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Replacing CV Axle

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by Peediz, Jul 28, 2015.

  1. Jul 28, 2015 at 9:04 PM
    #1
    Peediz

    Peediz [OP] Active Member

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    My passenger outer boot has a hole in it that's spitting grease. I've been on the hunt for a cv axle. I debated aftermarket (napa, autozone, advance) but I like having OEM parts in my truck. My 03 is a stock daily driver and sees 96% street.

    My local junkyard has an OEM CV axle that I'm picking up tomorrow. I was just wondering if there are certain things I should look for when buying it. How will I know if it's actually OEM? Should I be deterred by rust?

    Also, is it wise to buy a new output seal for when the axle gets installed? Is that the same as the dust seal that people mention? Are there any other things needed for the installation that I should pick up?

    Any advice would be great. Thanks.
     
  2. Jul 28, 2015 at 11:49 PM
    #2
    CodeSeven

    CodeSeven LOC: 33.781461, -115.867251

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    I went with NAPA axles on my 2000 trd 4x4. They work just fine. Use them or advance/carquest. no autozone or pep boys! dont trust junk yards. everything is used! at least aftermarket has rebuilt oem. yes rust is bad no rust! and theres no way to know what's genuine toyota or aftermarket unless you buy it straight form the dealer.

    The only thing that really ever goes bad with the axles are the boots. you can see cracking, splitting, dryness, etc as signs of damage. if the boot is fresh rubber, it's safe to say it's hardly been used. but you can't get that guarantee form a junk yard. go aftermarket or dealer.

    if your doing the work yes change the output seals. you're there. might as well. just make sure your diff has enough fluid after you swap everything out. i didn't swap my seals out when i did my axles. but nothing has happened yet either after 16k miles. not very critical.

    make sure you get a new locknut and washer with your axles.
     
  3. Jul 29, 2015 at 12:57 AM
    #3
    Wyoming09

    Wyoming09 Well-Known Member

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    I also will second going with new Napa axles

    I would go with new NAPA over anything out of a yard.

    Failure comes with cracked boots grease going out and grit coming in.

    I did buy the boot Kits from Toyota I might if over come with ambition rebuild the old ones.
     
  4. Jul 29, 2015 at 6:22 AM
    #4
    ThunderOne

    ThunderOne Well-Known Member

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    OEM has a green label or sticker on the center part of the axle. If you're mostly street then an auto parts store axle should be fine. However, they aren't very good for wheeling because they bind at full droop. Just make sure the mileage is under 100k on the OEM axle and you should be fine. And check the boots to make sure they are good as well.
     
  5. Jul 29, 2015 at 10:30 AM
    #5
    Peediz

    Peediz [OP] Active Member

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    Thanks for the info. I'm gonna get the NAPA axle.

    The NAPA website says it doesn't come with the axle nut. Is this what you're referring to? Where can I get the axle nut from? Is it bad to reuse the one on there now?
     
  6. Jul 29, 2015 at 11:47 AM
    #6
    Wyoming09

    Wyoming09 Well-Known Member

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    You can get them from your dealer or one of the online Toyota Parts vendors.
     
  7. Jul 29, 2015 at 7:34 PM
    #7
    Peediz

    Peediz [OP] Active Member

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    Local dealer doesn't have them. Nearest dealer with it in stock is in another state. I checked partznet.com but the shipping is $10 and change. I'm not paying $12+ for a $2 nut.
     
  8. Jul 29, 2015 at 10:22 PM
    #8
    CodeSeven

    CodeSeven LOC: 33.781461, -115.867251

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    i worked at napa for over 7 years. it BETTER come with a new nut. if not, tell them hell no and deny/return it. technically you shouldn't use the old one, cause you have to chizzle it at the end to "lock" it in place. and if you reuse the old one, you may not be able to chizzle it in the appropriate place. but it's for the front axles that aren't always used, you can get away with it for a while.
     
  9. Jul 30, 2015 at 12:19 AM
    #9
    Wyoming09

    Wyoming09 Well-Known Member

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    Did you ask your dealer I bet they could have them the next morning.
     
  10. Jul 30, 2015 at 1:42 AM
    #10
    ThunderOne

    ThunderOne Well-Known Member

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    They probably mean cotter pin. You shouldn't be chiseling anything else while doing a CV replacement. Yes it's good practice to replace these with every use but you can use one a couple of times as long as you don't bend the shit out of it
     
  11. Jul 30, 2015 at 7:55 AM
    #11
    98 Taco Max

    98 Taco Max Well-Known Member

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    Yeah my axle nuts don't require any chiseling, mine have a regular nut, then a 'castle-type' sleeve that slides over the nut, and then a cotter pin to keep everything from turning. i was careful and reused my cotter pin but bending them over and over again they will eventually need to be replaced with new ones.
     
  12. Jul 30, 2015 at 9:55 AM
    #12
    slander

    slander Honorary Crawl Boi

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    I usually look for people selling their stock cvs online, that's how i pick up OEM CVs. Toyota CV's have a green sticker like thunderone said.

    If its the inner boot, why not just reboot the CV? Its really easy, just messy as hell. I did not use the special CV clamps and just hose clamped the boot on there and it has held up for 3yrs now of road and trail use.
     
  13. Jul 30, 2015 at 9:59 AM
    #13
    ramonortiz55

    ramonortiz55 Not A Well-Known Member

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    any good aftermarket cv for rigs that see offroading?
     
  14. Jul 30, 2015 at 10:01 AM
    #14
    phillstill

    phillstill Long hair don't care

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    NAPA Auto part. About $100
    I'm buying two next week
     
  15. Jul 30, 2015 at 10:23 AM
    #15
    Peediz

    Peediz [OP] Active Member

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    It did. The reason I thought otherwise is because the website only showed the reman axle and it stated "Axle Nut Not Included". I went with a new axle and it had the nut.

    Thanks for all your help.
     
  16. Jul 30, 2015 at 10:37 AM
    #16
    Peediz

    Peediz [OP] Active Member

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    It's the outer boot. I thought about rebooting but it seemed to make more sense to just put in a new one after taking the old one out.
     
  17. Jul 30, 2015 at 2:24 PM
    #17
    slander

    slander Honorary Crawl Boi

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    The outer boot is a PITA.
     
  18. Jul 30, 2015 at 2:26 PM
    #18
    slander

    slander Honorary Crawl Boi

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    You can buy rcvs for the front but its almost a grand and then the r&p becomes your weak point. Ive only broken one CV in 10yrs of wheeling and 8 of that was with a crawler. That CV came on the truck and had 170k on it!
     
  19. Jul 30, 2015 at 4:09 PM
    #19
    Snowman

    Snowman I have a problem for your solution…

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    If your axle is oem and still had grease in it, a new boot is the best option. Toyota axles are far better than aftermarket. Replacing a boot isn't hard, just need a good set of snap ring pliers.
     
  20. Jul 30, 2015 at 8:09 PM
    #20
    Peediz

    Peediz [OP] Active Member

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    Are the cv axles interchangeable from side to side? I noticed after I bought mine that it was labeled "Left" but I need it for the passenger side. Return it or install it?
     

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