ... and certainly not e-Bay "no-name" replacements.

 

Thanks but would feel a bit better just replacing with new, any recommendations? Thanks!

 

If you plan on keeping the GX for more than 2 years, or you plan on offroading, get the OEMs from Lexus.

Chip H.

 

Agreed, it’s more expensive but at least you won’t have to worry about it breaking any time soon.

 

... new does not equal quality ... the OEM axles are proven ... it's the boots that fail ... so if the boots are maintained ... meaning the CV's do not lose lubrication ... should last 200,000-odd miles ... superior to ANY aftermarket replacement ... your choice to live with the consequence if purchasing an Amazon or e-Bay "mystery" brand.

 

After multiple comments here saying to reboot and regrease I will probably do that. Thanks for educating me regarding keeping 5he OEM parts, much appreciated!

Rocco

 

Are there any shops that still willing to reboot it instead of replacing a good axle? Or has this becoming an industry practice, replace it instead of putting more elbow grease and reboot it? Seems such a waste just tossing out good hardware. One I spoke to seems to be lazy and just want to replace the entire axle. I'll have to call more shops and see.

 

R&R is the motto these days ... (Remove-and-Replace) ... where the shop makes money on the R&R Labor in addition to the parts markup ... no liability for them if the replacement part prematurely fails ... with the "parts warranty" never including the labor cost ... so the shop wins on all fronts. Beyond that ... most "technicians" today have no clue as to how to repair (rebuild) anything ... they only know how to replace assemblies.

 

Not that it helps much, but yes, the shop I work at trys to keep the OEM parts in good status if there is no need to replace. Axle boots replaced and regreased, cut and resurface rotors, repair frames, lube power window regulators, door lock actuators and such. While it is easier to simply pop an axle and replace it, if there is no indication of CV joint failure, there is no need to pull the axle!

 

Ah yes, forgot about the profit aspect this. When I have the motivation to it fixed, I'll seek hard for a shop to reboot it, or buy an OEM one from a dealer, hopefully at a good discount, and ask the shop to replace it. I'd guess that it should not take more than 2hr of labor to do it for a pro.

 

I use the Cardone "new" items from Rock-A, the ones with the heavy-duty pvc boots.
You can install aftermarket now and then have the OEM units re-built as backups.

 

I used the exact same Cardone's you mentioned. Have been running on it for about 60K+ miles so far (if I recall right) and still functioning just fine.