Has anyone seen a CV boot leaking like this? (1 Viewer)

[js47]

I went to check out a 1999 LX470 this afternoon and it was looking ok until I got to the front end — the passenger side CV boot had all kinds of grease around it, including slung on the inside of the wheel and tire and the rear of the fender.

The owner said he just had this boot replaced. Maybe it wasn’t clamped properly? In which case there would be no grease left?

Has anyone seen anything like this? Any idea what will need to be done about it and how much it might run me if I buy this truck tomorrow?

Thanks in advance.

 

[wvrx]

It almost looks like your CV band clamp is gone. Are you able to push the boot off of the axle shaft?

 

[abuck99]

Thats a bummer- that grease looked in great shape. Usually its the other inside boot that fails. Wipe it off, check the clamp and check the boot for a tear.

Now you have a decision to make regarding refilling the grease: The toyota grease is proprietary- and only comes as a component part inside the boot kit. So you can clean that tulip out and use a different CV grease and reclamp or buy the toyota kit and reboot the axle. It also takes a specific amount of grease- dont over fill it.

 

[unfast]

.

 

[js47]

Think there would be enough grease left inside if all I do is re-clamp it?

 

[FxFormat]

CV boot had taco bell for lunch.


But nah, never seen it leaked like that, and never seen that color grease before.

 

[Flipped Bezel]

That does look like new cv grease but unfortunately, due to the amount slung everywhere, it appears that most of it may have leaked out.

Judging by the grease color it doesn't appear to be Toyota grease from a reboot kit. If I recall the OEM grease from reboot kit tubes is more of a tan or grayish color.

The reboot kits are not very expensive if you have time, tools and skills to pull the axle, clean the joint up and add grease/reclamp boot.

You may be able to find out what grease the PO used and add some more without pulling the cv. Then use the McMaster Carr brand worm type clamps to reseal. I bought mine in a kit available from @pfran42 a few years ago. This solution would not be much in time or expense.

 

[js47]

Any idea what an independent mechanic might charge to reboot if I can’t figure out what grease the PO used? I do not yet have the experience to be confident enough to pull an axle.

According to the service records the axle on the other side was replaced less than 10k miles ago, not sure why.

 

[Porter]

Clean it up, and do what @Flippedbezel recommends above with the worm bands-no need to pull the axle unless you know it's failed. To my eye, this looks like OEM reboot kit grease. If you're concerned about mixing grease, just pull back the boot, clean out as much as you can of this vanilla colored grease and add new CV grease of your choice, via grease gun with needle carefully. Many on this board have serviced CVs this way for tens of thousands of miles. Over my first twelve years of ownership, I serviced my CVs at least three times, cleaning out gray milky water infused grease, adding new and rebanding with new clamps without pulling the axle. Finally, at 260k, I pulled axles and did a full cleaning of tulips. regrease and reboot. These CVs are tough, and mine still run great at 320k. If the CV is fine, which I suspect it is, no need for a mechanic if you have 30-45 mins to tidy this up, regrease and reband.

 

[Octous]

Just rebooted last weekend. Looks like Orm grease with a poorly applied clamp.

The clamp is pretty easy to put on. If I were you I’d buy the vehicle.

 

[MrFongMan]

Mines was accidentally cut. They of course replaced it and apologized for the mishap.

 

[Matthew810]

I'll second the cleanup and rebrand advice. It's a messy job but not difficult. I used 3 or 4 cans of brake fluid to clean out old grease but you might not need to do that if it's new grease and water hasn't gotten in there. I too bought bands from pfran. Worked great so far.

 

[2001LC]

Interesting as it appears to be new grease from a OEM boot kit. Yet the clamps I can see, look like factory installed. Seems someone added OEM grease to the outer boot recently, and large clamp failed or possible a hole.

In any case that wouldn't stop me from buying it. But rust would!
Factory clamps 07 at 174K. Notice clamps are silver.

OEM boot kit (inner boot)

Outer boot and grease.

Rebooted. Notice outer clamps are yellow. OEM boot kit or new OEM front drive shaft have same clamps.

New Front drive shaft

 

[abuck99]

That is OEM grease- no mistake, theres nothing out there that looks even close to it. Thats what it looks like new or uncontaminated.

The toyota boot kit is about $40-$50, and at least 2 hrs labor. Call a toyota dealer and ask. You'll be doing both boots while you have it apart. If you aren't prepared to do the work, this is one job I would only trust to a qualified/experienced cruiser mechanic. The procedure for disassembling the bearing cage to ensure it goes back together exactly the way it came apart is crucial to getting a vibration free axle.

 

[Flipped Bezel]

If this is the only issue with the 100...buy the truck!!

Clean boot and old grease with brake cleaner (not brake fluid) to make sure it's not damaged before adding new grease and rebanding. The grease looked different in color than I remembered but it looks like OEM after viewing the latest pics posted.

Get an OEM boot kit and you will have same grease to add (in proper amount as to not overfill) and a couple of backup boots in case you ever tear those. If you do this yourself the repair should not cost more than $100 or so including the rags and cans of cleaner from a local parts house.

 

[js47]

Thanks everyone for the great responses.

The only other potential problems are that it still has the AHC, but service records indicate all shocks and accumulators were replaced by the dealer less than 10k miles ago and it scored a whopping 20 on the graduation test. Timing belt service was done 16k miles and 2.5 years ago.

I made the dealer an offer he couldn’t refuse and we are sealing the deal tomorrow morning, assuming he doesn’t sell to someone else first...

 

[2001LC]

Hold with credit card deposit, if you really want it.

 

[js47]

I don’t want to leave a deposit without a test drive and I can’t test drive it until tomorrow morning

 

[2001LC]

Deposit with right to inspected or have inspected.

 

[dace voit]

If you want the truck, make sure they fix the problem and buy it. It looks like the tech that worked on that axle forgot to tighten, or didn't tighten enough the outer clamp. T-belt and AHC recent work is a big plus as they are both pricey repair items.