Bad CV axle

Noticed a vibration at low speeds especially turning this morning. Sure enough the passenger CV is leaking. How bad is this to drive on? Got an appointment with the mechanic on Thur.

 

Small leak isnt the end of the world, but vibrations are not a good sign. Maybe its been leaking a long time. Few more days wont kill it most likely.

If its the OEM CV axle, and turns out to be in good shape, have your guys reboot it with OEM boots/lube. Or at least request to keep it. Aftermarket part-store CV axles suck...go bad way more quickly than OEM...more prone to vibrations, ect.

 

If you end up needing a new CV axle, your options are aftermarket (don't do it,) Toyota original (good, but very $$$,) or a quality remanufactured CV.

These guys have been around quite awhile and seem to be trusted on TW:

https://www.cvjreman.com/product-tag/9808/

 

To me that sounds like a wheel bearing.

A cv axle leaking some grease is not a big deal, plus when going bad they click..

 

All of a sudden though?

 

I’ve been driving on mine for months both inner boots are bad . Getting them both replaced along with the lower ball joints Thursday.

 

The vibration all of a sudden concerns me

 

Ya thats how it happens

 

Cv axels are easy to swap out and not too pricy. About $110 each side from Rockauto. My son and I did the ones on his 2000 Tundra in about 1 1/2 hours. We had to go aftermarket since Toyota has stopped making them for first gen Tundras. I agree with getting OEM if you can. I tried to buy OEM and shelled out $900 only to be emailed a day later saying the were on permanent backorder, aka discontinued.

 

as mentioned i would highly recommend going with OEM. i replaced my passenger side less than 2 years ago with a NAPA one to save a penny. new one is already leaking.. went back to OEM, cost $552. buy once, cry once i guess. the quality of the toyota axle really is noticeable though.

 

Do you feel the vibration in the steering wheel or the seat of your pants??

steering wheel is something up front
Like wheel bearing /wheel balance/
needle bearing is usually a whining not a vibration.

seat of your pants is something rear end
Like a carrier bearing/ driveline u joint
Just some ideas

 

I too agree that OEM is absolutely the way to fly here - if you can afford a new one or find an OEM remanufactured one. As for remanufactured CV's in general, you have to be careful there. If the core they start with is OEM, you have a decent shot at success. If the core they start with is aftermarket, you're screwed. You will not get an aftermarket remanufactured CV (with a Toyota part number) from your Toyota dealer. They always start with Toyota cores.

 

Look for OEM reman. Like a remanufactured one that the dealer would install. I've used them on bigger trucks like Sequoia and older tundra. Not sure about availability for a Tacoma but it's worth asking

 

Whole truck vibrates really. Only happens when I’m turning slowly less than 20 mph mostly when I’m turning left

 

While you’re down there feel the play in the driver side CV axle, there’s a small chance it could be your needle bearing needs replaced by the ECGS. check to see if the vibration goes away in 4wd. I also agree that the passenger side CV boot should be addressed but that might not be what’s causing the vibration

 

I already have the ECGS bearing

 

Anybody had any luck getting OEM axles recently, last time I talked to the dealer they were backordered for months

 

Cvj remans oem reman only
https://www.cvjreman.com/

 

Hmmm my vote is still with a wheel bearing..
Hopefully you appt Thursday will be helpful

 

I will say this while I’ve been driving for a few months on two bad inner boots with no noise/vibration issues what so ever when the outter boots went out on my 2003 it didn’t take long for it to start making noises and vibrations.