Like many automotive components, the “half-shaft” is made up of serviceable subassemblies. When front-wheel drive became widely available in the 1980s, the aftermarket embraced service components for these axles. Boots, clamps, snap-rings and axle nuts have survived into the modern aftermarket. The “guts” of the CV joint are long gone from most store and DC shelves. There still are aftermarket manufacturers offering the balls, races, cages and housings to rebuild an individual CV joint. However, very few customers are interested in rebuilding a CV axle in the first place.*
*Source: Counterman.com