Ripped CV Boot

[Steel409]

Hey all,

4Runner status: 2003 Limited V8, 160,000 miles

Just changed the oil and noticed that the passenger side inner CV boot is torn, 360º, on the shaft side. It obviously sprayed grease all over. Unfortunately, no idea how long it's been like that, but my guess would be <5,000 miles.

Would you recommend getting the boot replaced ASAP, or leaving it be until the CV shaft fails? My assumption would be it's going to be expensive either way.

Thanks much!!!!

PS - Interestingly enough, I had the inner CV boot 'clips' replaced at 98,000 miles under the extended warranty. Had to call Toyota USA to get Smart Toyota to man up and cover them under the "CV Boot Warranty".

 

[46runner]

Hey all,

4Runner status: 2003 Limited V8, 160,000 miles

Just changed the oil and noticed that the passenger side inner CV boot is torn, 360º, on the shaft side. It obviously sprayed grease all over. Unfortunately, no idea how long it's been like that, but my guess would be <5,000 miles.

Would you recommend getting the boot replaced ASAP, or leaving it be until the CV shaft fails? My assumption would be it's going to be expensive either way.

Thanks much!!!!

PS - Interestingly enough, I had the inner CV boot 'clips' replaced at 98,000 miles under the extended warranty. Had to call Toyota USA to get Smart Toyota to man up and cover them under the "CV Boot Warranty".

Mine ripped too. You can wait until you hear clicking when turning. I'm told that is a warning sign before failure. I decided to replace the axle for $300.

 

[Brutalguyracing]

cvj make a toyo reman. axles....its all i use
if your truck never goes "outback" or off roading then use a napa axle if you care too
that axle will go a long time without grease with no failure
as poster said above clicking popping are signs of it going out, but u still have many more miles after then
good luck
cvj is my recommendation

 

[bob3dsf]

I'd say replace the boots ASAP if you want to have minimal prep work on the OEM parts. Meaning: cleaning up the joints bearings, re-greasing, and re-booting. The sooner you do it, the less likely you'll have any damage (or very minimal damage) due to intrusion of grit and dirt, etc.

You'll find, through reading other threads on the subject, that you'll do all the same work as replacing the CV axle, plus the work of re-booting. I decided to change both my axles, figuring both had the same # of miles and guessing other boots were ready to rip. I also decided to save my OEM axles since one is still ok, and the one with the ripped boot was changed out very soon after I noticed it. My plan is to re-boot them and keep them as spares. With the cost of reman'd axles compared to the cost of boot kits, the price is a wash, but I'm saving time (by re-booting my OEM's) due to not needing to order and wait for shipping the axles in the event of a CV problem later on.

Removing and reinstalling the axle isn't hard, and the rebooting seems pretty easy, if not messy. Haven't got to that yet.

I suppose you need to figure how much time you'll have available to do the repair. Switching out the axles will go faster if time will be a factor. ALso in my case. I don't have a good workshop area right now to lay out parts and do the reboot, so doing everything in the driveway led me to choose to just swap the axles for the quickest fix.

 

[simple]

There's actually a tutorial on here for replacing the boot