Dealer says replace both front axles..

[Jackkill1]

Last year I had a similar diagnosis so I took it to my, now only, mechanic for a 2nd opinion to see what they'd come up with. Nothing, they found nothing. I then told them what the dealer said they found and they looked again, nothing. Could be something they're pushing for whatever reason or $ quota, I don't know but I'll never go back to my local dealer.

In April 2016 I purchased my '05 SR5 V8 with 181k. The purchase was from a Toyota dealer. He recommended that I have the front axles done along with a list of other repairs. I purchased the vehicle and signed off on not having the repairs done at the Dealership. There were no noise issues, and visually inspected the boots and they looked fine. When I took it to local shop with the list, he said the axles and boots looked 'OK'. I'll check them again in the spring when the weather breaks. could it be the dealers are looking at mileage and just replacing parts at prescribed intervals, regardless of the condition?

 

[tombob55]

In April 2016 I purchased my '05 SR5 V8 with 181k. The purchase was from a Toyota dealer. He recommended that I have the front axles done along with a list of other repairs. I purchased the vehicle and signed off on not having the repairs done at the Dealership. There were no noise issues, and visually inspected the boots and they looked fine. When I took it to local shop with the list, he said the axles and boots looked 'OK'. I'll check them again in the spring when the weather breaks. could it be the dealers are looking at mileage and just replacing parts at prescribed intervals, regardless of the condition?

There was no doubt the boots on mine were torn. Suspicious of the dealer, I crawled under and took a look. Inner boots on both sides were torn free at the band.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[steveni70]

It's a local shop here in southern Illinois. They've worked on every vehicle I have owned since around 1987. The owner and his brother are old school mudders from the 70s. I have always been satisfied with their work, and they guarantee parts and labor for a year after the repair.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks, actually I was asking drev7 since he's local to me and honest mechanics are hard to find.

 

[radlynx]

I finally replaced my axles, left and right from Rockauto. it's the Cardone unit. while i'm in there, I also replaced the front differential seal. the unit is actually not bad. my old OEM one started to have some groove where the oil seal is riding and I think, that's not good. All in all, my old one is still good except that groove is an alarm which might cause a leak at some point.

if anyone is interested to buy my old OEM axles, i'll sell it if you are interested. PM me. Thank you.

Same here, I have a torn inner boots at 121000 miles. If you don't hear any clunking sound, you are good for a boots replacement but will take longer to fix it so replacing it is the fastest way. That's what I'm doing, bought the axles at Rock auto at 65 each. I received it and it seems solid to me. I don't do serious off roading so that works. I'm planning to tackle it myself around 3rd week this month which will include the lower control arm, axles and struts all bought at Rock auto. Parts all in all cost around 750 with shipping.



Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

 

[Elan750]

i had a split boot on my old Ford escape while I lived in Toronto (talk about heavy salt/snow/rot!). I figured it was already contaminated inside and decided to wait until it clicks or gets wobbly before I replace it. Well, 20k and 1.5 years later it never got worse and I dumped the heap before having to replace it! :banana:

 

[nayborbob]

Napa $65 per axle... hardest part is loosening the axle bolt, you will need a breaker bar. I shoved a giant screwdriver into the slots in the rotor through the caliper so did not need someone stomping on the breaks. you need a good size pry bar to pop the axle out at the tranny - don't pull on the axle or you will separate it and make a big mess. I replaced mine at about 155k while troubleshooting a vibration in front end, which ultimately was a passenger side bearing. But for the price of the axles, and while I was in there I figured it was only a matter of time anyway...

 

[SunPilot]

I used tackle jobs like this on older vehicles, but I don't have the get-go. If my son were at home, I would do it.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I'm 67 and I just did both of mine two weeks ago. Total cost was around $200 for two axles from NAPA...they are lifetime warranty. Replaced the diff seals and seals at the knuckle while I had it apart. No leaks and I'm happy. Job is not hard. Study the maintenance manual (all the info you need is posted on web, including videos), assemble the needed tools, and dedicate a day and you're all set. It feels good to do the job yourself, and saving a bunch of money never hurts either!

 

[SunPilot]

Napa $65 per axle... hardest part is loosening the axle bolt, you will need a breaker bar. I shoved a giant screwdriver into the slots in the rotor through the caliper so did not need someone stomping on the breaks. you need a good size pry bar to pop the axle out at the tranny - don't pull on the axle or you will separate it and make a big mess. I replaced mine at about 155k while troubleshooting a vibration in front end, which ultimately was a passenger side bearing. But for the price of the axles, and while I was in there I figured it was only a matter of time anyway...

You're right about not pulling on the axle...they will separate and make a mess.
I didn't have anyone to step on my brakes to hold the wheel, so I wedged a piece of wood between the steering wheel and brake pedal. The nut broke easily, even worked when I re-torqued them after the install. There's always a way.

 

[catfishbirddog]

Seems like every other time I get service from my local shop I've got one or two torn CV boots and most recently I did get 2 new entire axles. I was getting a couple other things done but I don't think it was more than $500. Something like that, I'd go anywhere but the stealership.

 

[tombob55]

Here's an update to my original post: the independent shop I took it to replaced both axle units. They told me the axles were made by Precision, and they had a warranty. In addition, this shop warranties their work. Cost was $500 for both. This compares to the nearly $1500 the Toyota dealer quoted.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Bigrupp]

$60 and some time and both sides are rebooted with the OEM kit. After installing the RCI LCA skids the one bolt tears into the boots at full flex so both sides made a big mess.



Sent from the Far Side

 

[banilla16]

I've got a rattle in my front passenger that I'm suspecting is a bearing. Dad had the boots done but not the axels 2 years ago when it was just a torn boot.
I might be doing this when I do my front suspension refresh with new bushings.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[blue2006]

question - my 2006 V8 has torn boots and im pretty sure all the grease by now has flung out. when i had the shocks done over the summer i saw the boots torn but didnt have the $ to replace the axles at the time. about a week ago i started hearing a droning noise that i thought was the low tread warning on the tires, but now im thinking it may be coming from the axles....if you let them run without grease for an extended period will you start hearing noise from them? there is no vibration or shaking, the noise is a rotational drone, pitch changes with speed, but is not affected by different gears, no grinding, just a humming droning nose starts above 20mph. i know my tires need to be replaced, the treads were just about at the wear bars in January. there are 80,000 miles on the truck.

 

[Jeopardy954]

I'm in the same boat, both inboard CV boots are torn. New '06 4wd limited.

Don't know how long they have been torn, just got the runner 3 weeks ago, if I try a re-grease and re-boot repair how can I tell if the axles are in good shape? Not hearing any noise/whine, and I'm in Florida so no salt (but plenty of water).

Thanks in advance for the help!

 

[Bigrupp]

I'm in the same boat, both inboard CV boots are torn. New '06 4wd limited.

Don't know how long they have been torn, just got the runner 3 weeks ago, if I try a re-grease and re-boot repair how can I tell if the axles are in good shape? Not hearing any noise/whine, and I'm in Florida so no salt (but plenty of water).

Thanks in advance for the help!

If you don't have any noise/clicking/grinding, especially when turning you are fine. Especially with the inner. You'd be amazed at the amount of abuse these things will take before replacement is required.

Sent from the Far Side

 

[Jeopardy954]

Cool, thanks.

Do people use a specific split boot kit? I can't find one that's specific to the 4runner, just a generic kit. Does anyone have a link for a kit that will definitely fit?

Thanks!

 

[Bigrupp]

question - my 2006 V8 has torn boots and im pretty sure all the grease by now has flung out. when i had the shocks done over the summer i saw the boots torn but didnt have the $ to replace the axles at the time. about a week ago i started hearing a droning noise that i thought was the low tread warning on the tires, but now im thinking it may be coming from the axles....if you let them run without grease for an extended period will you start hearing noise from them? there is no vibration or shaking, the noise is a rotational drone, pitch changes with speed, but is not affected by different gears, no grinding, just a humming droning nose starts above 20mph. i know my tires need to be replaced, the treads were just about at the wear bars in January. there are 80,000 miles on the truck.

If you've ran them that long without grease there is a good chance that is your problem. CV's will take a crap load of abuse. It's possible that you could take them out and clean them really well and if there isn't a lot of really bad wear you could re-grease them and slap some new boots on and be OK. The last time I did mine they had been torn for a good six months and were pretty well done slinging grease and had been run through tons of salt. New Toyota grease and boots and good to go.

Sent from the Far Side

 

[Bigrupp]

Cool, thanks.

Do people use a specific split boot kit? I can't find one that's specific to the 4runner, just a generic kit. Does anyone have a link for a kit that will definitely fit?

Thanks!

04427-60140

Genuine Toyota kit. Inner and outer boots with grease. Talked to a couple places that make heavy duty axles to see if I could get what they used on their axles and they said they use the OEM kits.

Edit: I think it's around $42 on Amazon.....last time I checked anyways.

Sent from the Far Side

 

[Jeopardy954]

Does Toyota make the split boots that I could put on without removing the axles?

 

[Bigrupp]

Does Toyota make the split boots that I could put on without removing the axles?

Doubt it. Not something it would use either.

Sent from the Far Side