Trying to become more DIY

Hello TacomaWorld! I'm a long-time reader and first-time poster (so let me know if I am doing anything dumb with my post). I have a 2007 Taco, and she is getting up there in mileage 275k. I am trying to learn and become more do-it-yourself due to recent experience. I had my truck in the garage to have a new rack and pinion put in, and to make a long story short; I had to take it back the first time because a line wasn't tight, and all of the power steering fluid ran out. The second time I had to take it back, one of the lines wasn't secured to anything, and it was just sitting against my belt, and it rubbed a hole in the line, and the power steering fluid leaked out again. So, I am trying to do more work and not depend on others.

I recently had new tires put on, and the mechanic told me that my upper and lower ball joints on the passenger side were terrible. I told him I had just had a new baby and was trying to save money by doing more work independently. He told me it wasn't something I could do easily at home. I had no clue what a ball joint was, but I assured him it was under control. I watched some youtube and did a little research, and after several smashed fingers, cuss words, and hitting stuff with a hammer, I replaced them both. I also learned about the advanced auto loaner tool program, which was awesome. Looking back, no,w it was probably easier to change the upper and lower control arms. I ripped the CV joint boot, so that I will change that soon. So to answer my question, since I will be tearing that side back apart, is there anything else I should change while I am there? Any special tips or tricks of the trade for the CV boot replacement?

The last question, as I mentioned, is whether she is getting up there in age. I do regular oil changes, brakes as needed, tire rotations, air filters, etc... Is there anything else you recommend changing as she ages? Thank you all for any input, and thank you all for your past submissions. They help us who are less mechanically inclined, maybe more than you know.

TL;DR Any special tips for replacing the CV axle boot or other things I should change while doing this? With mileage at 275k, can I change anything besides routine maintenance to keep her around longer?

Thank you all.

 

I got a second vehicle, primarily so I can wrench on one vehicle and not be under a time crunch.

 

With you tube almost anyone can do anything lol. seems like you have the right mindset, Check out these 2 threads. Lots of info in them.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2nd-gen-diy-maintenance-quick-reference-guide.438945/

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...ckets-and-wrenches-for-2nd-gen-tacoma.158302/

 

Welcome! FWIW anytime I do something on the truck I haven't done before it takes me 3-10x longer than many people write. I'm sure someone here can swap the boots in 15 minutes but for me it takes a lot longer. The boot replacement pack is roughly $50. You can get a NAPA reman CV axle for $150. When I did my first boot I bought the reman axle, swapped it in ... then later bought a boot pack and replaced the boots. This ensured the truck was down for minimal time ... allowed me to replace the boot and see how the axle worked as I tore it down since I'd never done it before -- and basically take my time. I now have a spare - if you're in the rocks the spare is great. If you're cruising around that Napa should last.

This video was a great reference for me > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcCT4UgFUTw

 

I just picked up 2 napa axles yesterday with intentions of doing the same thing. 302K miles on the stock Toyotas. I can't bring myself to throw them away when a boot kit is only $50 lol.

 

DIY is rewarding for sure. My guess is most of us here enjoy doing things ourselves.

Regarding your CV axles. If you have OEM Toyota CV axles do NOT throw them away. Reboot them or use as a core for places that sell rebuilt OEM Toyota axles. Places that rebuild OEM axles will not take aftermarket ones as cores.

You can definitely buy an aftermarket set from Napa. You will need to adjust your expectations though. I have stock suspension and my Napa axles boots ripped a little after a year and 15k miles. I'm still driving on them and I have about 25k miles now. When they become a problem I will bring them back to Napa and they will replace them for free. I don't have a problem driving with ripped boots, but I wouldn't want to keep driving with ripped boots if I had the OEM axles. Just my 2 cents...

 

If you did ball joints, the CV axle will be no problem.

All you’ll need is a 35mm socket.
And a big pry bar.

Ideally you want a torque wrench that goes up to 174 ft/lbs to torque the axle nut back. But I would be lying if I said I “always” did this. There was a time when I didn’t own a Torque wrench. And good and tight was good enough.

 

CV axles are interesting my 1990 Toyota pick up I just sold to my nephew, still has the original Axles up front with new boots on the ends against the hubs. and I was not kind to that truck, my 2009 had the driver front replaced at some point, and the inner boot is cracking on the passenger side but everything else looks great no tears or leaking so ill keep watching. OP if you were close to me id say swing by ill show you. axles are pretty easy if you have done a few. if you've never done one they look a bit daunting.

but congratulations on the new baby, and doing your own ball joints, and you dont want to mess with control arms unless you want to align your truck again

 

Welcome To TW...

 

I hear ya on torque. I have a couple, they both just occupy space. I haven’t touched either in probably 5 years other than to move it to get to something else.

Op, suspension work some of it is pretty easy. Messing with things like struts and springs could be dangerous. I once owned a strut compressor. It broke the one time I used it and I could tell it was extremely stressed. So I don’t mess with them anymore.

As far as tool’s goes, you don’t need a box of snapon. On the other end of quantity is harbor freight. I haven’t been in one in years but it sounds like they’ve improved. Still, look at it, think is it gonna kill me or cause me to smash my knuckles?

You can look at the maintenance sticky. Lotsa good info there. If you’re uncertain about something, ask, you’ll get good answers.

Happy wrenching and welcome!

 

was a tech for many years. 80% of my tool box is Husky tools (stanley) for sockets, ratchets are mostly Cornwell, because the quality was really good, and I like them. but i also have tools from everyone from OEM specifics as to OLSA.

 

When I do something to any of our vehicles, it takes me 3-10x longer that many people write because I sit and stare, I take TV, food, and bathroom breaks, I sit and stare some more, call "break time!" and watch more TV, etc., etc., etc.

 

The frustration lunch breaks are absolutely a daylight killer.

 

Ha - unfortunately, for me, it's usually NOT out of frustration...it's just the way i work on our cars/truck.

It takes me a whole Saturday or Sunday to do a brake job. I think it's a subconscious way of getting out of other honey-do stuff.

 

This is a decent video on changing CV boots

https://youtu.be/YH5Cf7uJV5Y

 

lol i wish my life was that simple, my wife will just come out to the shop and ask how much longer i plan on being in there.

and my kids will come out to the shop and ask if i have charged m18 Milwaukie batteries for the powerwheels.

 

The technique is to spread the parts around and to grease your hands, arms, get some on your clothes, etc. (even put out tools you really aren't using) - all to make it looks like it's a real PIA job, and that's why it's taking you so long.

 

my wife knows better than that, was a Honda, and a Subaru technician. she knows that I'm pretty good at fixing things. now my friends' cars are completely different, that involves many brakes, and the occasional food or drink pause. only one weekend was super bad spent 2 days in my shop lifting a ford ranger that I've done a complete lift in an afternoon. the pitman arm had to be relief cut and still didn't want to come off.