CV confusion

[atalarico]

Hey all,

So, after Hungryeddy and I lifted my 97 3+" I'm having the typical grease shower issue with my CV boots. I've been reading previous posts on the forum over and over but I think I've read too much and now I'm just confused to the point of being afraid to take action.

Can someone tell me if I'm right or wrong on the following process I'm deciding on?

First, I'm going to Autozone today to get stainless steel locking ties. I'm going to use brake cleaner and towels to clean up the grease. I'm going to apply these locking ties over my leaky CV boot (the one furthest from the wheel...the inside boot?). I should be able to just snip the existing ties and apply these, correct? I was also told by a Big O shop that I have a tear in a CV boot about a half a year ago. I didn't trust them much, as I didn't see any sign of leakage. If I happen to find a tear while I'm under there, can I just use plastic covering of some sort as a temporary fix?

Second, I'm going to go to the dealership and pick up some OEM CV axles. I am doing this because I hear it is wise to change out your original CVs before going out to wheel, and rebuilding your old ones to keep as a "trail" pair. Is this logic correct?

Third, do I have to get a longer CV boot (e.g. Porshe 930 boot) in order to stop future grease escape and dirt entrance? Or, will the addition of the beefier steel locking ties fix this problem?

Thanks in advance! I'm really at a dead end as far as looking at older posts goes.

Oh, and I'm going to remount my rack and MOAB basket and take pictures today or tomorrow. Can't wait to share my black beast with you all!

 

[Gerdo]

Another Denver guy, nice.

First I would use screw drive hose clamp like the ones shone here http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/90980-stretch-your-cv-boots.html

Also You are going to pay big bucks for OE axles from the dealer. We buy OEM re-builds from CVJ here in town, CVJ Axles - Remanufactured Axles & Power Racks They only resell OE rebuilds and not the junk ones.

I had my axles re-booted there for a great price. My axles have over 214k on them and are going strong. I also bought my trail spare there.

 

[atalarico]

Sweet! So, I actually sent CVJ Axles a message because I saw that link in a previous thread (maybe yours?). Anyway, what size are those screw drive hose clamps? Did you get them at an auto parts store, or hardware store?

I'll take pics of my boots. I'm pretty sure the ribs are touching like yours previously were. I'm going to try this today or tomorrow.

Where abouts in Denver are you? I'm near Colfax and Colorado. =)

 

[Dous]

Sweet! So, I actually sent CVJ Axles a message because I saw that link in a previous thread (maybe yours?). Anyway, what size are those screw drive hose clamps? Did you get them at an auto parts store, or hardware store?

I'll take pics of my boots. I'm pretty sure the ribs are touching like yours previously were. I'm going to try this today or tomorrow.

Where abouts in Denver are you? I'm near Colfax and Colorado. =)

I think I linked the CVJ website earlier. I have both of their front axles, they are great. The customer service from that company is outstanding too.

 

[gannonrt]

Gerdo & Dous - Thanks for posting the link to the CVJ axles. I made the mistake of getting a replacement GTP axle from Advanced Auto and throwing away my busted OEM. I think I'll order a set from them and install, keep my OEM one as a spare and toss my GTP in the trash.

 

[Dous]

Gerdo & Dous - Thanks for posting the link to the CVJ axles. I made the mistake of getting a replacement GTP axle from Advanced Auto and throwing away my busted OEM. I think I'll order a set from them and install, keep my OEM one as a spare and toss my GTP in the trash.

Yep give em a call, it's about $150 with the core charge. If you send back your old OEM one they give you 50 back, but it's not required.

 

[hungryeddy]

anyone know if CVJ has a warranty?

they're looking real good right about now but idk if go with one of theirs and have to pay $100 every time i break one or go with a new napa cv's, rebuild my OEM ones as spares and just get the new ones replaced for free if it goes wrong...

 

[Gerdo]

I have heard that the NAPA axles are the better auto parts store ones. Most are made from junk steel and are poorly heat treated and can break inside the front diff (it sucks to get that broken stub out).

The CVJ axles don't have a warranty. I'll take my chances with a better axle then a junk one.

 

[Jc12]

yayy someone asked just what i was thinking , if you pick up a set of napa axles will the same issues not prevail? I am was leaking at the small diameter of my out boot (fixed with c clamp) and am now leaking at the other end.. slapping the same size axle on.. will it not just start leaking again due to the angle?

 

[Duhockey]

I have heard that the NAPA axles are the better auto parts store ones. Most are made from junk steel and are poorly heat treated and can break inside the front diff (it sucks to get that broken stub out).

The CVJ axles don't have a warranty. I'll take my chances with a better axle then a junk one.

They dont have a warranty, but they are amazing at cust service, I banged up the threads on my axle and couldnt get the nut on it. I took it in and they rethreaded the axle for me in 5 min for free.

I have some damage to my axle from a problem Im having with my Trutrac, see my other thread, and they said they would repair it no problem.

Their offroad inner neoprene boots are awesome, i have been running them for years with no issues.

 

[josh.bunch]

A place here local in DFW sells OE rebuilt for $125 including the core. $75 once you return the core. Not sure if they ship but I'm running 2 of his axles right now and they are holding up great. Hi-Tech CV Axle in Fort Worth. I took one of mine off and he rebuilt it while I waited. Took 25 minutes. The other one he had ready for me when I got there bc I told him I was coming back the next day.

 

[Volley]

Congrats on the lift. I see you do not have the diff drop yet. I would be interested to know the the numbers on who has/does not have a diff drop and gets the leak.

I have the same lift btw but w/ diff drop. No issues yet but we will see. Hope you love the lift as much as I do!

 

[Dous]

They dont have a warranty, but they are amazing at cust service, I banged up the threads on my axle and couldnt get the nut on it. I took it in and they rethreaded the axle for me in 5 min for free.

I have some damage to my axle from a problem Im having with my Trutrac, see my other thread, and they said they would repair it no problem.

Their offroad inner neoprene boots are awesome, i have been running them for years with no issues.

Haha, no way! I did the same thing, messed up the threads installing, I mailed it back and they fixed it for free! Totally stand up company. I will never buy a CV anywhere else.

 

[gannonrt]

I think my gtp axle from advanced auto was ~$90 when I bought it so paying a bit more for reman oem is worth it to me. Breaking an axle on the trail is no fun and I'd like to avoid it if possible.

 

[atalarico]

Congrats on the lift. I see you do not have the diff drop yet. I would be interested to know the the numbers on who has/does not have a diff drop and gets the leak.

I have the same lift btw but w/ diff drop. No issues yet but we will see. Hope you love the lift as much as I do!

Yeah! I have the damn kit and it's just sitting waiting for me to do it. We tried the night of the lift, but we were spent and the bolts were tight. I'm going to spray some PBlaster on them, except I need to look up what the hell bolts I'm looking for, etc.

I'm hopefully doing this within the next week. Any links to installing the diff drop kit by chance?

Also, I'm pretty sold on the CVJ axle place. They wrote me a great e-mail back.

 

[Jc12]

Yeah! I have the damn kit and it's just sitting waiting for me to do it. We tried the night of the lift, but we were spent and the bolts were tight. I'm going to spray some PBlaster on them, except I need to look up what the hell bolts I'm looking for, etc.

I'm hopefully doing this within the next week. Any links to installing the diff drop kit by chance?

Also, I'm pretty sold on the CVJ axle place. They wrote me a great e-mail back.

hella easy!!

okay get a wrench and a socket set UNless you have an impact (muchhh better.. i prefer air tools ). Place the wrench on the nut then remove the bolt and nut, then loosen the other one up enough to slide the spacer in and pop in the new bolt and nut, tighten it a bit and do the same with the other. Let meeeee find you a write up..

same as the tacomas.. this ones pretty detailed, and shows you the skid plate info

DIY - How to Install a ToyTec Diff Drop (Pics) - Tacoma World Forums

 

[atalarico]

So, I got under there today with the intention of figuring out if my boots are torn or if it's just a bad clamp.

Yeah, that would have been too easy. Cracked inner boots on both sides. They're not completely separated from the small clamp *yet*, but it looks imminent and is likely the source of my grease sprinkler (instead of just being loose clamps). The outer boots are cracking in the ribs too. So, HungryEddy and I are going to get together Sunday to fix it.

Here are the options we have/dilemma (which I also sent to Steve at CVJ).

First option: I'm thinking we can reboot my current CV axles with long travel CV boots. Do I need the long travels for just a 3" lift or would the OEM boot kit be fine?

The second option I'm weighing is whether or not to just get replacement CV axles from CVJ. As far as I know, mine are stock and have about 180k miles on them. I don't plan on doing any extreme rock crawling or off-roading, but I'm going to get out and drive some "intermediate" 4x4 trails at the very least. It seems like HungryEddy and I (and whoever else from the forum wants to come wrench!) can figure out how to change CV axles, and that it's something we need to learn how to do anyway in case they break on a trail.

As always, money is tight, so I am thinking that at least rebooting them and maybe picking up a trail spare from a junkyard is my most cost effective option. However, I am still learning about wrenching on cars like this, so I like getting opinions from people that know more about this.

Most importantly! In the interim, can I just wrap the boots in syran wrap and duct tape so nothing else gets in?

Thanks all!

 

[Illicitdream]

Atalarico,

Have you decided on whether you are going to replace the cv boots?
I need to do the same thing, but need to know where the best place to buy cv boots are for our 4runners.

 

[PitbullRescuer]

How much were you guys paying for rebuilt ones from CVJ? One of mine is starting to leak a little, figured I'll just do them both now.

 

[Dous]

How much were you guys paying for rebuilt ones from CVJ? One of mine is starting to leak a little, figured I'll just do them both now.

$150 Shipped, but you get 50 back if you send your old one as a core

Worth it IMHO