After lengthy pondering about which axle combo. to use for my 65-HD, I decided to use manual Fiero axles with the GTP inner CV joints. (Thanks Mike) Since I couldn't find new Fiero axles (Autozone can no longer get them either) I decided to take a look at their remans. And what an education that was! We laid the Cardone and the Duralast side-by-side, and the difference was amazing. The Cardone had been assembled using an automatic shaft. I took my calipers, it was only .94 dia. while the Duralast shaft was 1 in. +? (memory failure), and the outer CV was noticably lighter. But, the difference in the inner CV was incredable. The Duralast dwarfs the Cardone. I haven't started putting the GTP inners on the Duralast shafts yet, but I am confident they are compatable. It is beyond me how they could match that auto shaft up with the manual outer, but it sure looks like they did! And now for the best part, the Cardone was 79.99 (plus core and tax), while the Duralast was 59.99 (plus core and tax)!! Life is good!

wow, duralast is junk IMO, goto a different parts store, see if you can find a USA, or mevotech....

makesure they have a lifetime warranty too

I hope you don't mind if I give you my opinion on this.

Most of the axles assemblies you get from national chains (like Autozone, Advance etc.) are assembled in Mexico with new parts (like C/V joints & tri-pots) made in China. Whenever you get axle diameters that are not the correct size or assemblies that are too long or too short, you can blame that on the school children that are assembling them in Mexico at $1.00/hour. Whenever you see that they are made using new parts, thatnormally would be a good thing. However, the made in China C/V's & tri-pots are typically inferior in materials & hardness.

No matter what the cost, a broken C/V joint will leave your car hurt, wounded (or worse) at the side of the road.

You see the big national chains, don't have the time to get good rebuildable donor parts from junkyards across the country in the quantities that they need. So it's just cheaper for them to just get them made in China by children in sweatshops.

You're much better off to find a local "Mom & Pop" C/V axle rebuilding shop & have them supply you some axles. They get their supplies from local junkyards & inspect & refurb them.

If you don't know how to find a local "Mom & Pop" C/V axle rebuilding shop, just ask around in your area.

Archie

[This message has been edited by Archie (edited 09-08-2009).]

I really appreciate comments from you guys. Archie, for sure, I know that you have learned this from experience (maybe some the hard way) so I am going to heed the advice. I haven't disassembled the Duralast axle, so I can return it. It isn't likely that in this little town there will be a small shop like you recommended. I will look, but what is your opinion about buying used ones from a salvage yard? That is where my GTP axles came from and they are OK. Or if there is a place that would ship two of them to Jackson, that would be cool. Thanks, John

I seem to recall there being a company out of Milwaukee that had cv axles for the Fiero. Affordable too. Can't remember the name though! It was in my "favorites" on my web browser on my old computer, which is long gone. Maybe google "axles" and "Milwaukee"...?

A few years back (when I was in the parts biz) we dealt with both a-1 cardone and a company call cv unlimited. Both were outstanding. CV unlimited out of south carolina -stuckysville I think- had a line of off-road and tuner axles that were simply bullit proof. They were also helpful in one off applications aka custom builds for individual customers. Don't know if they are still out there but it might be worth a look.

Steve 308, I found the place, it is in Hemmingway, SC. Now I'm going hunting for the one in Milwalkee. Thanks guys.