Busted CV boot on factory shaft

I have my second busted boot on a front factory CV joint since I have had my truck "15 years" and my question is: should I put a new boot on the shaft or replace it with a whole shaft from autozone or oriley?

 

boot.

 

Your OEM CV axles are quite a bit stronger and better quality than a new complete one from a parts store. A reboot with new grease and a good inspection of the cv joint should be your best bet. How long have the boots been torn? Hopefully no grime or crap got into the joint.

 

Reboot if you haven't been driving on them with a torn boot for a long time meaning you weren't driving with little or no grease left in the joint and you didn't wear out the joint by getting a bunch of road contaminants inside the joint.

Here's a video you can use for the reboot. The video covers an extended boot modification that's optional if you have a lifted truck.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vcCT4UgFUTw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

The boot to gave out yesterday. It's 90% still intact. It's just got grease slung around my frame from the inner boot. I couldn't locate the actual hole on hand inspection so I am thinking it's still very small.

 

100000000 time, reboot.

 

I've never done a reboot on a Tacoma cv, but I have done a few Polaris ranger cv's. I'm guessing it's pretty close to the same procedure.

 

Im in the exact same position. I bought my tacoma a few months ago though. Buying New axels wasnt that much more than the cost of rebooting both inner axels. I dont think mine are oem either. So i just bought new axels and will be doing the boot mod on both of the new axels before installation. Less mess and faster. I have heard that oem are alot better than aftermarket. That youtube vid with Timmy is really good.

 

Does anyone have a preferred boot for repairs or just one from an auto parts store?

 

Order from camelback Toyota in AZ. I just replaced all four boots and paid $60ish for the kits shipped. They give a TW discount.

Here is the thread

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/gunny-is-back.476544/

 

An entire new axle is like $60 and is much easier to replace than a boot

 

Go this way. Boot comes with grease and new c-clips. You can purchase just the inner boot kit also. That's what I did. Did the boot slide mod while I was at it also.

 

If you just replace the boot, be careful what kind of boot you get, some will be a universal type that has to be trimmed and may not fit right.

 

The aftermarket CV axles are weaker than OE.

Replacing CV boots is not bad if you do your homework...

 

Stay away from ththe shitty parts store CV axles. Especially if you have a lift. They'll be toast in a minute. OEM or just reboot

 

have to agree here, I have done my fair share of reboots. It's just not worth the time and effort.. I hear lots of talk about parts store CVs constantly breaking, but never actually hear first hand accounts unless your lift setup is garbage to begin with, in which case an OEM axle wouldn't stand a chance either. I have tried to find stuff out there regarding Napa CVs, and have found very little or no problems with them, even when wheeling. Why not go with that then? You get a new lifetime unit (don't get a reman, only 3 year warranty on those), and if you do break it, take it in and get a new one. Just keep a trail spare... same thing... swap and pop, get a new one (for free) when you get the chance. All I'm sayin. It's worth the convenience, I only have so much time these days to work on crap like this.

The parts stores don't expect most CV axles to get wheeled on and broken. Getting a free one when you break it wheeling your junk is a raw deal.

 

Well, I have to disagree with you. There's a thing called a core charge, at least the auto shops in the California Bay Area charge one, for CV axles. So, in order to not pay the core charge, you have to give up your OEM axles and basically trade them for inferior ones. I've also heard good things about Napa CV axles but I'd rather reboot my OEM ones. And, if I want a spare axle, I'll go grab an OEM one off a wrecked 3rd Gen at the local Pick and Pull.

And Yes, the lifetime warranty is great, but what is your time worth? They'll give you another axle for free but you have to do all the labor to remove it or pay someone to do it for you.

Anyway, to each his own.

 

I will have to say I busted a boot on my passenger side while in college and didn't notice for a while.... I ended up popping it out and replacing with a napa "new" lifetime cv and that was in 2007. So it has made it 10 years with a 2.5" lift. I am stumped as to what I want to do. I really don't have time to swap the boot but I don't want to lose my OEM CV either.

 

I Also just looked on napa site and it doesn't show that they have a core charge for the "new" cv's but for the remanufactured ones. If this is right I could possibly keep my OEM and reboot when I get time.

 

It's a messy job not going to lie, so if your not into grease all over then go the easy route. If you have the time and want to learn about your truck then go for the boot exchange. My .02