CV Axle leaking grease (not ripped fins)

Alright so... this is what's happening:








Any advice? The fins aren't torn leaking, its the base of the actual boots. I've had a couple times this winter that I was very hard on the 4wd, could this be the result? I can also notice loud clunks/pops every once in while when I turn/hit bumps or engage/disengage 4wd.

I was thinking of putting on aftermarket CV's anyways, are they hard to install or should I have a shop do it? ( I don't have much help/experience with these things). Any advice would help, thanks guys.

 

is this on the driver side of passnger??

 

Looks like the end band clamp on CV boot might have loosened up on ya no fix for this except to replace clamp &/or CV axle as far as I know

 

im in the same boat your in but both of mine are leaking and slinging grease on everything

 

If you are hearing any sort of clunking/popping out of them, while turning, they may be shot. I would replace them.
If you are not familiar with your taco, I would have a shop do them. Its not too hard of a job, but it is a job none the less.

 

If the CV's aren't making any noise, and you don't think they are worn, just wipe off the extra grease, cut the clamp and use a hose clamp or fat zip tie to seal the boot.

edit: Just re-read your OP...are you sure its your CV's making nosie and not anything else in the front end?


BTW, are your CV's original, re-manufactured, or aftermarket? Your boots dont look like the OEM ones.

If you do replaces the CV's, its pretty easy:



http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/maintenance/cv_axle/

 

as far as I know they are oem...? im not exactly sure if they are popping, I just hear random pops every once in a while from the front end. its hard to tell what it is when it only makes noise when I drive. im having the shop look into it when I take it in tomorrow to have them fix my brake issue... we'll see what they say

 

I was looking for that link...better than the one I posted.

 

I'm pretty sure those are stock axles and boots. They look identical to mine which are original.

I would clean them up real good and wait and see if you get more seepage. That is what I did and have been pleasantly surprised to find they never did seep any more. It is scary though. And I do a pretty thorough inspection after every wheeling event.

On mine, I am fairly certain was is caused by the lift. Almost as if the slight increase in axle angle has caused some increased pressure within the boot forcing the displacement of some of the grease.

 

Same thing started happening to my cv's after I lifted my truck. I didn't hear any popping noises but I kept an eye on them. Cleaned up the grease a few times but it came back so I replaced them. Pretty easy to do, I got the cv's from Napa. I'm sure they aren't as good as factory ones but a lot cheaper. If your front brakes need replacing also, during replacement of cv's would be a good time to do it.....thats what I did. Hope this helps.

 

Meh... I think even with that leakage your CVs will be fine... exposing them to mud and dirt etc... is much worse on a set than a little less grease and I know of people running dry open CVs for a long time before they take a shit.


Wipe them off good. Get a couple hose clamps and replace those stock clamps with the hose clamps. You're in Laramie so it shouldn't be hard to find a buddy to help you.

 

I agree with the hose clamps or nice wide zipties. I have used both and they held up to wheeling just fine. Hose clamps are better though. The boots are packed full of grease. That little bit lost will not hurt anything.

 

Yep, just hose clamp em man. Do the boot slide mod while your at it.

 

yo jeff, you still got that ADD axle shaft you wanna get rid of?

 

yo pretty sure I’m experiencing the same thing. Owner of slee off road told me this might happen post OME install, and it did on the passenger side..

what did you use to clean the grease off?

 

Nothing special. Just a rag to wipe off the excess.