My son is in an automotive tech program specifically set up and run by Honda. He works part time at the local Honda dealership as part of his training. I have a torn boot on my 05 4Runner cv axle and my ball joints appear to be leaking too. My son says he can change them because he’s done many Honda’s at work. My concern is I don’t have a Honda and he hasn’t worked much on Toyota’s before. I’m just wondering if replacing these is pretty much the same for all vehicles or would there be details specific to 4Runner that he hasn’t seen before and may cause a problem?

its almost the same procedure for most cars, remove axle nut, move hub assembly out the way prop out the cv. Maybe consider rebooting the OEM cv axle. Ball joints are the same across most cars too pop the ball joint and press a new one in.

Rebooting can be a bit of a messy job but its pretty much the same as rebooting a honda cv axle. Same goes for the ball joint! Have some faith in your son! I'm sure if he works on Honda's all day, this should be a piece of cake!

He will definitely be able to do it for you. Honda’s are definitely easier due to the smaller size but Toyota’s design is way easier for removing the CV. Be prepared to fill your front axle due to some leakage. I’d just do the front, rear and transfer case while you’re at it. Atleast that’s what I did.

So last CV I had done they wouldn’t reboot it. Said it’s to hard to get all the dirt out and better to swap out for a new one. I’m guessing if I do that I should stick with OEM parts? Any recommendation on where to get a decent price bs going to Toyota? Or is it better to just go with Toyota parts?

Forking lazy part swappers!

It would take the “mechanic” more time to clean, pack, and reboot than it would to just grab a new one and slap it on.

But yes, there is potential to get dirt/grit mixed in there on the old one.

I would go OEM and shop around. If you know the parts guy at the dealership you can try to ask them to give you a price break. Edit: Your son should be able to order the parts through his dealership to get their price break.

Parts markup is crazy at the dealership and they will usually try and charge you the max. But, it can depend on which person behind the counter you talk to.

My Toyota dealership won’t budge. Subaru won’t much either, but if I go on the right day when the cashier(no sales commission) is pulling double duty, she discounts it down to the price that they would sell it for to another shop.

I worked behind the counter at a Honda dealership and your final price really depended on who you talked to.

I will be doing mine myself and will just reboot them unless they just seem terribly dirty.

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disagree... buy SDHQ offroad cv boots
SDHQ - Your Motorsports Headquarters and rebuild the oem axles..


there is a clamp kit on amazon
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

By high quality grease to pack it with..
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1



its straight forward, but messy.. plenty of write ups on this forum and someone with mechanical knowledge to begin with should have no issue.
Hardest part for me was the snapring on the end, just have the correct snap ring tool.


How to install new CV Axles - Toyota 4Runner Forum - Largest 4Runner Forum
Replacing CV bands - Toyota 120 Platforms Forum
http://www.toyota120.com/forum/showthread.php?t=26736

Upper Balljoints, there is plenty of quality aftermarket options out there that have benefits of correcting your alignment and handling. Or you can get a new OEM pressed in..
Lowers, buy oem only with OEM hardware

Let us know how it goes and what tools your son used and what parts.
I gave up on replacing my lower ball joints on '03 4Runner and bought LCA with them installed.

I just did my CV boots and upper/lower ball joints. 1/2 the boots were cracked open and had lost some grease. Got all new OEM boot/grease kits from EBay, cleaned everything internally with mineral spirits, and reassembled. It’s a little more work, but I got to continue using all OEM stuff without the higher expense of buying everything new. I couldn’t detect any wear in the old parts after I cleaned everything up. Some people on this forum say that Some aftermarket boots don’t last.

Went by Toyota parts Dept yesterday and they only have remanufactured CV axle. About $150 I think, but I believe he said original Toyota part?

Lower ball joints were quoted at over $400 each. He said you have to buy/replace the control arm?

Toyota only sells the entire lower control/ball joint assembly, you can however buy aftermarket ball joints..but then you have to pay someone to press out the old ones and press in the new ones, the new ones usually aren't nearly as good as OEM.

if you're doing it yourself, you don't have to pay someone to press them out/in... just rent a b/j press tool for free from auto zone.

Yes that is true..but many who don't do mechanic work that often tends to have trouble getting the old ball joint out much less the new one back in, even with the correct tool, especially when they live in a rust prone area.

That being said I also consider my time when weighting to cost of repairs, even if I don't pay myself any labor, if I can do it cheaper than taking it in I do the job, if not I'll save a bit of money taking to a shop, and then I can earn money working during that time it at the shop, it's all about how much money I can make working compared to paying someone else's labor.

Now that being said I usually almost always do my own mechanic work and rarely take a vehicle to a shop because it usually a wash or I save money.

i mostly agree with that logic... but today most shops labor rate is ~$90-$100+ per hour! i dont know what you do for work, but if you make that much or more per hour then having a shop do the work might be worth it...

myself & probably 99% of 4runner owners & the people on here dont make that kind of money so doing the work yourself, if mechanically inclined & able, is always cheaper than paying a shop to do it. & a toyota dealer is even worse!

but every person is different & some feel the labor cost is worth it to fix their vehicles & thats perfectly fine.

I agree with what you say, but it still works for me, but understand it very well may not for most on here.

For the last 15 years I have been doing high end custom cabinets and I make a good wage and I was a certified diesel and automotive mechanic in my younger years before getting into working on customs homes, I have many years experience working on many kinds of vehicles from heavy equipment to automotive and do know how to do anything to any vehicle and I do have any tools I need as well...BUT I don't really have a good place to work on them most of the time and never a lift...so it does take me a bit longer to do the work under my "shade tree" and I have to consider that extra time into the monetary equation, also here where I live I know at least 3 good shops that only charge $70+/- and hour and I also know all the mechanics who work at these shops as well as the owners, so I do get a little discount as well...but I usually end up doing 95% or more of my own mechanical work.

I know this isn't the same for most on these forums as far as experience, tools, etc.