Leaking cv axle

Hey all,

recently did my 40k mile oil change and noticed my driver side cv axle appears to be very greasy. I can’t really tell if it’s just the boot that would need to be replaced or the entire cv axle. The passenger side looks completely fine and I don’t want to justify the $300 diag fee at Toyota just yet

 

You can just replace the boot but I find it easer to get a new CV axle from Napa and swap it. You could rebuild that one and save it for the next one that goes. It is not a horrible repair to do yourself if you work on your own stuff. If you do take it to a shop I would refuse to pay a diagnostic fee and it is visibly bad and in obvious need of replacement.

 

Do we think Toyotas 60 month/ 60k mile warranty on suspension and axle parts would cover this or would they try their best to avoid a warranty claim?

 

If it’s lifted I suspect they will deny it

 

Stick with OEM axles if you can. They will last longer.

 

If your truck is not lifted, and the suspension is in “stock” forum. They will replace it.
If they have to replace it, they’ll likely reboot it.

If you have to pay for it, you’ll get a new CV. And you’ll pay for it. And it’s expensive compared to a Napa HD. (That’s what I’d recommend if you don’t want OEM).


And yes, before someone says, OEM is better. It IS.
But replacing the CV is not “hard”. My truck is stock, I don’t off-road, and I can replace my Napa axle 3x for the price of one OEM.

 

The NAPA axle has a lifetime replacement warranty at a 3rd of the price. I have run aftermarket CV’s many more miles than the OEM. If the OEM is so great it seems his would not have failed already. LOL…

 

Brought it to the dealer and they’re replacing both entire axles under warranty. Currently waiting for parts to come in and they gave me a brand new Highlander as a loaner. Shoutout to Toyota autoland lol

 

Pretty sure Toyota has a boot kit for it. I would keep the axle if not making any noise. They are better than aftermarket.

 

For everything talking about aftermarket axles, CVJ Reman sells remanufactured axles made from Toyota parts. The boots are not Toyota, but I think they can make them with OEM boots if you ask. They are more expensive than most aftermarket, but less than new OEM. They also have different boot options for lifted trucks. https://www.cvjreman.com/

Or @trail.taco is selling axles pulled off wrecked Tacomas. https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/oem-cv-axles-for-sale.837595/

A lifetime warranty is worthless if it leaves me stranded somewhere. The OEM ones might have boot issues occasionally, but they rarely fail catastrophically.

 

Yeah, yeah. Threads all over this forum on CV axles and the horrors of buying aftermarket. In all my years and the maybe 10 I have replaced on various vehicles. I have never had a new CV axle fail that I have replaced. I have never had to go back and replace an aftermarket axle or actually use the warranty either. To each his own but that is real world experience. One trick at Napa is to ask to look at both the reman and the new axles. Almost each time the cheaper option reman they bring out ends up being a brand new axle with the same part # as the new one. If you catch them on special you can normally get these axles for about half of OEM. If you are rock crawling or doing some serious off-road shit then beef these parts up. If it is being used the way 99.9% of the trucks on this forum are used. Just get the cheaper CV and move on with your life.
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/NCV944052

 

I would start by wiping the grease off and looking for a rip. If you don’t see one, drive it a few days and check for grease again.

Boots can rip due to various reasons. They are just rubber after all. I’d be surprised if Toyota would ever replace one because of a manufacturing defect. A dealer might do it for love though.

Also, there’s not much point to replacing the entire CV axle before it has failed or is at risk of failing. Replace the boot or keep on driving it. How often do you rely on 4wd?