Broke my first CV this weekend (warning pic heavy)

[gannonrt]

I put my new 4xinnovations front bumper on this past week and was excited to finally do some off-roading this past weekend for the first time in year. I brought my best friend who happens to have a ton of off-roading experience. The group leader cautioned me that I would likely see body damage, have some potential issues due to not having a rear locker, and suggested that we ride as passenger for the first trail. Of course, my best friend also serves as chief instigator in many areas of my life so I decided to take the trail on.....

Well fifteen minutes into the trail I snapped my passenger side CV on a fairly mild rut. We made the decision to continue forward since no one could think of a way to pull me out backward (basically a one way trail). Unfortunately, it proved to be a very tough trail and I had to be recovered 10+ times. I felt bad but at the same time, at least I had the excuse of a busted half axle.

On the positive side, I'm 99% sure I'll be ordering an Aussie locker for the rear soon and learned how to replace a CV.

Lineup at the start. I was initially placed behind the jeep with a V8 and 42" tires on modified hummer wheels. I ended up getting ahead of him right at the start but luckily ended up behind a guy with 36" and dual ARB lockers. I'm grateful that guy was so cool.

Busted the CV in this hole. I had the passenger side fully turned and very drooped. I was punching the gas to give it another at getting out of the hole but mistimed it.

Another stuck here. Driving in 2WD is miserable.

These next three are all of the same stuck. I felt like I was going to tip, but luckily the ground was bit higher on the driver side so I didn't go over. I probably had another 5-6 times that were almost this cambered that I don't have pictures of.

This final one is after doing an initial spray off in the car wash. I loved how the new bumper went through this. I used it as pivot point a few times.... I 'm lucky to have kept the license plate though.

 

[Stockwell45]

Holy smokes, talk about pucker factor!! 4wd or not, thats awesome you took on the challenge to wheel with those big guys to show what a 4runner can do!

 

[Singtoe]

As soon as my conversion is done, I will try to hybrid some 4runner axles with some Tundra axles for a bullet proof set up.


Did you rub any body work? I think if it was a limited, you would have lost the flares and the door cladding.



Trail in the snow. Must have been like trying to drive on ball bearings. Great thread.

 

[Bighead2001]

BruceTS used Tundra axles on his long-travel set-up...are you thinking something similar?

 

[Gerdo]

Looks like fun. You need to get a pitch gauge to know your tip angle. It looks like a good 40 degrees.
http://www.suncompany.net/productDetail.php?stockNumber=201-F

BruceTS used Tundra axles on his long-travel set-up...are you thinking something similar?

The actual Tundra axles are too long. I think the Tundra axles still use the same ends as out 4runners.

 

[Bighead2001]

The actual Tundra axles are too long. I think the Tundra axles still use the same ends as out 4runners.

Yeah, I remember them being 3" or 3.5" longer. I thought Bruce had a Tundra/4Runner axle combo...I don't remember exactly.

 

[Gerdo]

Yeah, I remember them being 3" or 3.5" longer. I thought Bruce had a Tundra/4Runner axle combo...I don't remember exactly.

The long travel setups do use the Tundra axles because they are longer.

(long travel setups have longer control arms/"A arms" to move the wheels/knuckles outward which allows for more travel)

 

[tbst]

Now you can justify some sliders! Really lucked out with no body damage.

Don't really get who that trail is designed for.

Hows the bumper? Ready for a winch yet?

 

[jrm]

Was there another line through the rut?

or did you get on the ridge and slid sideways? Glad to see it was only a CV...phew

 

[bak3rme]

man those are some intense angles.

 

[DeTwizzle]

You lost your front license plate... it's like you popped your cherry... congrats!:drummer::frisky:

 

[JohnWiggy]

Haha yes!Thank you, this thread just made my morning :biggrin2:

Edit: And are those Keen boots? Think I have the same ones. Everytime I go camping/ hiking etc I tell myself they were worth every penny. Love them.

 

[AZ4FNER]

Man that looked stessful but fun!

 

[Gerdo]

Oh yeah, replace with either a new Toyota OE axle or a rebuilt OE axle. Some driveline/CV shops sell rebuilts. Make sure you ask and insist on an OE.

Long story that has been told many times, aftermarket axles are made from poorly heat treated junk steel that brakes easily. Yes they have a lifetime guarantee but it sucks when it breaks inside the front diff. They also tend to bind at full droop.

 

[gannonrt]

Holy smokes, talk about pucker factor!! 4wd or not, thats awesome you took on the challenge to wheel with those big guys to show what a 4runner can do!

Yeah, the pucker factor was fully present. The trail was really more than I should have attempted without a locker, but it was fantastic learning experience from being handicapped by the 2WD. Twice I had a line that was so hairy that I got out and had my more experienced friend drive it through. I wish I had a video of one that involved a worse ditch and stream cross at a relatively high trail speed just to make sure the*T4R*didn't fall in. I almost couldn't watch him drive it.*

Looks like fun. You need to get a pitch gauge to know your tip angle. It looks like a good 40 degrees.
http://www.suncompany.net/productDet...ckNumber=201-F

The trail ride was one third fun, one third "oh crap I'm going to total my T4R in the woods", and one third extreme celebration after my buddy and I got through something that looked terrible. I will definitely order the pitch gauge now. I'd like to have an objective way of knowing how far the*T4R*can be off camber without rolling.*

Now you can justify some sliders! Really lucked out with no body damage.

Don't really get who that trail is designed for.

Hows the bumper? Ready for a winch yet?


I definitely need sliders. They would have helped out some. Unfortunately I did take some body damage on the driver's side rear door. See pic below. The "trail" is not designed for anything really. Ohio doesn't have off-roading trails, it just has abandoned township roads in Appalachia. They're the only game in town. Not all of them are this bad though. I made it through some on the novice ride a year ago completely stock. Bumper did great. I got recovered over a series of 1-1/4" to 2" saplings at one point and it just mowed them down. I also used it as a "pivot point" a few times on tight turns to keep my body off the inside of the turn. I do need a winch but I think I'm going to go with an Aussie and sliders first.

As soon as my conversion is done, I will try to hybrid some 4runner axles with some Tundra axles for a bullet proof set up.

Did you rub any body work? I think if it was a limited, you would have lost the flares and the door cladding.

Trail in the snow. Must have been like trying to drive on ball bearings. Great thread.

Plenty of rub on the driver's side more than once. See pics above. You are right on the limited cladding and flares. I have wanted those for a long time but they would not have made it through this ride. Also, the way the limited flares are attached would have multiplied the damage when they were ripped off. The trail would have been much easier had I not broken the CV. That was like ball bearings. It taught me a lot about proper speed and maintaining momentum through obstacles. It also had me burning the clutch way more than I ever have before. Thanks for the compliment on the thread. I've mostly been a site stalker for the past year but have finally been able to contribute meaningfully as I've learned more about the 4runner in the past few months.

or did you get on the ridge and slid sideways? Glad to see it was only a CV...phew

I tried to straddle the ditch but the steep side angles, lack of 4WD due to broken CV, and length of ditch made it impossible. I would estimate that 20% of the trail was looked like that, another 20% had a smaller ditch and some sort of step or hole. There was only about 10-20% that was flat enough for me to mentally rest and relax some, but even that required placement since there was often a ditch to the side.

You lost your front license plate... it's like you popped your cherry... congrats!

Thank you. I agree. I also lost some ball bearing from the CV on the trail too. When I took it apart to replace it there were only 3 in there. i think there are supposed to be 6?

Haha yes!Thank you, this thread just made my morning

Edit: And are those Keen boots? Think I have the same ones. Everytime I go camping/ hiking etc I tell myself they were worth every penny. Love them.

I'm glad to contribute to your morning Those are Keen boots and they are great. I was impressed with how quickly they dried after having step in ankle deep streams. That combined with SmartWool socks kept my feet dry and comfortable all day. Good eye.

Oh yeah, replace with either a new Toyota OE axle or a rebuilt OE axle. Some driveline/CV shops sell rebuilts. Make sure you ask and insist on an OE.

Long story that has been told many times, aftermarket axles are made from poorly heat treated junk steel that brakes easily. Yes they have a lifetime guarantee but it sucks when it breaks inside the front diff. They also tend to bind at full droop.

Too late now. I used whatever I got from Advanced Auto. I think the brand was "GP"? You're comment about breaking inside the diff has me concerned enough that I might just go out and replace it now and keep the GP as a trail spare. I've read a few posts on breaking inside a diffe and it looks miserable. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Gerdo]

Too late now. I used whatever I got from Advanced Auto. I think the brand was "GP"? You're comment about breaking inside the diff has me concerned enough that I might just go out and replace it now and keep the GP as a trail spare. I've read a few posts on breaking inside a diffe and it looks miserable. Thanks for the advice.

I have spent hours helping a friend remove the stub out of the diff on his rig. We did do it in a parking lot in Moab and then wheeled the rest of the day. I now have a plan for the next time someone breaks one like that. This was a GSP.

 

[gannonrt]

Wow... I will go out and get the Toyota OEM ones and pull the GTP. My wife has a '97 T4R so I'll put the GTP in her's. She never even sees bumpy pavement so I feel more comfortable taking a chance with the GTP in hers.