CV Axle snapped @ 8k miles

Over the years, about 14 years, I've come here to learn and occasionally share what I've learned. I've learned a lot more than I've shared. Here's what I've learned so far regarding lifting a 4th Gen.
1. For 2024, there's more than one CV axle design depending on trim level.
2. After-market suspension components are relatively few and and largely untested by TW members in the field.
3. There may be special considerations and limits when lifting your 4th gen. You may want to consider your truck's OEM CV design when deciding how aggressive of lift and consider a diff drop to reduce CV angle. It may turn out that the 4th gens capacity to lift is less than previous gens.

OP. Thanks for sharing your experience. Even though the debate isn't always civil, having it is always educational. I hope that you don't have to bear the brunt of the full cost of this repair, but if you do, know that the value of the lesson is shared widely.

 

Different tire speeds on the same axle are accommodated by the open diff. 4x4 binds in sharp turns because front tires travel greater distances than rear tires.

 

Regardless, the OP needs to do something about the lift long-term. Dropping it two inches would be wise. If the existing lift can't do that than get one that can. Or better yet......
Toyota had every right to deny the claim based on modified. And why that didn't happen baffles me. I was actually surprised TRD offers a kit, knowing how Toyota felt about lifted trucks. Whenever I had a factory rep visiting and they saw Toyotas with huge lifts they would just groan. Those looking for goodwill assistance on something barely out of warranty rarely got help.

I do think Toyota's commitment to Kaizen has waned, though. And forums like this need to bring their attention to that. I like my newish Tacoma ok, but my previous gen was a better quality truck.

 

You think engineers are infallible? Engineers are the WORST at overlooking real world scenarios. They always think that because of what they designed worked on paper, it will automatically work in reality too. Except when it doesn't, their egos refuse to accept that it doesn't work and they find every single excuse to blame everything except themselves for not taking into account how reality works.

 

You haven't been in the forum long then obviously....or even online. Go join some Tacoma groups and get back to me....or rather don't..I already know what you'll find.

The majority of those trucks are modified.

 

You know who's not in those groups? Your typical automobile consumer that bought the tacoma for what it is. We are the minority.

 

Then why did Toyota even bother offering all those features on their trucks. Might as well not even bother, since people interested in them are the minority. The fact that Toyota put high lift jack points right into the frame ends from the factory says otherwise. Why bother doing that if they know the majority won't even need it.

 

I hate an engineer as much as the next guy, don't worry. But until you bring data to the table presenting STOCK trucks blowing through axles "in the real world," your argument is moot. If you think Toyota paid engineers to build something in any shape or form other than what comes out of the factories, you're clueless.

You must be new to earth. Welcome. This is how marketing works.

 

Lowering the truck wont solve the problem though.... you could just as easily pop a CV out when flexed and full droop due to the design.


My question is... WHY would toyota have different length axles depending on trim level lift.... why not put the long ones in everything. Not enough plunge at full compression? Sounds like the 4th gen IFS in 4x4 trim has geometry with the front diff and cv's that doesnt allow much travel.

 

Yes that's how marketing works...but they never market to the minority. They market to the masses. The TRD Pro/Trail Hunter are marketed to the minority that want an RTR vehicles, while the more "affordable" trims are marketed towards the majority with the premise that you can customize and mod the truck to be just like a Pro or Trailhunter with ease. If they really wanted to market the TRD Off Road differently than the Sport or SRs, they would make note and mention the better CV axles it has.

But they don't...I didn't even realize they were different until this and a previous thread.

Id bet that would have changed the minds of a decent amount of Sport buyers, that were also considered an O/R, if they knew the O/R had the stronger CVs.

That's where the short-sighted issue was, not necessarily with the vehicle itself.

All previous gens had identical drivelines axle to axle, save for different rear end/axles due to the rear locker. Id bet 99% of 4th Gen buyers (particularly Sport buyers) assumed this, and figured that the 4th Gen would be the same.....not knowing that Toyota DID change the front axles depending on trim.

 

Op?

 

Really? Open your eyes when you drive around. Stock height Tacomas are by far the vast majority. I know a dozen or more Tacoma owners, not one is lifted, including all 3 I’ve owned.

 

I don't think you really understand, but you're making our points for us. They market to the masses, they sell to the masses, and the minority find themselves on these forums talking about how something broke when they modified it. Toyota sells trucks a certain way from the factory. Those trucks are warrantied when something breaks. When you go and modify those components, and those components verifiably are the cause of your issues, Toyota happily denies those warranty claims.

Where do you get this notion from? They're different, and have different costs, for a reason. You still seem to be under the impression you can't lift or modify a Sport without grenading an axle. You can use the same Icon coilovers OP used; you just need to read the instructions (and install all the necessary components to do so safely).

 

I do see what drives around. Every Tacoma anywhere around where I live has at minimum different tires and aftermarket wheels. It doesn't have to have a lift to be modified. There are plenty that have shoved larger tires on without a lift or with a basic leveling kit

 

this statement reminds me of the scene in the movie Schindler's List where the prison camp officer shoots the inmate engineer building the prisoner barracks for overlooking the real world scenarios.

 

"It may turn out that the 4th gens capacity to lift is less than previous gens."

 

4th gen requires less lift to fit larger tires. 33’s easily fit with zero mods.

 

I love the smell of Tacoma World in the air, it’s like a scratch and sniff Paralympic rodeo.

 

Slightly oversized tires without a lift are not gonna droop your axles out enough to pull them out of the differential. But again, all 12 owners of Tacoma’s. I know are 100% stock. Mine is the only one that is slightly modified as it is an SR5 With sport wheels and tires