Leaking Grease from CV Boot

If you’re concerned about the time between finding the vice grips and boot tear because of the vice grips: take a look at them. There might be some markings which could definitively trace back to the mechanic..Easy street from there.

Also, get OEM axles if you’re going to replace...

 

Noted! Ill keep this in mind, thanks!

This is definitely good to know. My local Napa has the NEW ones and the REMAN ones. The REMAN ones are actually more expensive but regardless, good to know they are good quality!

I dont do any wheeling at all, and this may actually be a solution for me to be able to get around until I get the chance to actually repair it!

 

Good to know, ill take a look this weekend at the tear as well as the vice grips!

 

It is not too bad of a job actually. I used the slider hammer method as described in another thread. 3 slides back and it popped out. I was doing this on the ground with a jack stand and used a green metal fence stake to tap the cv back into the diff. 3 whacks, turn, repeat and it'll pop back in.

 

Am I alone in thinking it's silly to replace the whole CV because of a little tear in the boot, that is nonsense.... Especially since you caught it in the early stages... I replaced CV boots on my previous '05 Taco and it was simple.... Only "special" tools i had to pick up to do the job was a socket (forget what size) for the axle nut and the crimp tool for the new boot clamps....

 

Does it just snap back into place or were you turning it and tapping it until the teeth lined up?

Did you replace or add grease to the joint when you changed the boot?

I think the only reason to change it is the same amount of work goes into replacing the boot as replacing the whole thing. And a whole axle can be bought for as little as $30-$60.

 

I cleaned all parts thoroughly and repacked with grease. I don't know how long mine were spewing grease, I just noticed on a hot day there were 2 grease spots on driveway, upon further inspection discovered it was the CV boots. The tears in mine were more significant than what I see in your pics. Even with the tears I had there did not seem to be any dirt evident inside the boot, just a lot of high pressure (real sticky) grease.

I personally don't like throwing money at something that is not necessarily required. If in fact I did need to replace them, I'd go with genuine Toyota or equivalent quality parts.

 

Good point. I only have two small holes a bit bigger than pin size, but it was enough to shoot grease out everywhere.

It's tough cause the spring whether here is wet, snowy and cold. I just want to get under there and check things out. Doesn't help that I dont have a garage either.

 

about a year ago, while on a road trip about 900 miles from home, saw the grease in the left front wheelwell. I had about 170K miles on the truck, so opted for the replacement axle, and I wanted it done in a day... Checked with two small shops in Winchester Virginia and they passed on the job, because they couldn't get the replacement axle in time. The Toyota dealer said he could get the axle, install and deliver the truck to me about 20 miles outside of town. Took that, but it cost $425. He threw in an oil change for free...

 

Honestly even at $400, that doesn't seem ridiculous. I was expecting upwards of $1000 with the parts and labor.

For the hell of it, I'll probably get a quote from my dealer when I go in next week to buy the replacement hardware for my rusty door handle bushings.

 

Clean off the grease and apply black RTV over the holes, assuming the are not large holes. It worked for me.

 

I replaced just the boot of the axle while it was still on the truck. Wasn't fun, but it wasn't bad either. Just needed a new boot, grease and a couple straps and was good to go.

 

My holes very small. This could be a good solution for me temporarily and to see if it gets worse or not.

@ktmrdr What type of RTV did you use? I'm seeing a lot of different kinds at my local hardware store.

Did you remove the knuckle assembly and replace the boot? Or cut the old boot off and install one of those spit boots that you install without removing anything?

 

Flinging grease from CV's as well torn boots is a normal thing for these trucks.

I can't stand that we don't have manual hubs and the CV's are basically always moving. I'll probably have to shoot for manual hubs on this thing one day, maybe soon.

 

I think the reason they got rid of the manual locking hubs down at the wheel is to get rid of the clutter and not have a bunch of greased moving parts that can get covered in dirt and road salt.

 

Removed the knuckle assembly.

 

So I've been real busy in the last month and haven't even driven the truck since I've just been using my daily.

I went to the dealer last week to get a quote on fixing the torn CV boot and they told me it was practically the same price for a new boot as it was for a new CV axle (parts only).

• CV axle = $270 CND
• CV axle boot = $250 CND
• Labor about $200

So if I go with a new axle, all in after tax they want around $550. Does this seem reasonable?

Or am I better off going to an independent shop? Do shops other than the dealer use OEM parts or order aftermarket?

 

https://www.toyota.com/support/contact-us

 

my cost was $450 back in September of 2018 (or so). I have a comment posted a half page back.