is it ok to drive with leaky axles?

[RazzRoach]

I have a leak coming from both front axles which the dealer diagnosed as needed entire new axles.. However there is no vibration or noise from axle which leads me to believe I need new seals or boots. I'm planning on driving 500 miles shortly and wont have time to get the work done before my trip. Is it ok to drive these distances with the leaky axle?

 

[sumday]

i made it years with totally ripped open boots that finally bit the dust. youll be fine

 

[spartacus]

I have a leak coming from both front axles which the dealer diagnosed as needed entire new axles.. However there is no vibration or noise from axle which leads me to believe I need new seals or boots. I'm planning on driving 500 miles shortly and wont have time to get the work done before my trip. Is it ok to drive these distances with the leaky axle?

Can the dealer give you a loaner and you can drive that or you can rent a car and have your truck ready when you get back. If it were me and both my front axles were leaking I would not be driving 500 miles specially if the dealer wants to replace both.

 

[Fern]

Where is it leaking from? Are they torn or is it coming from either ends of the boot. You can find some worm hose style claps from ebay for a under 15 bucks. you could also buy a syringe and squirt grease in there once you cut off the old clamps.

These are the ones I bought.

Toyota FJ Cruiser CV Axle Repair Clamps Kit for Leaking Boots after Lift Kit | eBay

 

[Sdurza]

I destroyed my boots and just left them hanging for far too long, you should be fine.

 

[RazzRoach]

Where is it leaking from? Are they torn or is it coming from either ends of the boot. You can find some worm hose style claps from ebay for a under 15 bucks. you could also buy a syringe and squirt grease in there once you cut off the old clamps.

These are the ones I bought.

Toyota FJ Cruiser CV Axle Repair Clamps Kit for Leaking Boots after Lift Kit | eBay

I haven't seen a tear its coming from the ends of the boots

 

[sumday]

did dealer give you an estimate to replace? ~$1500?

 

[Fern]

I haven't seen a tear its coming from the ends of the boots

Easy fix here...

Replacing CV bands - Toyota 120 Platforms Forum

 

[RazzRoach]

did dealer give you an estimate to replace? ~$1500?

1650

 

[sumday]

that is so insane!

 

[anonymousgromers]

Yeah I agree you should be fine my front right axle was tore for around 2 years before I replaced it and it never gave me any problems

 

[2003-4x4runner]

1650

I ran with leaking boots for a year and it was fine. Had the dealer replace both of them for $900.00. A local shop quoted me $800.00 so I went with the dealer.

Check around and get quotes and check the dealers web site for coupons. Tell them you have AAA and they may give you a discount. Also, haggle on the price with them. Try to get a good relationship with a service manager/advisor, that helps.

 

[dahveeed]

The point of replacing boots and repacking with grease is to prevent having to replace the axles. It's cheaper to replace the boots than the entire axle. If you do nothing, you may be fine but you may not. If you fix the leak properly you will not have to replace your axle.

 

[RazzRoach]

I ran with leaking boots for a year and it was fine. Had the dealer replace both of them for $900.00. A local shop quoted me $800.00 so I went with the dealer.

Check around and get quotes and check the dealers web site for coupons. Tell them you have AAA and they may give you a discount. Also, haggle on the price with them. Try to get a good relationship with a service manager/advisor, that helps.

List price on each axle is $500. Cheapest I’ve found is 430. Axles plus labor makes it add up quick and I only want to go with oem axles

 

[AuSeeker]

List price on each axle is $500. Cheapest I’ve found is 430. Axles plus labor makes it add up quick and I only want to go with oem axles

Not sure what year you have but for my 2004 McGeorge Toyota sells the axle for $354.44.

You can check for yourself, not sure what the shipping would be but you could save yourself some money if you can get these and have an independent shop installed them.

Toyota Parts | Toyota Online Parts | Genuine Toyota Parts | Toyota Parts Online

 

[dahveeed]

List price on each axle is $500. Cheapest I’ve found is 430. Axles plus labor makes it add up quick and I only want to go with oem axles

Are you sure they are recommending to replace the entire axle vs the boots?
There is no reason to replace the entire axle if the leak has just begun. You can't determine an axle replacement is needed just by looking at them while still installed on the vehicle?

 

[RazzRoach]

here is the culprit

photo came out blurry for some reason!

 

[dahveeed]

Here are mine before I had the boots replaced

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Fern]

That's where mine leaked from. I bought the clamps before I lifted my 4R. It started leaking immediately after the lift, so I swapped out the clamps and it fixed the leak.

 

[RazzRoach]

I checked the clamps and they aren't even on the boot.