Hey guys, I was crawling around under the '06 this weekend and noticed that it looks like the CV is slinging grease around.
We have a little over 120K miles on it and I believe the half shaft is original. There's been no noticeable clicking or clunking or vibration from this CV. I believe it's fairly recently that the boot started allowing grease out, so I think it's still mechanically in good shape.
Since we acquired our second Xterra a couple years ago, this one pictured is mainly used by my wife for running errands around town and occasionally desert day trips. It is currently only driven ~2K - 3K miles in a year.
I'm looking at options, not in any particular order.
A) New OEM half axle for $450 or so
B) Used good condition OEM half axle (availability and price unknown, have posted a WTB on local group)
C) New aftermarket half axle for $100 to $140
D) Remove current half axle and re-boot with a Nissan kit for $80 or so. Perhaps there's aftermarket ones that are good at a lower price point.
E) Use a split boot kit for $30 or so.
I know in almost all cases OEM parts are better than aftermarket, but what is the mode of failure with aftermarket? Wearing after 40K miles instead of 120K miles? I could afford option A but if we get a decade of service from option C then that seems like a viable choice. On the other hand, I don't want to compromise safety for a few bucks, so if the failure mode of a lesser aftermarket one is grenading while driving down the highway, then that's not worth it.
Any aftermarket CV's that are considered better than others? The how to linked below references a Duralast one.
If I'm rebooting, it would probably make sense to do both boots while it's out on the workbench. I'm guessing one side (inner or outer) will be easier to remove and you can do both boots by just removing one side?
I did a lot of work on the front suspension (new UCA / LCA / tie rod) within the past year and used antiseize where appropriate, so hopefully it should be pretty straightforward to take things apart. The only thing I'm slightly apprehensive about is pulling the CV out of the differential. Mainly because I haven't done that before and there's currently no leaks there; I don't want to mess up the seals.
I'm planning on referencing the below guides along with some other tips I have picked up from reading additional threads.
https://www.xterranation.org/index.php?threads/how-to-replace-a-cv-axle.6432/
https://www.clubfrontier.org/threads/how-to-cv-joints-removal-service-install.222537/
Any thoughts or advice? Am I missing anything important?
We have a little over 120K miles on it and I believe the half shaft is original. There's been no noticeable clicking or clunking or vibration from this CV. I believe it's fairly recently that the boot started allowing grease out, so I think it's still mechanically in good shape.
Since we acquired our second Xterra a couple years ago, this one pictured is mainly used by my wife for running errands around town and occasionally desert day trips. It is currently only driven ~2K - 3K miles in a year.
I'm looking at options, not in any particular order.
A) New OEM half axle for $450 or so
B) Used good condition OEM half axle (availability and price unknown, have posted a WTB on local group)
C) New aftermarket half axle for $100 to $140
D) Remove current half axle and re-boot with a Nissan kit for $80 or so. Perhaps there's aftermarket ones that are good at a lower price point.
E) Use a split boot kit for $30 or so.
I know in almost all cases OEM parts are better than aftermarket, but what is the mode of failure with aftermarket? Wearing after 40K miles instead of 120K miles? I could afford option A but if we get a decade of service from option C then that seems like a viable choice. On the other hand, I don't want to compromise safety for a few bucks, so if the failure mode of a lesser aftermarket one is grenading while driving down the highway, then that's not worth it.
Any aftermarket CV's that are considered better than others? The how to linked below references a Duralast one.
If I'm rebooting, it would probably make sense to do both boots while it's out on the workbench. I'm guessing one side (inner or outer) will be easier to remove and you can do both boots by just removing one side?
I did a lot of work on the front suspension (new UCA / LCA / tie rod) within the past year and used antiseize where appropriate, so hopefully it should be pretty straightforward to take things apart. The only thing I'm slightly apprehensive about is pulling the CV out of the differential. Mainly because I haven't done that before and there's currently no leaks there; I don't want to mess up the seals.
I'm planning on referencing the below guides along with some other tips I have picked up from reading additional threads.
https://www.xterranation.org/index.php?threads/how-to-replace-a-cv-axle.6432/
https://www.clubfrontier.org/threads/how-to-cv-joints-removal-service-install.222537/
Any thoughts or advice? Am I missing anything important?
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