CV Axle Boots... is there a better than OEM option? (1 Viewer)

[phi1osopher]

I rebuilt my 1999 LC's OEM front CV Axles with fresh OEM Toyota boots and grease about 30,000 miles ago. Since then they both have had a boot failure. Most recently my Driver's inner boot went KAPUT. The truck has an approximate 2.5 - 3 inch suspension lift and no diff drop. Really, pretty normal stuff.
I am running my OEM Toyota axles after having a bad experience with aftermarket ones repeatedly and almost instantly failing, only to later discover they were physically significantly different at the inner splines.

Has the community identified an upgraded boot option? Is there some common failure point which might be causing my premature failure? Does the kid at the local alignment shop where I bought a lifetime alignment 10 years ago secretly hate me and has been slicing my boots? I really really really expected the Toyota boots to have lasted longer.

I'd love to hear any feedback or suggestions.

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[leveeguy]

Dang the entire inner boot is gone.

I'm pretty sure the OEM boot kits would be considered the best replacement option.

The amount of lift you have with no diff drop is prob factoring in to the boot failure.

I have no lift and rebooted a cv axle 10+ years ago with many many miles and it has not failed yet.

 

[Trapper50cal]

I have the "high-angle" silicone boots for inners but I can't say they are an improvement. They may end up being so.
They are SOFT and snakebite easily, and they need to be mounted to a very specific standard in order to not contact
and wear themselves. They will last longer under optimal conditions but I think the OEM boot should remain the boot of record.

Edit:

9534 TR - CVJ Axles

LIFTED- MODERATE ANGLES BEST ✶✶✶✶✶ 9534 TR $342.00 each +$220.00 core deposit each Toyota Steel OEM Toyota Plastic Outer CV Boot Higher Angle Red Silicone Inner Boot Closest to OEM Toyota for lifted applications Same Right and Left; One (1) single axle

www.cvjreman.com

 

[JAntosch]

Maybe not better but different: Different/better(?) inner CV boot - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/different-better-inner-cv-boot.1315213/

I've had no issues running these for ~7k miles, but with a diff drop and ~ 21.75" hub to fender (~ 2.75" droop). P/N 04437-0C041 as referenced in the linked thread.

 

[Land Shark]

I would say that with a 2.5-3" lift and no diff drop that is your issue. Angles are just too great.

 

[scubadoober]

Some of the taco guys will do a boot stretch on the inner boot to help with rubbing. You cut off the small end from the old boot and mount it in the original location. Then set the new boot more outboard. YMMV

 

[phi1osopher]

That's a great suggestion!

 

[NOSAJ]

‘01 lx470. Mine has the ome lift and the dif drop. My OEM axles have 65,000 miles on them. I’m doing mine again now. This is the 4th time I’ve either repacked or replaced since I bought the truck in 2015 with 130,000. I’ve tried the Napa ones they didn’t work of course. Most recently I tried the cvj boots on OEM axles. They came with hardly any grease and the axle started grinding within 2-3 weeks of being repacked. I have axles incoming from Ourisman now. I’m going to recheck my hub to fender height and lower it even more and give it another try. I’ve done a few trips to Moab and HIH, local trails nothing crazy most city hwy. Right now the long term plan is to keep it SAS it and swap in a diesel and 5 speed for extended trips. Anyway that’s my axle saga.