Dealer vs. After-Market Axles
02-15-2012, 08:35 AM
#1
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Hi, I'm new to this forum and have a quick question. I was told by my local acura dealership over the weekend that I need a new left axle and that the complete job would cost $581 with the part itself being about $350-$400. I called around to local car parts places and found parts for around $150. Is it okay to buy this after-market part or should I buy the Acura part? I ask because I bought after-market breaks once and had to get them re-done with Acura breaks because they created grooves in my rotors and I wanted to avoid any complications that could result in me installing an after-market axle. Thanks again for your feedback
I should also mention that this is for an 05 TL
I should also mention that this is for an 05 TL
Last edited by Steven Bell; 02-25-2015 at 06:56 PM. Reason: Merge Posts
02-15-2012, 08:47 AM
#3
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The aftermarket are probably rebuilds which I have never had a problem with in any of my vehicles. You will most likely have to give the old core back as well. If they are anywhere as easy as a civic axle to replace then 100 for labour should be enough at most non-dealer shops.
02-15-2012, 08:57 AM
#4
Suzuka Master
some part you want to go after market some part you want to go OEM for example motor mount (I think) is better aftermarket (performance part), spark plug, brake pads..etc but it depend on your knowledge which part perform better and the reliability, for brake pad many members here recommend go with other performance pads for better braking and reducing dust. But you must know which brand made them.
02-15-2012, 09:34 AM
#5
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you can get oEM axles for less than $300 (internet OEM sites). gotta love dealer mark up. up to you how you spend your money. the only caution with aftermarket...stay away from the chinese made parts.
some members have been fine with aftermarket axles (some had issues after a year), others opted to go OEM. i went OEM b/c my breakdown insurance picked up most of the tab. that was for both. i probably would have gone OEM either way, for peace of mind.
if you want OEM...by the part via OEM internet, take part to dealer, have them install. you pay labor. it'll be a hell of a lot cheaper than what they quoted you.
some members have been fine with aftermarket axles (some had issues after a year), others opted to go OEM. i went OEM b/c my breakdown insurance picked up most of the tab. that was for both. i probably would have gone OEM either way, for peace of mind.
if you want OEM...by the part via OEM internet, take part to dealer, have them install. you pay labor. it'll be a hell of a lot cheaper than what they quoted you.
02-15-2012, 09:56 AM
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you can get oEM axles for less than $300 (internet OEM sites). gotta love dealer mark up. up to you how you spend your money. the only caution with aftermarket...stay away from the chinese made parts.
some members have been fine with aftermarket axles (some had issues after a year), others opted to go OEM. i went OEM b/c my breakdown insurance picked up most of the tab. that was for both. i probably would have gone OEM either way, for peace of mind.
if you want OEM...by the part via OEM internet, take part to dealer, have them install. you pay labor. it'll be a hell of a lot cheaper than what they quoted you.
some members have been fine with aftermarket axles (some had issues after a year), others opted to go OEM. i went OEM b/c my breakdown insurance picked up most of the tab. that was for both. i probably would have gone OEM either way, for peace of mind.
if you want OEM...by the part via OEM internet, take part to dealer, have them install. you pay labor. it'll be a hell of a lot cheaper than what they quoted you.
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02-15-2012, 10:27 AM
#8
the overexplainer
Some people with 6MTs have had no problems with GSP axles. I bought one but havent put it in yet. At $70 with limited lifetime warranty they're not necessarily a bad choice..
you could buy two and if one were to go bad you could just swap the replacement in and send the bad one to Advance Auto (if you buy it from there) for exchange or refund. It'll still be cheaper than an OEM if you want to go the aftermarket route.
you could buy two and if one were to go bad you could just swap the replacement in and send the bad one to Advance Auto (if you buy it from there) for exchange or refund. It'll still be cheaper than an OEM if you want to go the aftermarket route.
02-15-2012, 10:28 AM
#9
Thank you. The GSP brand part I just spoke of is chinese so I guess I shouldn't do that. I didn't mind paying for the dealer part if it came down to it, but I also know how these dealers are with marking up their prices so I wanted to get other opinions. Do you have a specific website that you recommend?
02-15-2012, 11:02 AM
#10
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I have GSP'S on mine and they run fine. They are actually brand new axles unlike autozones which are rebuilt. They also have a lifetime warranty. If you have the money go with oem's, I was just impatient and had time to kill that day so I said why not and went to the advanced auto. Like I said, no problems what so ever.
02-15-2012, 12:24 PM
#11
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for me, i wanted peace of mind and not hassling with redeeming that limited lifetime warranty. my time is important to me and i have to keep dealing with a potential failing axle that is covered under a warranty every year or whatever...i just don't wanna hassle with it.
i've read both sides of failed aftermarket in a year and the aftermarket axles that were fine. blackac, its up to you which route you want to take. OEM costs more money, but you have assurances it is most likely not going to fail or wear for a while or for the rest of the car's life. aftermarket is cheaper, but could be fine for the life of the car or not be in a few months to a few years. a lot of guys only keep their cars for a few years anyway, so long term assessments are difficult to come by.
i've read both sides of failed aftermarket in a year and the aftermarket axles that were fine. blackac, its up to you which route you want to take. OEM costs more money, but you have assurances it is most likely not going to fail or wear for a while or for the rest of the car's life. aftermarket is cheaper, but could be fine for the life of the car or not be in a few months to a few years.
a lot of guys only keep their cars for a few years anyway, so long term assessments are difficult to come by.
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02-15-2012, 12:48 PM
#12
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for me, i wanted peace of mind and not hassling with redeeming that limited lifetime warranty. my time is important to me and i have to keep dealing with a potential failing axle that is covered under a warranty every year or whatever...i just don't wanna hassle with it.
i've read both sides of failed aftermarket in a year and the aftermarket axles that were fine. blackac, its up to you which route you want to take. OEM costs more money, but you have assurances it is most likely not going to fail or wear for a while or for the rest of the car's life. aftermarket is cheaper, but could be fine for the life of the car or not be in a few months to a few years. a lot of guys only keep their cars for a few years anyway, so long term assessments are difficult to come by.
i've read both sides of failed aftermarket in a year and the aftermarket axles that were fine. blackac, its up to you which route you want to take. OEM costs more money, but you have assurances it is most likely not going to fail or wear for a while or for the rest of the car's life. aftermarket is cheaper, but could be fine for the life of the car or not be in a few months to a few years.
a lot of guys only keep their cars for a few years anyway, so long term assessments are difficult to come by.
02-15-2012, 01:39 PM
#13
Burning Brakes
You will have to do some digging to find the part needed, but they are have really good prices and have the chance to explore other parts you may need.
02-15-2012, 02:36 PM
#16
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OP you can try http://www.acuraoemparts.com
You will have to do some digging to find the part needed, but they are have really good prices and have the chance to explore other parts you may need.
You will have to do some digging to find the part needed, but they are have really good prices and have the chance to explore other parts you may need.
02-15-2012, 03:02 PM
#17
Burning Brakes
http://https://acurazine.com/forums/...d.php?t=733271
02-15-2012, 03:37 PM
#18
All About Trance
Another option is to have your CV axles rebuilt. When I had my '05 6MT, I ended up with a GSP axle for my passenger side and a rebuilt axle for my driver side since they didn't offer that at Advance Auto Parts. It was less than $200 to do both.
02-15-2012, 04:27 PM
#20
Burning Brakes
Sorry the link didnt work.
FIXED:
https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-problems-fixes-114/passenger-side-axle-boot-leaking-733271/
FIXED:
https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-problems-fixes-114/passenger-side-axle-boot-leaking-733271/
02-15-2012, 04:38 PM
#21
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02-19-2015, 05:15 PM
#24
02-20-2015, 10:04 AM
#26
Did you really resurrect a 3 year old thread. Anyhow...to answer your question, stick with oem driveshafts. That's what I did when I replaced both left & right driveshafts. Raxles is not an available option for the 6MT.
02-20-2015, 10:15 AM
#28
I had the GSP's on my 04 TL I had for about 30k miles. No issues and significantly cheaper than anything else. After I put them on the car drove like a new car. (I had the steering wheel vibration issue)
02-20-2015, 10:47 AM
#29
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at least it shows he searched 
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02-25-2015, 06:56 PM
#35
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Fixed your thread's title for you....
03-02-2015, 11:04 AM
#37
I have used rebuilt parts store axles on Lexus, etc. No problems. But you should ask the store if they are rebuilt in the U.S. I would shy away from anything involved with China. It might be ok, and it might not. Sure, they are going to warranty the part, but there's still the labor to swap it for another try. I hate to be a beta tester for unnamed flaky offshore companies with no history.
03-03-2015, 05:48 PM
#38
Lexus's are also RWD typically. My SC hasn't had any issues but the CV's don't see the same amount of articulation as the FWD's do. The TL axles that are re-manufactured still suffer from vibrations in the 6spd version. That's the biggest issue. That may not happen with all of them but I personally would rather spend the money on parts that are hard to replace. So I went the Raxles route. They're expensive but good.
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