' 97 K2500 CV half shaft brand opinions

[schiker]

I have a 1997 K2500 8600GVW without a lift ~ 285/75 all terrain tires (no power mods). Looks like I may need a half shaft since the boot appears to be failing and I have 240K + miles on OE ones.

Any brand recommendations or warnings? I see some new and re-manufactured. I'll probably go new not that much savings in re-manufactured. I see some that mention a tougher outer boot. Is there anything to that claim?

I don't think I need anything 2x or 3x cost of dealer part for offroad or lifted truck but wouldn't mind paying a little more for best avg quality. Do want replacements to last.

Note I have done the 1 ton rotor/caliper switch and does that change any of the geometry. Does it maybe allow the half shaft to come outward a tad bit more. Seems I thought the CV boots looked a tad different after my brake joby but could have just been clean since I degreased and cleaned real good before the job.

 

[THEFERMANATOR]

The rotor caliper swap has no bearing on the half shafts. If you can find shafts that use the oem type poly boots, those are best. I used the rubber ones, and 5 years later they had all failed. I priced out new boots, and it was going to cost more than new half shafts cost me from oreillys. Don't know who has the best as I was in a pinch, and they were the only ones who had a pair of new half shafts in stock on a Friday night before a roadtrip, so thats why I bought theres.

 

[schiker]

RCVPerformance ones are out of my Budget but look real nice.

I am disliking everyone going to house brand packaging. You can't gleam any information about quality as you don't know who manufactured it.

I have seen one HD unit with poly oem type outer boot but they are for 7200 GVW.

A lot of them are saying Neoprene boots is that the rubber boots to avoid? Not seeing mention of Poly boots for the 8600 gvw units just claims of high quality boots.

Awaiting quote from gm parts direct and will surf web.

 

[FellowTraveler]

I went with NAPA with unlimited warranted in the late 90's, changed 3 unit's out since then 2 for boot failure and 1 for cv failure, each time they would get the wrong axle delivered "skinny shaft" mine are fat shaft.

Be aware they don't come with the slinger rings from NAPA that protect the inner unit bearing seal you will have to pull your old ones off to reuse or order new rings.