First Lift Fail

mrbee2828

mrbee2828

New member
Thursday afternoon I took a turn into a parking lot with a slight incline just a *tad* to quick and had a slight rub. I got out and just took a look to see what and where the rub was not really concerned whatsoever.... then I saw grease everywhere. The CV joints were barfing up their guts.

I called the shop thinking something was done wrong and they said to bring it up right away. I brought it up their Saturday morning and after about 30mins their lead mechanic came out and told me that everything was installed correctly.

The CV boots weren't touched during the install he said, and that the issue was age. The boots were 11 years old and they just don't agree with the new angle. So I need to get the replaced but the shitty thing is that while it's not an expensive part, the labor is.

All the shops are telling me that it's not worth replacing just the boots and if I'm going to tear it all off I should spend a few more bucks and just get new rods as well.

It's about $175-$200 a side and about $75-$100 for new parts each side. I'm looking at $600. Are they all right? Is the problem really that the boots are just old? Should I get all new rods?

It makes total sense and I'm probably going to replace it all but I'm just saying.... IT SUCKS!!!

cv_joint.jpg
 
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the problem they described sounds about right. Putting that 1.5" increase plus the larger tires will put stress on a brand new cv joint that it should not have on it, much less an 11 year old one.

My suggestion would be to drop it more and replace them. It might have been avoided by dropping them more at the time the lift was installed. I am surprised no one consulted you on that when you were buying everything.

That's about as far as my knowledge goes on cv joints and i am sure someone else will chime in here.
 
LINY4Runner said:
odd...I've had a 2.5" spacer kit with no diff-drop for about 2 years and never had an issue
Click to expand...

maybe because yours is an '01 and his is a '98. Just a thought? Not sure
 
I don't recommend this but I've been running dry boots on both sides for 9 months now, I wheel it seldom lately but when I do I beat the hell out of her, they've taken everything like champs and are solid as a rock..I'm just going to wait until they break then change them in as a core to advanced, then from there its lifetime warranty.

As for the labor, with the proper write-ups (yotatech) this can be done with minimal tools and not a vast amount of former knowledge. Go jack up your car, take the cv's off when you find out how and take them to autozone. forgot the figure but its a good bit of money they take off. Take the new ones back, reinstall and voila.
 
I just replace both of my CV Half-Shafts on my 98 4Runner last month.
The CV Shafts cost $150 each and the labor was $400...$700 total.

The shops telling you to replace the shafts are correct. It is really labor intensive to just to replace the boot so you might as well do the shaft...Nothing like getting the shaft! :p

I added a RevTek 3 inch lift and the same thing happen to me with old CV boots. I asked my mechanic if it was caused by the lift. He said Yes and No. He said the old boots were seated without the lift and when the lift was added, it stretched the old rubber. He said since the new boots are supple, they should seat to the new lift. I guess time will tell.

11 years for the boots is not to bad.
In 1990, I bought a brand new Toyota 4WD pickup and still have it to this day and only replaced the boots once and that was 10 years ago. Best God D**n truck I ever owned. :D

Oregonspicesnow034.jpg~original
 
After I did a 2.5+ suspension lift on my 2000, my CV joints started leaking exactly the same as yours (my picture looks just like yours). I simply replaced the clamps where they were leaking and then wraped them in black electrical tape. (under $10)

Their not leaking anymore, but I know I lost some grease and will need to fill them sometime soon. When I do, I plan to replace them with these:

http://www.allprooffroad.com/9602frontsuspension/282

I don't have any first hand opinions or experience with these, but they sound like they are designed exactly for our conditions (large CV joint angles)

Here is a post that may also help you:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=37107&highlight=joints+leaking

I would NOT spend that kind of money ($600), until you check around some more at what your options are, and I would NOT replace them with stock components. Now that you have changed the angle, you may want to see what aftermarket components (like the link above) are available to compliment your aftermarket suspension lift.

Hope my similar experience eases your woes a least a bit! Good luck to ya!
 
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Sorry to hear most everyone has had this issue after the lift. At the very least I don't feel like something was done wrong during the install :)

I'm going to have a local shop by my office check it out Monday and see what they say. For all I know they might offer to redo the clamps and save me some cash. If not, I'm planning on getting everything replaced. I don't have the time to mess with it and I'm sure the shop would offer some sort of warranty on the labor. On top of all that I'm sure I'd mess it up myself and since it's a daily driver I can't risk not being able to get to work trying to cut corners.
 
same thing happened to my friend. check out Downey
Toyota they have what you need and they are stronger and have more flex than the factory ones also much cheaper !!!!!!!!!!!
 
same thing happened to me after my lift.
Shop around, because i got rebuilt driveshafts witha lifetime warranty from a shop in my area for 50 bucks a pop. Swapped em out myself, not hard to do at all if you have the right tools.
 
I forgot I somewhat knew a mechanic and asked about replacing everything for me today. He's going to do it all for $200. So I should get Downey parts?
 
I noticed my Revtek did the same thing after the install, had grease come out of only one side. It wasnt torn so i left it alone but kept an eye on it , so far so good. Id leave it alone - worse case if and when they wear out - replace them yourself with all new axles and boots.
 
Get the Downey parts!! They are located on there website under miscellaneous drive train parts at the middle of the page. you will have to call them they do not let you purchase online.
 
just cuz someone else's jointdoesn't hav the problem doesn't mean that thats not the problem. your part just ran out faster and yes that is most likely wat happened. if they're doin the boot then you should def get the rest done while they're doin it to save yourself money down the road.
 
I'll have everyone know that I got my web designer hands dirty and replaced the drive shafts today with my friend :)

Total cost = $150 + a 6pack of MGD
 
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