FEQ axles - crap or good?

"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
06/17/2019 at 16:59 • Filed to: None

I need a new axle on the GX (torn boot thats been driven on a while and is clicking) and on e shop said they have th ese axles. I hear they are either “fine” or terrible. Anyone use them? anyone have good axles they’ve used in the past?

What about CVJ axles? They seem like a good break between OE and crap

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DISCUSSION (33)

His Stigness > HammerheadFistpunch
06/17/2019 at 17:14

CRAP CRAP CRAP CRAP CRAP!!!

FEQ are the cheapest of cheap. I’m speaking as a technician who has installed many a axle, and FEQ always had issues.

I would recommend getting an OEM axle.

For Sweden > HammerheadFistpunch
06/17/2019 at 17:16

I put Cardone front axles on my S80 recently. One failed, but was replaced under warranty.

RallyWrench > HammerheadFistpunch
06/17/2019 at 17:22

They’ve been a mixed bag for us. Some have a lifetime warranty, which is nice, and they often work great. Others click or vibrate under acceleration out of the box (in the FWD & AWD applications we see, no truck stuff). One problem I’ve had with aftermarket axles in general, FEQ included, is that the boots they use are often not the same dimensions as the OEM. This means that when one inevitably splits open, a factory style boot won’t fit and you have no idea what is actually on it.

GoodIdeaAtTheTime > HammerheadFistpunch
06/17/2019 at 17:24

ALL, and I mean ALL replacement C V axles are hit or miss. It is going to be luck of the draw.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > HammerheadFistpunch
06/17/2019 at 17:25

I put a couple Heris on my Golf about a year ago. I haven’t noticed any vibration, CV clicks, or play in them. If you’re making a budget-minded repair, a rebuild or just replacing the outer CV joint might be a better move.

Ash78, voting early and often > HammerheadFistpunch
06/17/2019 at 17:26

The only consistent company I’ve heard the best anecdotes from is Raxles.com. And this is coming from some really snobby VW/Audi people. Their shit breaks all the time, so they don’t like history to repeat itself.

https://www.raxles.com/

gettingoldercarguy > HammerheadFistpunch
06/17/2019 at 17:33

I’ve always gone with Napa. Their stuff has consistently impressed me

benjrblant > HammerheadFistpunch
06/17/2019 at 17:35

i know the OEM are spendy, but methinks it might be worth it, particularly for a component like ths.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Ash78, voting early and often
06/17/2019 at 17:39

Yeah it does!

HammerheadFistpunch > His Stigness
06/17/2019 at 17:39

I don’t like OE prices, I mean they want 5x as much, 2x or even 3x as much maybe and expecially if i was doing it myself but im having a hard time with those prices

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > HammerheadFistpunch
06/17/2019 at 17:42

Just reboot your axle with fresh grease. But before putting the grease in make sure to put in a couple tablespoons of saw dust to help it quiet down.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Ash78, voting early and often
06/17/2019 at 17:45

Reading about Raxles brought me to what I think might be the champagne of VWVortex threads.

https://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?5042248-Raxles-ROFL!

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > HammerheadFistpunch
06/17/2019 at 17:45

The reman ones they put in my Impreza were toast in about 35k soooo... OEM if you like your sanity and not your wallet.

HammerheadFistpunch > His Stigness
06/17/2019 at 17:50

heard of mevotech?

RallyWrench > HammerheadFistpunch
06/17/2019 at 17:56

I should also mention, I know a few guys who have had good luck with Raxles.

HammerheadFistpunch > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
06/17/2019 at 18:06

its clicking and has been to california and towed a trailer through the desert. they aren’t going to be in good shape

jminer > HammerheadFistpunch
06/17/2019 at 18:33

Not familiar with that brand but have had good luck with both cardone and mevotech branded axles. Just ordered a set of cardone’s for my B2600i - both sides had torn boots and I have no idea how long they were driven like it.

His Stigness > HammerheadFistpunch
06/17/2019 at 18:48

No, I get it. Since I don’t deal with Japanese cars very often I can’t remember who are the OEMs for those parts. What’s the year on your car again? I’ll check worldpac to see what they carry.

And I've never heard of mevotech.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > HammerheadFistpunch
06/17/2019 at 18:55

I’m not much help in your market. However, I’ve just had a couple of very very very hard to source CVs replaced in the back end of the VW. The mob supplying them down here seemed to know exactly what they were doing. You could always drop them an email and see if you can find out the brand. I had a look at them before they went in and both CVs looked well machined and finished...

Looks like they might have been from GSP Automotive. And they’ve got a US presence.

HammerheadFistpunch > His Stigness
06/17/2019 at 19:02

08 gx470, should be the same as a 4th gen 4runner fj cruiser or 2nd gen tacoma

His Stigness > HammerheadFistpunch
06/17/2019 at 19:07

Damn it, WorldPac has gone to shit since CarQuest bought them.

All they have is FEQ and CarQuest. I wouldn’t put either of those in my car. But I see the list price is $554, so yeah. That’s no good.

sn4cktimes > HammerheadFistpunch
06/17/2019 at 19:11

I’ve used mevotech balljoints before. They held up the same length of time as my OE ones. Which was about 15 months. B ut given I had a Dana30 with 35x12.5" tires hanging off it with 2" spacers and beat the living crap out of it offroad... I’d say they did their tour of duty.

HammerheadFistpunch > His Stigness
06/17/2019 at 19:21

yeah, OE is brutal. If’n im paying that price its going to be for new stronger units

HammerheadFistpunch > RallyWrench
06/17/2019 at 19:31

no yota. I asked

Sovande > HammerheadFistpunch
06/17/2019 at 21:13

Buy the OEM axle or you will end up replacing it a bunch and spending the same amount but wasting much more time. Even a junkyard (good) axle would be better than aftermarket. At least in my experience.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > HammerheadFistpunch
06/17/2019 at 22:48

It was supposed to be sarcasm. Definitely don't put saw dust in car parts to make them quiet.

HammerheadFistpunch > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
06/18/2019 at 00:29

no i won’t Matilda it. but i did think of re booting... then i realized it was already clicking. thing that makes me mad? i took it to Lexus when i heard the clicking to have it looked over for a road trip my wife too to California and they said they couldn't find a reason for it. sway bar business they said. i should have checked more carefully myself but truthfully the damage had already been done.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > HammerheadFistpunch
06/18/2019 at 01:25

Jeebus. They're real bad. I suggest letting them know. They can't change of they don't know they're bad. I wouldn't go back, but you might be able to make it suck less for others.

adamftw > HammerheadFistpunch
06/18/2019 at 06:53

Mevotech’s higher tier stuff is great. Just avoid the cheaper lines. Not sure if that's applicable to CVs.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
06/18/2019 at 07:25

Shit 35k, that’s a helluva run.

I’ve had new/name brand and oem axles that haven’t made that many miles.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > GoodIdeaAtTheTime
06/18/2019 at 07:27

This!

This is the correct answer. I’ve bought OEM that were junk out of the box, meanwhile the original lasted 180k. I’ve bought remans that lasted 50k, meanwhile I’ve sheared off new ones in under 1k.

Pretty much any replacement CV is going to be a gamble, whether it’s the cheap “shit” or the OEM.

Ash78, voting early and often > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
06/18/2019 at 09:07

That’s solid, but I don’t think anything can top this one from 2004, which created memes for years afterwards

“ hit 2 fents 2 burshes 4 brick and a trash can”

https://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?1585548-Hit-two-a-crub-and-2-fents-load-cam-knock

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Ash78, voting early and often
06/18/2019 at 09:22

Kinja'd!!!