CV Axle Reboot w/ Extended Boot Mod and Replacement

Hey Dudes and Dudettes, my buddy Sean and I have another repair/mod video for Y'all. We did a CV Axle Reboot w/ an Extended Boot Mod and Installed them in Sean's 2002 Toyota 4runner 4x4. It's a long one, over an hour, but you'll have all the information you'll need to tackle this yourself when your CV axles need a little love or altogether replacing.

Even though this is done on a 4runner, I'm sure you Tacoma folks can get a lot out of it as well. We also have a bunch of other videos on our YouTube page you might find useful so check it out.

Here's the video and Enjoy the Show!

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Very well done Tim.

 

Thank You very much. Very helpful video. I don't know if I am going to do this mod yet, I'm thinking about buying new cv-axles and just replacing them. I can get a new axle for around $35-40 each and the boot kits are Moog boot kits for @ $15. The good thing about the boot is the mod but seeing it's the inner boots on mine I would have to buy the outer ones also I believe.

 

I'm stuck at 14:19

https://youtu.be/vcCT4UgFUTw?t=859

Mine isn't sliding off easily and is just deforming the brass. Any suggestions?

 

The Tacoma axles are a bit different. You have two clips to deal with to get that tripod off. You first have to expand and slide down a clip underneath the tripod. Then you have to knock the tripod downward to expose another clip above the tripod. Once you get the upper one free, you can slide the tripod off. Since you were hammering on it pretty good, that upper clip might be mangled and harder to get off.

 

The clip that is between the tripod and the end of the shaft came off easily. I think you are referring to the clip that Dan (@turbodb) shows here:


I've followed his write-up here: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/how-to-rebooting-a-tacoma-cv-axle.604695/ and here: https://adventuretaco.com/guide/how-to-rebooting-a-tacoma-cv-axle/ (same write up, just giving credit to his site). As far as I can tell, the 1st gen axle is slightly different than the 2nd gen axle.

Following comments assume the axle is oriented with the tripod in an upward position as shown in the above image.

It seems as though the 1st gen cv axle has the clip under the tripod that you have to remove in order to expose the clip on top. On the 2nd gen, there isn't a bottom clip and the top clip can be removed (as seen in your video).


There is a good chance that I am incorrect. If so, please help me understand where I am deficient.

 

Also, if anyone knows, my reboot kit came with 4 grease packs. Seems like most of them come with 2.



I'm assuming the ones top and bottom both go in the outer boot since they are the darker color (even though different part numbers) and the caramel colored one will go in the inner boot. The white pack will be opened and I'm assuming it also has the caramel colored grease. If it does, it'll go in the inner boot too.

Sound like a plan, or am I missing something?

 

The clip you first showed is the clip you need to release and slide down the shaft so you can then knock the tripod down the shaft a little to expose another c-clip above the tripod. The clip above the tripod is the same style clip that goes on the end of the shaft that secures the shaft into the differential. If you did indeed get that upper c-clip off, you should be able to knock the tripod off the splined shaft with a brass drift and hammer. I don't know how I can better clarify what you need to do to get that tripod off. I looked at that write-up and it does show exactly what I said you need to do. If the tripod isn't coming off, hit the tripod on alternating sides to work it off. You should be able to get it off. You just might have it a bit cocked and jammed hitting it just on one shoulder of the tripod.

The Tacoma kit for some reason comes with 4 packs. Two packs for the inner joint and 2 packs for the outer joint. The 4runner reboot kits have 2 packages, 1 for the inner joint and 1 for the outer joint.

 

I've watched several more videos and it seems that I may just need to be a little more persuasive. I'll try again after work.

 

Just want to check in to see if you are working on a 1st gen or 2nd gen CV axle? I believe you're working on 2nd gen, in which case, I don't know if it's different than the 1st gen that I have in my write-up (and that I assume is what Tim's @Timmah! video applies to as well, since he's working on 3rd gen 4Runners).

Regardless, I'd love to know if they are different. Perhaps clean it up with some brake clean as best you can, and then post pictures - we might be able to figure it out from there.

Could just be a difference with 2nd gen Tacomas. Do you know offhand if they are different?

 

Yes, I am working on 2nd gen and they are different (though VERY similar to the one in the video). Instead of a lower (inner) clip, the shaft has a lip of sorts to keep it from sliding in. I read on another forum that the steel used to hold those 3 rollers is harder than anything you will use to hammer them off. After deforming my brass, I went to a dull flat head screwdriver and it came off with little argument. After a careful examination, you cannot tell the screwdriver was used.

I actually lost (somehow) the extra clamp that I bought from Napa, so I haven't finished the job. I just put the boot on and the cup to keep dirt from getting in there. I have not applied the grease yet, so I can go get a couple pics for educational purposes.

 

Well, all done.



Just cause I liked @turbodb 's pic so much, I copied.


C-Clip on top:


No clip on bottom:





Also, Dan, since you had the temp fix with the zip ties. I lost the universal boxed boot clamp that I bought from Napa originally when I was preparing to do the reboot. I ran up to Advance Auto Parts since they are close to home and the kid behind the counter had no idea what I was talking about. He went to the back and asked the old guy, who never came up front, who asked me a couple questions about what I was looking for. His response from the back "Oh. Zip tie it, dude! Hey, I'm a certified ASE mechanic for over 20 years. Never had one fail, never had one come back."

 

Just went to do mine yesterday... the roller bearing pins were all over the inside of the cup and they were all shredded lol... had to replace the axle

 

Those second gen CV joints are quite a lot different. Since this is in the 1st gen section I hope people don't get confused when theirs don't look like that.

 

It would be interesting to see them side by side to compare things like overall length, shaft diameter, spline count, etc, etc.

 

Good point. Though, if they do come here, they will see the pic of Dan's CV axle before they see mine. Also, I couldn't find anything on 2nd gen CV axles....maybe the 1st gen guys really are that much cooler .

I couldn't find much on 2nd gen axles on here or youtube, but the general construction of them is pretty similar. Perhaps I'll do a writeup in the 2nd gen section when I redo the one that is going to come off.

The overall length could be difficult to determine since the "tripod" or "roller head" (what is it officially called?) sits inside a cup that it can roll in/out of. That said, after reassembly, mine is 26.5" before being installed on the truck.

And to quote myself from another forum (discussing the OEM vs the CardoneHD CV axle (again, for 2nd gen))

Link if you want pictures: