CV Boot, What's Best?

So i just noticed the passenger outer boot is blown. What's the best replacement part? With a 2.5 lift the factory boot lasted about 30K total miles 35K on a 2014. The inner and driver side boots look fine. So...

What's the best replacement part?
Does that seem like proper boot life?

Thanks

 

I tried SDHQ kits one time and didn't like that they lasted 1 year before splitting. They were soft and definitely didn't like the fins rubbing. With probably 50k miles on various lifts, I've redone the boots on my truck 3 times. It's a vicious circle and hopefully someone has some better ideas. I've gone back to OE boots for now.

 

sdhq

 

I had the same experience with SDHQ boots, my next set will be the cheaper of the two between OEM and SDHQ as they both seem to have similar life spans.

 

Both of mine went out after a lift. I replace them with cvj axles and they both went out after 11 months. A lot of people on here will recommend them but I dont. I also paid extra for their “high angle” red boots.

https://sdhqoffroad.com/products/sdhq-built-direct-replacement-cv-boot-kits
I’m using the boots from sdhq at the moment. I don’t drive as much as I use to but these have been on my truck the last 3 years.

 

If you were to just replace the entire axle, what would you buy?
Autozone/o'Reilly new $90
Toyota new $320
Napa with heavy duty boot $118
Or ???

 

With past experience on earlier Toyotas, I would only buy OEM Toyota axles, especially if you're lifted. The parts store stuff is much weaker, always gave me weird vibrations in my lifted applications at highway speeds and it was my experience that the boots have even shorter lifespans than OEM. Sure...it's a lifetime guarantee but you'll be replacing them every year (at least I did. To the point where the guy at Napa was curious if I was putting them on other trucks. "Nope" I told him. "If the boots were worth a $#!@ I wouldn't have to replace them so often")

IMHO the best/cheapest thing to do, though, is just replace the boots with OEM Toyota boots when the boot tears before too much dirt makes it into the CV.

 

I rebuilt my whole lift and did wheel bearings and cv boots. I went with the red cvj boots. They look good so far. fins are not touching and that's the key I think. I hope they last that whole operation was a huge pain. also if you have to raise your lift because your tires are rubbing. That may be too much cv angle. If you get your alignment guy to increase the caster I think? It moves the wheels forward and the will clear. For years I had my lift way too high. now its not so stiff. Running swayaway2.5

 

So a local, very reputable 4WD shop quoted $325 to replace boots and rebuild axle with quality parts. Says he does a lot of them. Seems reasonable to me, what say y'all?

 

ouch. The OEM boot kit from the dealership shouldnt be more than $40. To "rebuild" it, its not that difficult, although you do need a special boot plier and 2 breaker bars. The rebuild consists of cleaning the old grease out, and putting the new grease in. Then clamp, and youre good to go.

here are some instructions from @mjp2

This was also very helpful for me:

https://adventuretaco.com/how-to-rebooting-a-tacoma-cv-axle/

 

A new OEM one is the same price. A CVJ Reman is cheaper. Price seems real high.

 

I have this cardone the HD one 50,000 miles with lift no problems

 

Don't have the link at the moment, but @Crikeymike just posted some nice looking Dobinsons outer boots in the Dobinsons's thread.

**Edit** here it is. Most recent post. #180

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...uspension-options.458013/page-9#post-22453381

 

Thanks for that. They're definitely a great option, and designed with high clearance bellows in mind too so they'll last longer.

 

I think having the shop rebuild the OEM axle with OEM parts for $325 is a deal. The dealer wants $750 per axle just for the boots.

 

$331 for a brand new OEM axle, probably can find a better deal if you go farther than the 2nd link on Google
https://parts.lakelandtoyota.com/p/...ASSY--FRONT-DRIVE--RH/4027406/4343004070.html

 

So i would be getting the equivalent of a new OEM axle $325 installed...

 

FWIW The cardone axles are made in China. They may be just fine, but the chances of getting a defective one is a lot more likely..

 

You would be getting an axle that has 35k miles of wear and new boots/grease. That wear might be zero if no contaminates got in or it might be trashed and unserviceable. If you ran it for 5k slinging grease that thing might be bone dry and metal on metal.

Changing a CV is not a difficult job if you have the space and tools to do it, the odd ones can be rented from your local auto parts store. If you wheel it's a good skill to have in your back pocket.

But if you aren't able to change it yourself $325 isn't an outrageous price to remove/rebuild/reinstall a CV axle.