Here We Go...CV replacement ideas

[johnnyhightrain]

So as the majority of lifted 4runners around here, seems to be the norm that the CV boots crack due to the lift after sitting in stock position for years. I got under my truck today to look over sway bar bushings and make a little list for a little preventative maintenance...needless to say the first thing I see is a splatter of gray grease all over the driver and pass side LCA's. Cracked inner boots near the small clamp. So here are my options. pricing is not exact. plus i need the clamp tool.

1. Pull Both CV's and rebuild my inner and outer boots with OEM toyota boots. (cheapest route) 70+ boots/clamps

2. Pick up two CV's from a salvage yard for cheap..30 each and rebuild those (OEM boots) then swap em out and rebuild the ones on my truck and keep em as trail spares. $120+

3. Head over to an autoparts store and pick up some from napa or something and turn in the stockers for core charge 120+

I plan on picking one of these options tomorrow and round up all the things for this lil project. I am leaning more towards the 2nd route..but its more expensive. I just dunno about going aftermarket. OEM is always better imo.

 

[johnnyhightrain]

Half tempted to drop some more $ and do the 231mm tundra brake swap and Tacoma LBJ swap while I have the front end torn apart again...sucks because this CV boot bs is eating up my locker funds lol....I want 4.88's!

 

[maclean216]

Find an axle shop near you that does rebuilds. I get mine rebooted with silicone boots for $40 out the door. Thats for both boots per axle. The stand up much better to the abuse from lifted trucks than the oem boot.

If you can't find anyone in your area, I can see if I can grab the boots for you.

 

[PNWRunner]

who makes the silicone boots?

 

[johnnyhightrain]

Slee offload uses an overpriced porsche 930 boot which are 12 bucks online. I can get an aftermarket boot kit locally for 30 or stealership kit for some outrageous amount. I plan on checking pricing in a few hours. I can pick up a set of CVs at a local salvage yard for 40 each and ill rebuild both sets. Should be fun.

 

[Bighead2001]

Slee offload uses an overpriced porsche 930 boot which are 12 bucks online. I can get an aftermarket boot kit locally for 30 or stealership kit for some outrageous amount. I plan on checking pricing in a few hours. I can pick up a set of CVs at a local salvage yard for 40 each and ill rebuild both sets. Should be fun.

OEM prices must have gone up because the last time I bought an OEM boot kit from a dealer it was $25.

From your OP, I would go with option 2. I guess it come down to how much you want to spend.

 

[jmt2404]

Depending on how you 4wheel I would consider buying new ones. If you wheel hard and have a chance in breaking cv axles I would buy a new set and find some where that doesn't have a core charge so you can keep the original CV's. then you just regrease and reboot your old ones and now you have extras for you or your other 4 runner friends. Oh and not to mention the life time warranty the new ones come with.

If you don't wheel alot or very hard I would just re-boot its pretty cheap compared to buying entire axles.

 

[Gerdo]

Anything but option #3. The exception MIGHT be, I hear that the NAPA ones hold up fairly well.

 

[LittleCaesar]

#1 if you are sure the axles themselves are fine. I'd say #2 if their condition is suspect or you could go 2.1 and buy a Napa or Oreily while rebuilding the OEM one(s) and have that one as a trail spare for the future.

 

[johnnyhightrain]

Grabbed a set of brand new Cardone cv's from NAPA cuz I have read on various posts that they hold up well compared to OEM. I plan on running the Cardone set while I rebuild my stock OEM's this winter, I dont plan on doing any hardcore wheeling this winter. They were 62 a piece and have great reviews with lifetime warranty. For my OEM's I plan on upgrading the inner and outer boots to Porsche 930 boots and re-grease. Done deal then I have two trail spares. Plus if I grenade a CV wheeling I would rather it be an aftermarket. I will update this thread monday when I rip the front end apart and change them out.

 

[revenantdead]

sorry to hijack, but how much for the 891's gerdo?