So i've had two split inner cv boots (both sides) for months now.. no grease left but ive been driving it like that (dont ask me why, its a long story) but regardless, there is no clicking or binding. Since I noticed the CV boots leaking I haven't driven off-road or put the vehicle in 4 wheel drive. Strictly 2 wheel drive highway and city driving. There is no binding or noise or anything comming from the axles however Firestone tells me they look pretty blasted. But then again they give me this bulls**t about not being able to align my truck every time i take it in when other people say its fine.

I'm building a list of repairs im doing to my runner soon in preparation for college (including downsizing tires for improved mileage and aerodynamics ) and I plan on pulling my cv's apart and replacing the boot thats blown. I'm in a split right now..

Even though only 1 of the 4 boots (each side) are blown, I was considering replacing both axles entirely. The vehicle has 115k miles on it and has been driving on the street 95% of the time. Although it was recently lifted with the OME/Tundra lift and I am adding a SECOND topout spacer to level the vehicle.
I'm on a tight budget and I already have replacement boots, grease and clamps. Should I replace the entire axle or do the axles usually last for a really long time (like 150k miles) ?

Second of all, if I should replace the axles.. is it a good idea to go with Napa/Autozone/Kragen parts? or is it a much better idea to go with Toyota parts? From 1sttoyotaparts.com the complete axles are like 400 bucks each.. 800 bucks for 2 axles + shipping. and thats WAY steep. I've done a bit of seaching of CV axle info/replacement on the forums and everyone talks about getting cvs for like 110 bucks.. maybe california is just F***ed because i think they're 240 PER AXLE WITH the core from Napa...

oh yeah 1997 4runner 4x4 3.4L with ADD i think?

 

just get the whole axle, and get it from auto zone casue they have a life time warranty. You can brake your axle ten times per year and they will give you a new axle every time no questions asked. I bought mine there but i have a 2gen they are $69.00, they may be more for a 3gen. Auto zone is the cheapest.
my axle after the boot split

 

i would replace the whole thing, i am not sure about the 3rd gen but 2nd gens are pretty easy to replace. to replace the boots, you need to pull the alxes anyways. if you get the one from autozone they are 69 bucks and have a life time warrenty. no questions asked. if you have a couple of weeks, pull both CVs take 1 in get a replacement, wait about a month, take the other dead CV in and say that its the one you just got and it broke already, and get another one. now replace both.. it might work, it might not, but its worth a shot.

 

Now now!

 

If you have been driving around for a couple of weeks on torn boots I would replace the entire axel because you will have already gottewn a bunch of crap and moisure in there. It is also way eisier to do the axel then the boot itself.

Matt

 

Or you could do what I did...

...install my $40 Aisin hubs so the darn things don't turn until you can afford to replace both.

I started a thread that has a lot of good info on CV axle shafts.... I will link it here when I find it.

David

 

If you've never changed an axle before, use this as a guide. It's a great reference. Not to tough of a job.

CV Axles

 

thanks for all of the responses. i will have to look into autozone then. i guess this is one of the rare items where people actually dont prefer toyota parts. im going to need several good write ups to follow... i found a good one on 4x4wire.com and ill check the ones you guys have given. thanks a ton!

 

i got the same lift as you and mine tore... autozone is for sure the place to go. and i got a diff drop from 4crawler http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/ForSale/DiffDrop.shtml and they have not tore again... and it took fifteen min to do.

 

I would also just get the whole axle. But since you already have the whole CV boot repair kit, might as well use it if you're on a tight budget. If it were me, I'd forego the hassle and just get the Autozone ones w/lifetime warranty. I have used the Autozone ones in the past and they held up with no problems. However, I got a brand new axle, not a reman. I've heard others having problems with the reman axles, but do not know this from personal experience. I just decided to play it safe and get a new one.


Hope you have not done this. I hate it when people ruin something good for everyone else for a measley $69.

 

I'm planning on doing this repair and this thread is a tremendous help. I HAVE to do it soon so i can get back OFF the pavement.

 

here try this out http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductD...pe=945&PTSet=A seems to be a good price and has a life time warranty oh forget the part were it says 1998 tacoma it should be the same for the 4runner. hope it helps.

 

This thread may be even more helpful:
http://www.ultimateyota.com/index.ph...6&topic=2323.0

 

How the h$!! do you retorque it to 174 ft lbs?

 

Something like this

 

My torque wrench I bought at autozone does something like 200.

This weekend I was looking at one that will do 600 and then there was another one out in the maintance bay that do like close to 1200.

 

Awesome..just noticed the inner boot tearing on mine when i was replacing my battery cables. Nice to know that it'd probably be better to replace the whole cv vs boot.

 

As a tech I always replace the whole axle for both the labor costs and aggravation. Oh just a hint... make sure you measure the old one AND the new one in lenght. I had to replace one twice because the replacement wound up being too short. Luckily for me the splines weren't damaged DOH!

 

What are you having to torque to a 174 ft lbs spec? Also, I have a 2nd gen, what size socket do you need to remove the axle nut, 35mm?

I'm planning on doing this and when i'm done i'll post it.

 

I'm gonna do this and then I'll either wiki it or just post it in a new thread.
Thanks.