Autozone CV axles good enough??
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 145
Likes: 10
Autozone CV axles good enough??
My CV axle on the 02 Z06 started making noise today and I was reading that the OEM CV's are actually really good, but they are about $300 and I can get some from Autozone for less than $100. Should I pay the extra? I dont use it for drag racing, but will be using it for autocross.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 157
Likes: 144
From: Sin City
I had really good luck with Duralast Gold back on previous two cars. One car was stanced had lots of camber and held up just fine. Lifetime warranty, I would 100% use them again in the future. I have NOT used them on my 04 so theres that.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 57
Likes: 17
From: Oregon
Replaced both CV axles on my Jeep about 6 years ago. The replacements came from Autozone (Duralast Gold) and have held up well to off-road abuse with a 5.2L V8 and 31" tires. No experience with Corvette CV axles yet.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 9,702
Likes: 3,470
From: Akron Ohio
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C5 of the Year Winner - Modified
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
We replaced an axle last minute on a buddys C5 with a part store one and the next weekend on track the boot exploded and took out a rear brake line. I re-used the axle but put some smaller Camaro boots on it from the Drive Shaft Shop and filled with good AMSOIL grease. Been fine for 2 years now.
If you get a part store axle at least replace the boots and put decent grease inside.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 2,665
Likes: 1,391
From: Orange County, CA
I replaced the right axle on my '01Z with an AutoZone Durlast axle about 2 years / 6k miles ago. It was meant to be temporary, but a lack of problems with it (so far, knock on wood) has kept me from re-booting and reinstalling the stock axle.
I don't drive the car super hard as it's pretty much just a spirited DD, but it still gets driven with WOT periodically.
Can you provide more details on this axle boot? C5 axle boots are slim pickings.
I don't drive the car super hard as it's pretty much just a spirited DD, but it still gets driven with WOT periodically.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 9,702
Likes: 3,470
From: Akron Ohio
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C5 of the Year Winner - Modified
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
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Joined: Jan 2012
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From: Da U.P.
The aftermarket boots are rubber. I know on my trucks, they're neoprene/thermoplastic OE (I assume the same on the C5, just haven't looked at them that closely). The latter being much more rigid and not prone to swelling or dryrotting.