CV Boot tore

I knew it was going to happen, just didn't prepare for it. Should I get a new Napa axle or a re manufactured axle? I saw the thread about replacing the front axle on an 01 taco, does anyone have any tips for me? Should I do the boot slide mod on the new axle? sorry for being full of questions, I just don't want to replace the axle again. I looked at toyota parts direct and want to know what I would need if I buy there.
http://www.toyotapartsdirect.com/parts.html

 

i haven't had to replace the axle on my tacoma, but i've done one on a camry and it can be a PITA. i bought one from autozone that comes with a lifetime warranty and it's been about 2yrs now and it's holding up just fine. on the camry it was a bitch on the driver side.

 

Did mine a couple weeks ago. Was my first time. Was easy, honestly. The longest part for me was getting the new cv all the way back in. It slides in a little bit...and then needs a good hit to get it to pop in. I ended up using a long piece of metal and pressed it against the lip of the inside of the cv, then hit it with a hammer and it popped right in. I bought a cv from autozone, brand new not re-man'd. One autozone store wanted a core charge, went to another autozone and no core...so keep that in mind (unless you don't mind giving them your old cv, kept mine to rebuild). And the autozone cv has less fins than stock so they don't even come close to touching for me, so didn't do/need the boot slide mod. Only really wheeled hard twice on it, but no problems yet. Not expecting any. Iirc Jlee runs autozone cv's? Good enough reason for me lol.

 

Just because the boot tore doesnt mean you need a new axle. If it just tore recently throw a new boot on. I got a new boot local here for $12, with new clamps, retaining rings and grease.

 

Napa just relabels these and charges double the price

http://my.cardone.com/English/club/members/customer/ecat_brands/imageinfo.asp?PARTNUM=665134

I've read the autozone ones are junk but it seems others are proving different.

Guess it comes down to if you wheel, how hard you wheel, and what kind of wheeling you do

Fwiw I just tore a boot on mine, went to oreily's and bout a new boot n grease for $12.

 

Yeah I bought a new boot also. So I can keep the oem as a spare. So if I have any problems with the autozone cv on the trail I can pop the oem back in and go to autozone and get a free cv.

 

I don't wheel very hard, so best option would be go to autozone and get their CV with a lifetime warranty? The reason i'm doing a whole axle replacement is because I searched and another thread said it's easier to just replace the half shaft.

EDIT: I called a couple autozones around me and they all have a core charge... does that mean I have to send them my old CV axle?

 

Personally if you do any wheeling at all keep your oem and rebuild it. Get one from rockauto in the link I posted above. They don't require a core charge.

Yes it is easier and less messy to just swap the cv. Since to replace the boot you have to pull the cv then take it apart, clean reboot grease and reinstall.

And to answer your question ya, they want your old one.

 

quick question; How much angle is too much and will eventually lead to a boot failure due to rubbing?

 

When the inner fins touch. If you can slide a piece of paper between the inner fins you are good to go.

Manual hubs would be ideal since then the boots would only be turning/touching when your in 4x4

Auto hubs they are always turning. When they rub they start to make little wear marks and weaken the rubber. Then one day they let go and spray grease everywhere

 

Oh dear

 

i think i might be good then. I would have loved to get manual hubs...but it didnt work out that way unfortunately.

 

I went with an autozone reman axle instead of swapping boots. Swapping boots is a pita and I would much rather swap in an axle and be done with it. The lifetime warranty is nice too! I think if you get a new instead of a reman axle from autozone there is no core charge but I could be wrong. You should try going in and talking with someone that works there to find out.

 

You can always add em later. That's most likely what I'll do.

 

Boot change is easy. 2 retaining clips and it's off. Took me maybe 5 mins longer than a axle swap and only cost $12.