CV axles

[atalarico]

So, I've been using CVJ CV axles for almost 10 years since they're local to me. I had them in my 3rd gen, and now I use them my 4th gen. I just saw that the red silicone boot has a small tear after two years and it's starting to spit grease. I called CVJ to see if there's a warranty and there isn't since "lifted" etc.

I'm a little disappointed, since I don't even wheel this truck hard at all, and there's a 1" diff drop so the CV angles are pretty solid even with the 3" lift. I want something that's going to last longer than that, and I feel like even the ones I had on my 3rd gen tore after 4 or 5 years, but I can't recall specifically.

I was thinking of just going for OEM CV axles, but the tech there said they don't last long in lifted vehicles. Can anyone confirm this? I feel like I see a lot of new lifted 5th gens with OEM CV's and they seem just fine. I know they're spendy, but I'd rather just cry once and be done with it.

Maybe this was just dumb luck and something punctured the silicone and I should just get another one again?

 

[royal T4R]

From what I have gathered after doing research in this topic was the the OEM Toyota 4th Gen CVs are one of the strongest you can have. If your silicone boot is destroyed id just replace the boot and go on about your day, switching out the entire CV seems overkill.

 

[montijo505]

Get new OEM boots, only ones I haven't had problems with. To be clear I've never had the red ones but their regular ones tear in about a year or two with 3" lift. OEM boots are plastic instead of rubber, much stronger. For the side that touches fins just do the boot slide mod.

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[gimlithepirate]

From what I have gathered after doing research in this topic was the the OEM Toyota 4th Gen CVs are one of the strongest you can have. If your silicone boot is destroyed id just replace the boot and go on about your day, switching out the entire CV seems overkill.

Agreed. Get new OEM (or lowpro) boots for your existing CVs. I did all the research, was all gung-ho to do it, and then crawled under there and realized that the previous owner had put cheap Chinese ones on it -_-

 

[atalarico]

From what I have gathered after doing research in this topic was the the OEM Toyota 4th Gen CVs are one of the strongest you can have. If your silicone boot is destroyed id just replace the boot and go on about your day, switching out the entire CV seems overkill.

Normally for most parts I'd agree, but I've rebuilt CVs...and never again. haha

 

[atalarico]

Get new OEM boots, only ones I haven't had problems with. To be clear I've never had the red ones but their regular ones tear in about a year or two with 3" lift. OEM boots are plastic instead of rubber, much stronger. For the side that touches fins just do the boot slide mod.

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I wonder why duder at CVJ said they don't work well with lifted trucks then. I'd hate to think he just said that to salvage a sale, but...a sale is a sale.

How long have you had yours and how do they do with the lift? Do you have a diff drop?

 

[montijo505]

Yes diff drop, about a year on the most recent since OEM boots, before that junk CVJ rubber ones that suck.

I dreaded rebooting big time, but as long as you take your time and use gloves/ trash bag/ lots of napkins, it's really not too bad.

I sit on my garage floor, cut open a large thick trash bag and use that as destruction zone lol. When you're done, wrap up the bag and straight to the trash.

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[truestorydl]

I have a tear in an OEM Axle/boot and all I have heard is to stick with the OEM axles whenever possible! Apparently they are the strongest and last the longest. Mine also spits grease and I want to reboot ASAP.

 

[atalarico]

Yes diff drop, about a year on the most recent since OEM boots, before that junk CVJ rubber ones that suck.

I dreaded rebooting big time, but as long as you take your time and use gloves/ trash bag/ lots of napkins, it's really not too bad.

I sit on my garage floor, cut open a large thick trash bag and use that as destruction zone lol. When you're done, wrap up the bag and straight to the trash.

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Yeah, I've rebuilt CVs before, I just don't want to do it again. I think I might just call around to see if a shop will rebuild it with OEM boots. If not, I might just get an OEM axle, and see about selling this one.

 

[ktom3001]

If you got 2 years out of that red boot you did good. I know a guy that got 6 months and he's only running 2.5" of lift.
My 4runner still has original OEM boots/axles at 235,000 miles. I did have to put new clamps after lifting. I have over 100,000 miles at ~3" lift on this setup.

It's interesting he said no warranty because the lift, the red boot is an up charge for "higher angle". Makes me think twice about using them when my axles go out.

9808 Archives - CVJ Axles

HIGHER ANGLE INNER BOOT
BOOT RT08 $57.00

Red Silicone Inner Boot
You install it on your OEM axle
Includes adapter ring, grease & clamps

 

[atalarico]

If you got 2 years out of that red boot you did good. I know a guy that got 6 months and he's only running 2.5" of lift.
My 4runner still has original OEM boots/axles at 235,000 miles. I did have to put new clamps after lifting. I have over 100,000 miles at ~3" lift on this setup.

It's interesting he said no warranty because the lift, the red boot is an up charge for "higher angle". Makes me think twice about using them when my axles go out.

9808 Archives - CVJ Axles

HIGHER ANGLE INNER BOOT
BOOT RT08 $57.00

Red Silicone Inner Boot
You install it on your OEM axle
Includes adapter ring, grease & clamps

So yeah, the warranty thing irks me for exactly that reason. The way the red silicone is sold, it's specifically for lifted vehicle applications. As in...modified suspension with a lift over factory angles.

I've been using CVJ for the past 10 years or so, and the boots seemed to last pretty long (4+ years) in my 3rd gen. However, I think I'm done now that I realize that OEM boots last for a super long time unless their angle is severely changed when they're older (like when you lift an older truck on the factory CVs). Maybe I'm wrong, but so many new buyers who lift their trucks right away don't have issues with their OEM CV boots, right?

 

[montijo505]

You can also get a CV from CVJ with OEM boots and return your busted one as a core. I don't know what the price difference would be. The OEM boots are about 60 from eBay, plus labor if you're unwilling to do it yourself.

Just checked and the OEM boot option from CVJ is $200 after you return the core. You could be in that ballpark depending on your mechanics labor cost. Just food for thought.

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[atalarico]

You can also get a CV from CVJ with OEM boots and return your busted one as a core. I don't know what the price difference would be. The OEM boots are about 60 from eBay, plus labor if you're unwilling to do it yourself.

Just checked and the OEM boot option from CVJ is $200 after you return the core. You could be in that ballpark depending on your mechanics labor cost. Just food for thought.

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Yeah, that was my initial thought, but when I asked the tech there about it he said not to do that. He said the OEM outers were good to use since there isn't a lot of movement on that end, but the inners are bad because there are only 3 something or another's (ribs maybe?) and that they lasted less than a month for someone else, etc.

I also remember seeing something on here about rebuilding a CVJ reman'd axle with the OEM boot kit and running into issues. So, if that's the case, I might call them up and see about just getting the core deposit returned without buying a new one.

 

[montijo505]

Yeah, that was my initial thought, but when I asked the tech there about it he said not to do that. He said the OEM outers were good to use since there isn't a lot of movement on that end, but the inners are bad because there are only 3 something or another's (ribs maybe?) and that they lasted less than a month for someone else, etc.



I also remember seeing something on here about rebuilding a CVJ reman'd axle with the OEM boot kit and running into issues. So, if that's the case, I might call them up and see about just getting the core deposit returned without buying a new one.

OEM boots on CVJ axles for about a year now. I did the "boot slide mod" where you take off the clamp, slide/stretch the boot and replace with a smooth edge worm clamp. No issues what so ever.

Also its pretty hard to find new OEM cv axles if i remember correctly, did you source them already?

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[Drift Monkey]

OEM boots on CVJ axles for about a year now. I did the "boot slide mod" where you take off the clamp, slide/stretch the boot and replace with a smooth edge worm clamp. No issues what so ever.

Also its pretty hard to find new OEM cv axles if i remember correctly, did you source them already?

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I'm convinced that's what killed my NAPA boots in 2-3 months, my angles looks similar to yours. I ordered the smooth band worm clamps and am gonna give it a shot.

I might just use all the clamps - I'm rebuilding my OEMs at the moment (messy but easy job), just waiting on the smooth clamps.

 

[montijo505]

I'm convinced that's what killed my NAPA boots in 2-3 months, my angles looks similar to yours. I ordered the smooth band worm clamps and am gonna give it a shot.

I might just use all the clamps - I'm rebuilding my OEMs at the moment (messy but easy job), just waiting on the smooth clamps.

On the outer most large clamp I always break the one in the OEM boot kit for some reason. I get one from napa that fits.

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[Drift Monkey]

On the outer most large clamp I always break the one in the OEM boot kit for some reason. I get one from napa that fits.

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I ordered the full compliment of the smooth band worm clamps so I'll be using those.

 

[Drift Monkey]

[MENTION=109843]montijo505[/MENTION]

Finished up one side of my OEM rebuild. "Pre-installed" the boot stretch mod.

Here's my new napa replacements currently on the truck - they're coming back off so I can fix the pass diff seal.

I can def see why they failed in about 2 months lol. I shoulda stretched em but even then, they seem shorter than the OEM boots - it almost seems like they are missing a whole rib!

 

[montijo505]

Looks good, definitely easier done off the truck, good call.

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[rothgyr]

Sorry to hijack the thread, but I noticed that I've got a boot that's torn as I've been working on a lift. The mechanic says to replace the whole axle since they don't know how long it's been torn. What say ye on the forum? Replace the boot or replace the axle?