CV AXLE OR BOOT

Ughh!! I’ve got a CV BOOT leaking on my 2011 Tacoma. Anyone have any experience in changing out the CV AXLE that wants to give me some pointers would be great. Thx!

 

@fatfurious2

 

Huh??

 

This guy knows his shit

 

CV axles are pretty straightforward/easy to swap out if you have a little experience doing DIY maintenance. There are a ton of tutorials on Youtube to follow that make it as simple as going step by step, just search YouTube for Tacoma Cv axle install.

 

thx. I’ll do that.

 

They are pretty straightforward like @eon_blue said. You can get an OEM boot kit from Toyota, but you will need these pliers and 2 breaker bars for leverage
Lisle 30800 CV Boot Clamp Pliers

$29 Lisle 30800 CV Boot Clamp Pliers

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002SREPY

If you don't want to rebuild yourself, you could send them out to CVJ for a rebuild

 

Yes.

Only thing Ill add is depending on how tight your circlip is you might have a hell of time popping it out of the diff. Some are easy and some fight you all the way. In that case an extra set of hands and a CV Lasso can be a huge help.
For example: https://www.gzila.com/products/cv-removal-tool

 

I found when you are trying to get the cv out, to tap with a small sledge, and rotate the diff side of the CV, and then pry with a pry bar. sometimes tap the handle side of the pry bar. Keep on doing that until it pops out. It might take a while or you might need a lasso like @SR-71A said.

These will help too:
https://youtu.be/-oSifI6U-Iw

https://youtu.be/F_WNmMWYaeA

 

I just replaced both cv axles on my old 4runner and it was cake, I have helped before but never tackled one on my own. I watched a few youtube vids just to make sure I did everything in the right order and it was no big deal. Get yourself a long pry bar and don't be afraid to whack it pretty good to get out/put back in. Tapping on the end of the axle with a rubber mallet did not work for me. Make sure it is lined up really well, I didn't have any help so I used a bungee cord looped off of my upper control arm to hold it level. Only took one or two good whacks using a big hammer with the pry bar in the little indentations on the inner cv body to get the c-clip going in. You will do fine!

 

It’s not too bad to replace the CV.
Remove the caliper. You can leave the pads in.

Remove the 35mm axle nut.

Disconnect the 2 Lower ball joint mount bolts.

Remove the tie rod end from the spindle.

The sway bar mount/link can stay on.

Pull out on the lower spindle where the ball joint mounts.

Swing spindle out of the way.

Pull CV out.

If you are good. And everything goes right. It could probably be done in an hour or so.

I’m slow. Really slow. It took me longer. I’m not a mechanic. And I tend to check and recheck things.