Thread: A word about cheap aftermarket axles

I have been chasing a very annoying vibration on my NX for about 2 months. I had done an engine swap and in the process changed a bunch of parts including the passenger side axle along with a Fidanza flywheel. This vibration would only happen at around 1900rpm and again at around 3800rpm then dissapear only to show up again at around 5600rpm. At first i blamed it on the Fidanza lightweight flywheel so i decided to switch it back to the stock one, and although the vibrations were not as strong with the stock flywheel they could still be felt. I then decided to replace my passenger side motor mount and saw little improvement. A friend suggested i changed the axle as he had seen a similar issue before with a Surtrack axle. This weekend I replaced it with a Cardone unit and Im happy to report the problem is gone. Not sure if it is common knowledge here but a few of the aftermarket axles that are available now (such as AMPI, Surtrack) are made in China and are cheaper than their rebuilt and Cardone counterparts. I only paid $35 for the AMPI axle thru rock auto and about $70 for the Cardone thru a local auto part store. Just wanted to share my experience in case other people happen to have a similar issue or are thinking of getting new axles.

I hate to burst your bubble but I'd had horrible issues with Cardone rebuilt axles as well (not once but TWICE)... The problems I had with cardone on 2 different cars completely different times is the axle shaft was ever-so-slightly too small and the seal into the axle would never stop leaking (both times we replaced the axle seal 3 to 4 times event trying an OEM nissan axle seal just-in-case) and it wasn't until actually changing to a completely different axle that the problem was resolved.

I personally will never buy another cardone rebuilt axle after that horrible experience with 2 completely different cars (1 was a g20 and the other was a Maxima). ...to make it worse, we bought a b15 Sentra SE that had an axle leaking at the seal and replacing the seal did not stop the leaking so we were convinced it was also a cardone rebuilt because replacing it solved that problem as well.


AND we use exclusively EMPI axles now. Yes they are made in China (as are most car parts these days it seems)... and I guess we've been lucky because we have never had an issue with an EMPI

Agreed! I just ordered a set for my '01 SE

The Cardone unit I got was brand new. The old axle was an AMPI brand (not EMPI) which I hear also manufactures Surtrack. So far I've got no leaks and the vibration has gone away