So my buddy has a 2002 forester and both outer cv boots are blown on both Axles, and the bearings are getting pretty worn (I think he's been driving it with the boots blown for quite a while). I was wondering what opinions are on aftermarket axles? I looked on rock auto and found these: https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=3854955&cc=1378739&jsn=359

 

Are these any good?

there's little experience with those specific axles, so you won't get any sizable statistically significant feedback.

 

aftermarkets should be avoided.  this is how it works - very roughly 50% are fine out of the box - that's why people say things like "I used this one axle and i worked great".  And then others fail.  and long term failure rates are another thing.  

 

oddly, a 50% failure rate at any other business would drive people nuts or to lawyers or the BBB - but somehow it's okay with axles, which is astonishing.  

 

if they're currently working, the only symptoms are noise, and there's some compelling reason...cheap, lazy, busy - just reboot them and clean/regrease thoroughly. I'd bet money on 100 of those outlasting 100 aftermarket axles for 5 years. 

 

Options: 

 

A used axle:  www.car-part.com.   They're $15 - $35 all day long and can be bought with good boots, but I'd reboot them first unless they look stellar. 

 

Buy a used axle and reboot it from the same website. 

 

FWE sells the best axles available:

https://www.facebook.com/FW-Enterprises-LLC-503867596304519/

if they are the green inner Subaru axles then reboot. its easy and ive seen a very small amount of OEM axles fail even after the boots rip and have been driven.  EMPI makes a good boot: fits tight and easy install, comes with grease.

http://www.raxles.com/products.aspx

I highly recommend you check these guys out. When I had my '02 Outback I asked the same question. Everyone said aftermarket axles were junk and buy from raxles. I bought mine from raxles and was very pleased.

+ for reboot stock axles!