Hi Scotty,I recently purchased a 2003 Toyota Sequoia limited 4x4 from a private owner. I need to replace the following: cv axles, water pump & timing belt,rack & pinion, lower ball joints and control arms ,serpentine belt, and drive shaft, Of these parts, which should I not buy aftermarket and which need to be OEM?
The timing belt I would go OEM on, especially if it's an interference engine. The rack and pinion also OEM. Suspension components like lower and upper ball joints, and CV axles are fine to get aftermarket. I have Duralast upper and lower ball joints on my Ranger, for example. I've never had to replace a control arm before, I would go OEM to be safe. It's a structural component. I use OEM for my serpentine belts, personally, but DAYCO and Gates belts are usually fine. OEM on the driveshaft. The water pump is fine to go aftermarket, as long as it's from a reputable supplier.
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Hopefully you didn't pay much for that SUV, I've never heard of a driveshaft needing replaced, unless it was in a serious wreck or something. Hopefully you had a mechanic check it out, first.
Thanks for your help. I just paid $3000 and took it to Toyota for an inspection. I assumed the intermediate steering shaft was the drive shaft and they said it had play and noise
You're welcome. Yeah, the driveshaft moves the car, haha. They don't break easily.
