Anyone have any luck with using a split cv boot kit?

[ddicosmo]

The inner CV boot on the passenger side of my 08 4runner just ripped and need to replace it. The grease is leaking out but I've caught it in time so that dirt and debris did not get into the boot. However, it tore about 1 inch into the boot that I can't repair it with a new clip. I've been looking online and have seen those split CV boot kits that come with glue. You remove the old boot, place the split boot over the joint and then glue the two halves together. Since I've read that the OEM axles are so much better than replacements and my 4runner only has 120k miles, I hate to replace the axle just for a split boot. The axles are still perfectly fine (no clicking). Has anyone had any luck using a split boot and if so, which brand? (please send links if possible). I just want to do this repair to get me by for another 25k miles at which point, I will probably need to replace the axles.

 

[AuSeeker]

The inner CV boot on the passenger side of my 08 4runner just ripped and need to replace it. The grease is leaking out but I've caught it in time so that dirt and debris did not get into the boot. However, it tore about 1 inch into the boot that I can't repair it with a new clip. I've been looking online and have seen those split CV boot kits that come with glue. You remove the old boot, place the split boot over the joint and then glue the two halves together. Since I've read that the OEM axles are so much better than replacements and my 4runner only has 120k miles, I hate to replace the axle just for a split boot. The axles are still perfectly fine (no clicking). Has anyone had any luck using a split boot and if so, which brand? (please send links if possible). I just want to do this repair to get me by for another 25k miles at which point, I will probably need to replace the axles.

Why not just pull the axle and replace the boot properly?

OEM axles will last a very long time, almost indefinitely (much, much longer than another 25,000 miles) as long as you keep them greased/replace boots when needed, they aren't any aftermarket axles that can even come close to the same quality as the OEM axles!!

 

[ddicosmo]

I agree that is probably what I should do but I don’t really have the confidence in myself, nor the proper tools to get at and pull the axle. It seems to me like a pretty major job to pull the axle just to replace a boot when I could just use the split cv boot kit. I would probably burn up an entire weekend doing that job. The reason I was thinking of the split boot, is because I can slide under there easily and replace it. I know it’s a quick fix but I need something to buy me more time for when I can do a proper fix.

 

[AuSeeker]

I agree that is probably what I should do but I don’t really have the confidence in myself, nor the proper tools to get at and pull the axle. It seems to me like a pretty major job to pull the axle just to replace a boot when I could just use the split cv boot kit. I would probably burn up an entire weekend doing that job. The reason I was thinking of the split boot, is because I can slide under there easily and replace it. I know it’s a quick fix but I need something to buy me more time for when I can do a proper fix.

I understand your situation, so I agree replace the bad boot with the split boot replacement, that's better than nothing, or even an aftermarket axle....BUT keep a close eye on it in case it fails.

The first part of my above reply was in just doing boot replacement properly, the second part was to convince you not to get rid of your OEM axles, if you end up replacing them with aftermarket axles be sure to keep the OEM axles and clean out all the old grease and put in new OEM grease along with new OEM boots, get 5th GEN boots kits that come with new grease and boots as they are better than 4th gen boots and are a direct replacement, if the aftermarket axles ever fail then you have a rebuild set of OEM axles to replace them with, even if you don't rebuild them until you need them still keep them, or if you sell your T4R you can easily sell that set of OEM axles rebuilt or not to many here on the forum or locally for some cash!!

Many times those who don't do their own work when they get a torn boot will have their mechanic convince them to just replace the entire axle and most of the time with aftermarket axles which are inferior to the OEM axles they already have because the mechanic knows it's much easier to pull and install the axles and he doesn't want deal with the mess of re-greasing and rebooting the original OEM axles and then the aftermarket axles completely fail within a couple of years and aren't usually rebuildable and now their OEM axles are long gone.

Edit: Are you the original owner?
If not post a photo of your axles so someone can confirm that you still have the original OEM axles, because if they aren't keeping them to rebuild or sell would be mute!!

 

[ddicosmo]

I'm not the original owner but I bought the truck from a dealership with 26k miles so I'm pretty sure they would be original. I will post pics when I get under there soon.

 

[lidstrom]

One thing that can help on this journey is you don’t need to remove the inner cup from the dif. I recently replaced my inner boot as well, but left the cup in and pulled the rest of the axle out. After cleaning the old grease from the cup and the axle itself you re-grease and put the new boot on. This doesn’t save you from pulling the axle, but does save you from having to drain the dif and the difficulty of pulling the cup from the dif


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[ddicosmo]

I've decided to go ahead and pull both axles and replace the boots with a Toyota OEM boot kit. Where is the best place to get the OEM CV boot kit for the best price? I've seen some on Ebay but don't know if these are legit. Also, would you happen to know the part number for the 2008 SR5/v6 4x4? I appreciate it.

Dave.

 

[ddicosmo]

One thing that can help on this journey is you don’t need to remove the inner cup from the dif. I recently replaced my inner boot as well, but left the cup in and pulled the rest of the axle out. After cleaning the old grease from the cup and the axle itself you re-grease and put the new boot on. This doesn’t save you from pulling the axle, but does save you from having to drain the dif and the difficulty of pulling the cup from the dif


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Did you run into any problems pulling the axle out? Were you able to do it by hand or did you need any special tools? If I remember correctly, there is a c-clip on the end of the axle on the differential side. Do you have to pull really hard to dislodge that C clip?