Trailboss CV axle upgrade necessary??

[Cory S]

Does anyone know how much longer the trailboss cv axles are? I’m waiting for my 3.0 coilovers and shocks. Will be running camburg uca. The plan was to install trailboss cv axles while I’m in there. But can’t find any info on them… all i can find is “they are longer”. Want to make sure there is a true benefit. Looking to net the most travel possible. 

[Gangly]

The recommendation for longer CV's is much more dependent on CV angles, not lift height.  If you are running a 6" lift but utilize a differential drop allowing you to maintain factory CV angles then no, the longer CVs are of zero benefit to you.  If you are running a 2+" lift with additional spacers without dropping the front diff, your CV angles will be considerably more severe than stock and it would be in your best interest to run longer CV's. 

 

Explanation:

In case you aren't familiar with them, CV's (Constant Velocity Joints) are comprised of two CV Joints (inner and an outer) attached to opposite ends of a shaft.  This combination of two joints and a shaft act as an axle, transferring power from the front differential to the front wheel.  The outer CV stays fastened to the wheel hub while the inner CV is attached to the front differential(not completely correct but again, assume it does for the sake of this information).  As the suspension compresses and rebounds, resulting in upward and downward movement through suspension travel, the distance from the wheel to the front differential changes, meaning the axle (CV's) that is connecting the wheel hub to the front differential needs to be able to adjust in length, or work in a manner that represents an adjustment in length.  CV's accomplish this by allowing the inner CV to be pushed towards, or pulled away from, the front differential by means of a bearing and cage setup that slides along roller groves in a cup-like setup during the compression or rebound of the suspension system.   The ability for the cage and bearings to move inward and outward along the roller groves of the CV joint "cup" throughout the entirety of the designed and allowable suspension travel allows for a representation of a variable length axle.  However, if you change the suspension setup to where the suspension will be compressing or rebounding farther than designed(long travel setups), the CV's might be too short for the given amount of travel and pull right out of the "cup" that they would normally be contained in.  As it sits, the suspension travel of a Factory Trail Boss does not necessitate longer CV's, the shorter CV's are in no danger of being pulled out or failing.  GM decided to utilize longer CV's in what I would assume was anticipation of people lifting their already factory lifted trucks.  Once that happens, you get closer to the failure points of the shorter CV's if you were going to beat the snot out of it off road, and longer CV's would be welcomed. 

 

Long story short, the TB CV's aren't necessarily any stronger, their longer to keep the cage and bearings from slipping out of the roller groves of the inner CV.  If all you are doing is lifting to TB/AT4 heights, I wouldn't worry about it, but if you are going significantly higher without a differential drop, I would definitely consider picking up some TB/AT4 CV's.

 

Again, that is an overly simplistic explanation of how CV's work.  It can be confusing, especially with me trying to explain it simplistically, so please hit up google if you want a more accurate descirption.

[Cory S]

Thank you for the reply, ride height will be set around 3” lift height. I’m gonna go ahead and order the axles, as the truck will be used to run work duty on my property. I bought this truck to alleviate the daily driving on my fully built raptor. 

[AirForceAngler]

So what you're saying is, you spent all that money on a Raptor but still had to buy a Chevy for the hard work?  

[Cory S]

Yup pretty much!! Lol!

[Bigiemike02]

I know this is an old post but I can't find the TB axles anywhere. I got a lift installed and now it's clicking when turning from the cv. Trying to figure out if the TB cv axle is what I need and where to get it.

[redwngr]

4 hours ago, Bigiemike02 said:

I know this is an old post but I can't find the TB axles anywhere. I got a lift installed and now it's clicking when turning from the cv. Trying to figure out if the TB cv axle is what I need and where to get it.

You have the TB from before the factory lift was introduced?

GM has (had) a kit available to install the factory lift on those trucks. 

 

They will of course have part numbers for the cv assembly used in the kit. (there is also a 2wd version of the kit)

 

Kit as shown on chev accessories pages: