Ineos Grenadier

[TCM]

Yes. Front drive shaft has bad CV angles causing overheating and boot failures at the diff. Any lift seems to make it worse. I replaced my joints at 27k miles. My boot had completely torn open and the joint was crunchy and ready to eject itself.

The overwhelming majority of CV boot failures are at the transfer case end of the front drive shaft. It is not an issue of heat. The joint itself has no issue with the angle. The failure mood is the boot getting pinched between the shaft and the metal flange that holds the boot in place This eventually thins out the boot until it splits. Once the boot fails the grease is no longer contained and it is absence of grease that then causes the CV joint to fail. Lifting the vehicle and/or installing longer shocks greatly accelerates the degradation of the boot.

 

[Tex68w]

The overwhelming majority of CV boot failures are at the transfer case end of the front drive shaft. It is not an issue of heat. The joint itself has no issue with the angle. The failure mood is the boot getting pinched between the shaft and the metal flange that holds the boot in place This eventually thins out the boot until it splits. Once the boot fails the grease is no longer contained and it is absence of grease that then causes the CV joint to fail. Lifting the vehicle and/or installing longer shocks greatly accelerates the degradation of the boot.

It's really the biggest Achilles of the vehicle. I plan to replace mine every 10-15K to avoid possible failure. I am keeping the lift low at 1.2" in the front only to minimize the possibility as well. Hopefully they come out with a fix in the next few years.

 

[Tex68w]

I'm six months into Grenadier ownership and I drive it more often than either of my land cruisers. It isn't as comfortable as my 200, nor as raw as my 80, but is a goldilocks in between. Other than some dash warning light annoyances, it has been trouble free. Even stock I've had it on some very hard trails and it eats them up.

I agree. It's a modern analog experience. Just enough comforts to be better than an 80, but not enough to match a 200/250/300. We've only had ours for a few weeks, but so far, I am blown away with how much we like it, and I am far more obsessed than I have ever been with any of my Cruisers. There's definitely a tax on the aftermarket goodies, seems like everything starts at $1000, but the options are extensive for a vehicle that has only been around for three years.

 

[Tigerstripe40]

It's really the biggest Achilles of the vehicle. I plan to replace mine every 10-15K to avoid possible failure. I am keeping the lift low at 1.2" in the front only to minimize the possibility as well. Hopefully they come out with a fix in the next few years.

Replacing every 10-15k seems pretty frequent and doesn't suggest a reliable design.
What about having a driveshaft built that uses common commodity u-joints (1410s) and eliminate that problem?

 

[Tex68w]

Replacing every 10-15k seems pretty frequent and doesn't suggest a reliable design.
What about having a driveshaft built that uses common commodity u-joints (1410s) and eliminate that problem?

It's not ideal, but it's only $180 and takes maybe 10-15 minutes to swap when doing an oil change. There's a U-joint drive shaft coming to market, and word is there's a second one in development, but you're more likely to have driveline vibes with that design. I'll wait and see what kind of real-world reports/feedback they get once they are out there in use.

From what I understand, the real answer is to have the axle cut and turned to lessen the pinion angle, and maybe Ineos will do just that in future models.

 

[Tex68w]

Still loving this thing. Can't believe how much a modern vehicle makes me smile.

 

[numby]

It's not ideal, but it's only $180 and takes maybe 10-15 minutes to swap when doing an oil change. There's a U-joint drive shaft coming to market, and word is there's a second one in development, but you're more likely to have driveline vibes with that design. I'll wait and see what kind of real-world reports/feedback they get once they are out there in use.

From what I understand, the real answer is to have the axle cut and turned to lessen the pinion angle, and maybe Ineos will do just that in future models.

From what I understand there's a double cardan-CV replacement shaft available in the aftermarket that solves the issue but I haven't been keeping up with things.

 

[Tex68w]

There's one selling soon, another in beta testing. I'll be sitting back and watching until users give reports after 5-10K miles.

 

[Tex68w]

I couldn't stand to look at the tiny little 32's any longer. I wasn't sure what I wanted in terms of a wheel in the long run, and I dig the look of the stock steelies, so I am going to keep them for now. I went with a BFG KO3 in 285/70/18 (33.7x11.2x18). It keeps the stock NGO look and style, but with a more appropriate-sized tire for the truck's size. I am leaning towards adding the Eibach 1.2" spring in the front to ditch the rake. I just have to convince myself to take the gamble on the front drive shaft. The speedo in the truck and the GPS speed on the Wolfbox are now reading the same.

 

[Sajan]

I am renting one in a few hours from SLC airport.
Any tips or tricks?
I hope I dont like it because if I do, then I am gonna end selling the LX570 I bought recently lol

 

[Tex68w]

I am renting one in a few hours from SLC airport.
Any tips or tricks?
I hope I dont like it because if I do, then I am gonna end selling the LX570 I bought recently lol

Just enjoy it! Take it off-road if you have a minute.

 

[Tex68w]

@Sajan Just know that the turning radius and steering is easily improved with $1 in washers and a steering stabilizer. Expect it to drive similarly to a Super Duty but better.

 

[itsdchz]

I’ll play..
Here’s mine

 

[terdrocket]

I am renting one in a few hours from SLC airport.
Any tips or tricks?
I hope I dont like it because if I do, then I am gonna end selling the LX570 I bought recently lol

You'll be happy to get back in the LX. The Ineos is great off road. The seats so good. But the AC, stereo, wind noise on the highway, road manners - not so much.

 

[Tex68w]

I’ll play..
Here’s mine
View attachment 4148208View attachment 4148209View attachment 4148210View attachment 4148211View attachment 4148212

Oh I recognize that one from the Grenadier forum. Nice!

 

[Tex68w]

You'll be happy to get back in the LX. The Ineos is great off road. The seats so good. But the AC, stereo, wind noise on the highway, road manners - not so much.

Maybe?! I don't find the wind noise to be a bad thing at all. It's not as nice on the highway as the LX, but around town, I prefer it, and I have owned them all and still regularly drive a GX550 as well. Like everything, it's subjective and personal, but even with all of the cool Toyota and Lexus builds I've had over the years, the Grenadier is more enjoyable to drive overall than any of the rest for me personally. Now, if I were to drive from TX to FL, it's not going to be my first choice, but I'd take it for that trip over a Tacoma or Jeep.

 

[terdrocket]

Maybe?! I don't find the wind noise to be a bad thing at all. It's not as nice on the highway as the LX, but around town, I prefer it, and I have owned them all and still regularly drive a GX550 as well. Like everything, it's subjective and personal, but even with all of the cool Toyota and Lexus builds I've had over the years, the Grenadier is more enjoyable to drive overall than any of the rest for me personally. Now, if I were to drive from TX to FL, it's not going to be my first choice, but I'd take it for that trip over a Tacoma or Jeep.

I really enjoyed mine, but started to dread any road trip I had to take with it. It didn't help that I put the Milltek exhaust on it.
I have a handful of other loud cars, so it's nice to get in the quiet LX for a long haul. I do miss those Recaro cloth seats though. So good.

 

[Tex68w]

I really enjoyed mine, but started to dread any road trip I had to take with it. It didn't help that I put the Milltek exhaust on it.
I have a handful of other loud cars, so it's nice to get in the quiet LX for a long haul. I do miss those Recaro cloth seats though. So good.

Oh, so you already sold? I like the cloth Recaros; we had them in the loaner we drove while waiting for ours to get the winch installed. I have the leather version in mine. I might get some Katskinz covers to mix things up down the line. I almost always have an HD truck in the mix, so I am used to the firmer handling and ride. Now, when I jump from the Grenadier to the GX, I find the GX to be too soft and floaty, with a very disconnected feeling in comparison to the Grenadier. The GX no doubt handles better and rides more comfortably, but I almost prefer the ride of the truck and Grenadier these days for a daily.

 

[terdrocket]

Oh, so you already sold? I like the cloth Recaros; we had them in the loaner we drove while waiting for ours to get the winch installed. I have the leather version in mine. I might get some Katskinz covers to mix things up down the line. I almost always have an HD truck in the mix, so I am used to the firmer handling and ride. Now, when I jump from the Grenadier to the GX, I find the GX to be too soft and floaty, with a very disconnected feeling in comparison to the Grenadier. The GX no doubt handles better and rides more comfortably, but I almost prefer the ride of the truck and Grenadier these days for a daily.

She gone. I had it from December 2023 to November 2025. Around 30k miles on it. Rebuilt the driveshaft in my driveway, then was coming due for an oil change soon (which was a 3.5hr drive each way), so I decided to move on. I don't get off road as much as I want, so LX is a easier daily.

 

[Tigerstripe40]

So, how livable is an Ineos Grenadier as a DD? I am considering a replacement for my 08 Tacoma (bought new) in the next 2 years. The Tacoma has been my DD, camping, skiing, hiking, biking, offroading rig the entire time. I am at Ski resorts 3 days a week, both in winter and in summer for skiing and mountain biking.

I am waiting for the used prices to come down a bit over the next 2 years, but would a Grenadier be a good replacement as a DD for my Tacoma or would I be better off in a GX550 OT+? Plan would be to drive it for 20 years.