Broke inner CV joint how safe to drive?

[ReconCmdr]

I have a broken inner CV joint on passenger side and binding CV joint drivers side. Truck seems to drive fine. I am wondering how safe it is to drive? I have a 2.5 hr trip to hunting cabin tonight?

Thanks

 

[the great him]

you can drive on them, i drove on mine for almost a week with it busted. but it was all around town driving and slow like under 40mph. i did drive all the way back from the spot i was wheeling at with it broken and that was like an hour and 20min of hwy/fwy driving... there was a noticeable vibration with that axle flopping around and it did do some damage... im sure it could have been worse but it was doable. would i recomend it no. i would go buy two new axles and swap them out. you can probably swap them out in like just over an hour. they are not hard to change, i can do a side in under 20min ive done it enough.

 

[ReconCmdr]

you can drive on them, i drove on mine for almost a week with it busted. but it was all around town driving and slow like under 40mph. i did drive all the way back from the spot i was wheeling at with it broken and that was like an hour and 20min of hwy/fwy driving... there was a noticeable vibration with that axle flopping around and it did do some damage... im sure it could have been worse but it was doable. would i recomend it no. i would go buy two new axles and swap them out. you can probably swap them out in like just over an hour. they are not hard to change, i can do a side in under 20min ive done it enough.

Thanks Kid,

Yeah driving around town this last week I have not been that worried....but driving 2.5 hrs away at night has had me a little concerned. I just found out yesterday what was wrong and have not had time to remedy the situation. There is some other damage as well both inner tie rods are shot and the passenger side UCA bushing on my LR UCA's is bad. I was thinking of ordering new lotus or RCV CV axles and maybe a new steering rack as well since the inner tie rods are shot. 312k on my truck so its probably due.

thanks

 

[the great him]

Thanks Kid,

Yeah driving around town this last week I have not been that worried....but driving 2.5 hrs away at night has had me a little concerned. I just found out yesterday what was wrong and have not had time to remedy the situation. There is some other damage as well both inner tie rods are shot and the passenger side UCA bushing on my LR UCA's is bad. I was thinking of ordering new lotus or RCV CV axles and maybe a new steering rack as well since the inner tie rods are shot. 312k on my truck so its probably due.

thanks

RCVs are a $1k a side... thats a steep blow man. and if your gonna replace bushing is the LCAs replace the rack at that time too, -you have to pull the rack to get the LCAs out. and sense your in there that far just replace the outer tie rods as well along with the LBJs and UBJs

 

[ReconCmdr]

RCVs are a $1k a side... thats a steep blow man. and if your gonna replace bushing is the LCAs replace the rack at that time too, -you have to pull the rack to get the LCAs out. and sense your in there that far just replace the outer tie rods as well along with the LBJs and UBJs

Holy cow I did not realize the RCV's were that steep....I assumed they were about the same as the lotus give or take. I am cool with the 600/side for the lotus. I when you say LCA is that the same as the tie rods? Sorry if this sounds naive but I am new to all the parts replacement. I am pretty good at doing the work if someone tells me what to do...lol but nomenclature I have no idea. I figured if I am in there I might as well replace everything to do with the front suspension minus the UCA's as they are new as well as shocks/coils as they were replaced same time as UCA's.

I just replaced the UBJ at the same time as the UCA's would you suggest replacing those already? I replaced the UCA's about 2 yrs ago.

Thanks

 

[the great him]

LCAs are lower control arms or lower A arms... to remove those you will need to remove the steering rack

 

[NateMob]

Lotus are only $500 a side, and well worth it I might add. And LCA = lower control arm. Good luck man!


Edit; Isaac beat me to it.

 

[ReconCmdr]

So I just talked to my brothers mechanic he's going to do the work for me next weekend. So I need to get on the stick and order up some parts! Can anyone let me know exactly what I might need to order? Here is the breakdown as I can see it:

New Steering rack
New UCA bushings
New Lotus Axles
New LBJ's (might as well if I am in there)
New OTR (again same)

Can anyone think of what else I might need? maybe new poly bushings for everything being replaced?

Thanks

 

[afg10000]

So I just talked to my brothers mechanic he's going to do the work for me next weekend. So I need to get on the stick and order up some parts! Can anyone let me know exactly what I might need to order? Here is the breakdown as I can see it:

New Steering rack
New UCA bushings
New Lotus Axles
New LBJ's (might as well if I am in there)
New OTR (again same)

Can anyone think of what else I might need? maybe new poly bushings for everything being replaced?

Thanks

Damn, dude - that's a lot of work and $$$. I don't envy you. You could slap some poly steering rack bushings since your putting a new one in anyway. Maybe do the LCA bushings whilst you have everything torn apart if they need it. Check and or be careful with your diff axle seals. You could maybe change them when installing your new CV's. They're really cheap from Toyota.

 

[ReconCmdr]

Damn, dude - that's a lot of work and $$$. I don't envy you. You could slap some poly steering rack bushings since your putting a new one in anyway. Maybe do the LCA bushings whilst you have everything torn apart if they need it. Check and or be careful with your diff axle seals. You could maybe change them when installing your new CV's. They're really cheap from Toyota.

Ok update....the garage that evaluated my truck told me it was the UCA bushings...they were in great shape....so had to order new LCA bushings. I picked up the energy suspension bushings but when taking out the old bushings the sleeves were ruined, just couldn't be helped! So off to hunt down factory bushings to the tune of $300!!! unbelievable!! so now I have two sets of bushings doing nothing. Then the lower ball joints that were shipped the drivers side was incorrect. That had to be fedexed. But all is in now and completed. I ended up doing new gears as well while everything up front was tore apart. everything seems to be running smooth according to the shop, we did have an issue at first as the rear pinion needed shimmed. Thats all good now. But the 4wd indicator light on the dash now comes on then goes off when the 4wd button is engaged.

Trouble shooting that then all should be good.

 

[afg10000]

Sounds like a lot of frustration and madness. 3 bills for bushings and sleeves? Ouch. Incorrect LBJ's? I'd be angry but I'm glad you seem to have things addressed. On one hand, I'd take your situation from having to look at my Runner covered in salt and s*#t from the sub-zero temps and roads-

 

[ReconCmdr]

Sounds like a lot of frustration and madness. 3 bills for bushings and sleeves? Ouch. Incorrect LBJ's? I'd be angry but I'm glad you seem to have things addressed. On one hand, I'd take your situation from having to look at my Runner covered in salt and s*#t from the sub-zero temps and roads-

Hahaha it has been a pain in th arse thats for sure! And I am with you all that salt a grime from the winter sucks! I know because I am on a consulting gig in Indianapolis...I am no fan of the snow and cold! lol

 

[hrt4me]

Hahaha it has been a pain in th arse thats for sure! And I am with you all that salt a grime from the winter sucks! I know because I am on a consulting gig in Indianapolis...I am no fan of the snow and cold! lol

how did it work out for you?

 

[BrianSD_42]

so had to order new LCA bushings.

So off to hunt down factory bushings to the tune of $300!!! unbelievable!!

It is unbelievable because it's not true.

Toyota only charges about $55 / side ($40 at Camelback) for lower control arm bushing sets.

 

[thebrandon]

I broke a CV descending into a camp site on a wheeling/fishing trip. On the way back out and on the way home I had to use the locker as my only hope of getting out. Drove roughly 200 miles, through rivers, mud, rocks, and high way speeds no problem.

 

[the great him]

It is unbelievable because it's not true.

Toyota only charges about $55 / side ($40 at Camelback) for lower control arm bushing sets.

its around $300 for the bushings loaded into the LCAs... and most dealers dont have the special tools it takes to install them, so they wont install the bushings into the LCAs, they will just sell you a whole new loaded LCA... its more cost effective in the long run to buy loaded control arms -the dealer saves money on labor this way, and there is no risk of improper install on the bushings, as well. yeah you can buy the bushing independently for like ~50 a side, but still then you will need the special tools to install them properly and a press ect... by the time all is said and done it is cheaper to buy them loaded into a new LCA


the whiteline poly bushings are even cheaper than the toyota OE bushings and better if you ask me