Lifted 03 4Runner, another CVJ bites the dust

[Ruffian]

Howdy! Whelp it's a eventual maintenance thing when you do the suspension lift and with larger tires! I needed to get the heavy duty off road ones from CVJ axles in Colorado anyway and stop with the stock ones. So that along with that one of my sway bar bushings is also cracked, AND time for another set of Duratrac's before winter snows hit the Sierra's....time for an alignment. I searched and read but wanted to get the latest 411 for the lifted alignment specs to give to the automotive shop. May I request one of our fabulous automotive technicians here make a comment for what they'd recommend I tell the shop pretty pretty please for caster etc.? Thank you so much in advance. I'm hoping there's no seized parts to complete the alignment but seems to me Pep Boys did something to it the last time they aligned it. Gory photo attached and one just to show the last trail (road) I was off roading on out in the open Nevada public lands.

 

[Rodtheviking]

Ive always had better luck with rubber CV boots than the neoprene ones you usually get. Are you going to do just the boot or the whole CV shaft? Might want to replace the inner boot with a rubber one before install if you are going to replace the shaft.

Just a though.

 

[Ruffian]

Oh yes....yes I know. I'm getting these:
www.cvjaxles.com

I'd really love to get the ones on the ToyTec website from Lotus however I'll need to save up $1k first for those suckers! And then to be honest, before I'd do that....due to the age of the vehicle and the age of my Labrador....and my ever advancing age!....I think it's time to just make her back to stock. I don't want to get a new truck until after the Labrador is gone as since he comes to work with me, and I don't want a camper shell or a dog inside of a new truck....I'll just keep Ruffian going with new replacement parts.

 

[NinjaOne]

Typically recommendation for Caster is ~3-4° Caster impacts how tight steering will feel. Should you not reach 3-4°, you'll still probably be okay (I'm only at 1.7° since I haven't gotten aftermarket UCA's yet :roadkill: )

Camber and Toe are the most important to minimize tire wear. Aim for as close to 0° as they can get it. It's okay to let caster suffer slightly if they can get these right.

Also, I read your posts on Toyota120? awhile back. Super useful when I was deciding on my lift! So thanks Still running the OME 884?

 

[Ruffian]

Thanks Ninja! Yes as you can see in the photo. I had a BUNCH of my friends yell at me today to get rid of the lift. I think I've determined it's not the lift but that my diff is out of whack. Placement wise. The drivers side CVJ is fine and has been since 2009 when I originally decided to put brand new CVJ's in after putting in the lift. I think the diff is either pushed over towards the passenger side or tweaked in some way. I can share straight away photos tomorrow. I'm depressed after another SF Giants loss that I need to go to bed. That and my 4Runner is .....tweaked. out:

 

[blind squirrel]

Did you put on a diff drop kit? The angle of your CV's looks pretty steep, that could be contributing to your blow ups...if not the main cause. I have a 3 inch lift on mine with the diff drop and look at my angles.

 

[Ruffian]

I had a diff drop on there and it wasn't help enough. My diff is not centered. That is why I have more issues with the passenger side one and not a single issue with the drivers. My diff has been pushed towards the passenger side or is askewed in another way. And highway miles are harder on these lifted vehicles CVJ's. I drive 100 miles every day.