3rd Gen 4Runner Suspension and CVs

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drakekelch

New member
Hey guys, I haven't posted much on here but I had a question that I couldn't really find an answer too, but maybe I just wasn't searching right.

I have a 97 4runner, that I installed a Tacoma MonoMax Shocks with daystar spacers. With that I also installed a toytech diff drop. The CVs still seamed at an extreme angle and after my last off road trip, both had their boots ripped off and now are making terrible noise. When I went under to investigate both are moving a lot from the diff side. I'm assuming both are shot and need to be replaced.

My question is, if they are at such an extreme angle do that mean the lift in the front is just too tall?
Any advice would be helpful.
 
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CVs that have been sitting at a particular angle for so long don't tend to like that angle changing on them suddenly. The diff drop helps very little, but isn't bad insurance for the price, depending on who you ask:behindsofa:

Best thing to do is catch them early and clamp them tighter, or reboot them. Sounds like yours likely need replacing though.
 
Can you take a picture of the lower front suspension from the front to see the angle of the cv's. I have 3" of lift in the front and they love to kill cv boots when you lift them, differential drop just spins the case a little, buy Napa axles with lifetime warranty
 
photos

Here is a few photos so you can try to see the angle.

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/drakekelchphotography/14727234762" title="Untitled by Drake Kelch, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3912/14727234762_fba6ccfff8_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="Untitled"></a>

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/drakekelchphotography/14541091667" title=" by Drake Kelch, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3908/14541091667_3c63ef93be_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt=" "></a>

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/drakekelchphotography/14747405623" title=" by Drake Kelch, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3918/14747405623_27d88b0f9b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt=" "></a>
 
Get NAPA lifetimes. Cost $100 and change, each. Keep current ones for emergency spares, then you can take the NAPAs back any time if they break (they shouldn't on-road). Old CVs are known to tear boots and even fail after a lift. It's just a pill you gotta swallow.
 
Stretching will also help, even with free replacements it's a lot of work to swap on an ongoing basis.

Unclamp the boot on the shaft, slide it over a little, and clamp it in place in the new location.

The ribs touching at the 'compressed' part of the rotation will kill them pretty quickly, it just wears the rubber away. Stretching the boot out a little stops it from touching.
 
JohnMc said:
Stretching will also help, even with free replacements it's a lot of work to swap on an ongoing basis.

Unclamp the boot on the shaft, slide it over a little, and clamp it in place in the new location.

The ribs touching at the 'compressed' part of the rotation will kill them pretty quickly, it just wears the rubber away. Stretching the boot out a little stops it from touching.
Click to expand...

I've heard of a few guys doing this, but removing the clamp seems daunting to most. Have any tips on that?
 
I'm going to post this here as well since it seems relevant .....


BrianSD_42 said:
OMG --- DON'T swap your Toyota CVs out with aftermarket junk. There is a right way to do this and it isn't expensive.

ASSUMING YOUR CV is NOT BROKEN OR MAKING GRINDING NOISE
If you only ripped the cheap rubber boot that is over 10 years old then the actual CV is fine.


IF YOU HAVE TOO MUCH FRONT END LIFT

1. Looking at your picture you have TOO MUCH front end lift. You need to lower it down a few notches. Replacing the CVs/boots won't make a difference if you have too much lift and break a CV or boot right away.


IF YOUR BOOT IS RIPPED

2. Go to (google this) "Camelback Toyota Online Parts" and use the webform to order (2) new CV boot kits. Be sure to get the one that includes inner & outer. Have any quesitons? Call them and get the part number(s) for the KIT then go back and order it on the website. I wouldn't process the order on the phone just stick with the website as it is easier to track your shipping status if you book online.

Once you have the new outer boots - aka the rubber, then either re-boot the CVs yourself, cleaning out the old grease and applying new.

Or take the CVs and the boots to a local truck shop and ask them to reboot the CVs. Make sure it is a Toyota/Japanese mechanic who has done this before. It shouldn't be hard to find.

This should come out to about the same price as just buying from NAPA but with one major difference ......

TOYOTA CVs are well proven to be superior to nearly ALL (all the cheap ones anyways) after-market CVs.


It sad that I see so many people on this site just giving away their excellent STEEL Toyota CVs in exchange for cheap Chinese metal CVs that will break on the trail. I've wheeled in many places over the Pacific West with my original Toyota CVs and have never broken a CV. I see all kinds of threads where aftermarket CVs break. With Toyota CVs, unless you are running 34" or 35" tires it is very difficult to break a CV.


:roadkill:
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
[MENTION=65101]BrianSD_42[/MENTION]

Interesting to see your hard-line stance on this considering so many other guys who wheel hard are the ones recommending Napa lifetime CVs.

Would you suggest just rebooting the CVs after a lift, before the boots even rip? Or wait and see? seems like some guys rip a boot and don't realize it until they're getting noise from the CV and it's too late.
 
Sorry I haven't been on here in a while but here is a photo of the lift..


<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/drakekelchphotography/12936757955" title="IMG_6777 by Drake Kelch, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3824/12936757955_70dbeb02b3_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="IMG_6777"></a>
 
tre9er said:
[MENTION=65101]BrianSD_42[/MENTION]

Interesting to see your hard-line stance on this considering so many other guys who wheel hard are the ones recommending Napa lifetime CVs.

Would you suggest just rebooting the CVs after a lift, before the boots even rip? Or wait and see? seems like some guys rip a boot and don't realize it until they're getting noise from the CV and it's too late.
Click to expand...



Thanks for the mention. I'm not a professional by any means and if you snap a CV you have to make hard choices that are directly related to your wallet.

My general rule of thumb here ... and I will continue to preach it is:

If your OEM Toyota CV is leaking and otherwise OK then the best thing to do is to reboot it. You can get the Toyota OEM inner & outer boot kit from "Camelback Toyota Online Parts" at a great price or you can even get NAPA Boots.

But in this scenario since the original Toyota (eg Japanese) steel is still 100% fine and functional then it does not make sense to just rip and replace with CVs that are from AutoZone or NAPA and probably use cheaper Chinese steel.

:lookout:

For me it is simple .... if your CV is just leaking then remove it and have it rebooted. Will you do the work? Maybe.. Maybe not. You can remove the CVs yourself as there are lots of YouTube videos, you can then order the Boot kits online and you can call a local Truck shop / mechanic and ask them what they charge to do the complete grease removal and rebooting for a very affordable price.

If they are not snapped then keep your TOYOTA STEEL CVs.

:lookout:
 
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