Quality of CV Joints

[560Dennis]

I have used an AutoZone rebuilt CV joint in my 95 Maxima. I hear a thump,thump crack noise as I back out the drive coming from that area. I have replace the left side twice so far. I don't here is running around with the car. No vibration , I wonder if it's the CV or the bearing in the strut tower. The car has 195,000 on it an it bugs me I can't find the cause of the noise.

[Darktide]

I'll let you know now that anything rebuilt is normally done by the same company. There are very few companies that rebuild parts (CV Joints, starters, alternators, and the like). Autozone, Advance Auto, Napa, Pep Boyz, they may say different names but they are done by the same company. The only difference is that some companies will only sell the full rebuilt while some will accept the partial rebuilds (this means that they only replace what broke, but its normally only common in starts and alternators).

As for the quality, I bet you any money that they aren't that high of a quality. Though it shouldn't be too hard to rebuild them.

Bad CV joints will make a certain amount of vibration but you'll hear it more while turning. If you are hitting bumps and that is what is producing the sound... change the strut bearing definitely. It depends on the terrain, is your drive way bumpy? Perfectly smooth? If you don't get clunking noises while turning I'll hedge my bets on a suspension part.