Cv Joint Or Drive Shaft

[Shabs]

Hi

I have a 2002 Previa diesel.

I have been told that I need a new drivers side CV joint. The main dealer has quoted me £350+. Can anyone point me in the direction of a good alternative parts supplier.

Thanks

Shabs

[propnut]

Ok, so the first thing you should know is that there are very few parts that are actually "manufacturer Original Parts". This is one of the biggest cons on this planet and one that hundreds of thousands of people get suckered into every year. 99.9999% of the parts you believe to have this status come off the exact same production line as the "after market part". The price you pay purely depends on which box the guy pulling them off the conveyor belt puts them in.

Try around the various auto factors (except Halfords as there you will get some wet behind the ears muppet who probably has never worked on a car in his/her life). In my neck of the woods down in Surrey there are a good bunch of guys called Camberley Auto Factors. They may even do postal so give them a call. Also try eBay as well as doing an Internet search. I did the CV for a friend not so long ago on a 2001 VVTI Previa and that was +-£70 from memory.

It is a pity that you are appear not to be technical as changing the CV, whilst a marginally big job, is not tha thard and should take no more than 30 - 60 mins. The biggest thing with CV's is to keep an eye on the rubber boot that surrounds them. If this breaks it allows the grease out and dirt in. A mixture of dirt + the remaining grease turns into grinding paste that wears down the ball bearing and bearing races within the CV resulting in the CLACK CLACK noise when you are turning a corner. Also numerous rapid accelerations especially whilst turning will dramatically reduce their life.

I have a Nissan Primera with over 100K on the clock and it still has its original CV's. A few years ago I had a Mazda 323 with 673,000Miles on the clock when I got rid of it (my job see's me traveling extensively) and that still had its original CV's. You can save yourself a lot of money by simply doing regular maintenance and driving correctly.