Have a 2000 LC with 156K on it. Would appreciate the forum's expertise. After oil change, Toyota dealer noticed two leaking front axle boots. With the labor involved, recommended replacing the axles too with the boots. $700 labor+parts. Had it checked by my reliable mechanic, and he suggested just to replace the boots since it is unlikely that the axles have been damaged with minimum leak he saw and he will check and service the axles. Wants to preserve the original axles. About $500 replace boots + axle service. Had it checked with a third auto service shop, also wants to replace the axle with brand new "after market" axles with the boots for $400. With these 3 options, would you recommend replacing with new axles, or just replace the boots and have the axles serviced ? Thanks in advance for the help,
Leak in Front axle boots, replace axles ?
- Thread starter marathonrunner
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No aftermarket! Reboot them if it's just a little bit of a leak, and hasnt gone on for long.
Def not after market. The strongest axles available to us are the OEM axles as of right now. Sounds like you just need a reboot. The boots i THiNK are like 30 bucks from CDan, order them and have a mechanic regrease and install them on the original axles.
Also do you have a lift? Or have you just never rebooted them?
Also do you have a lift? Or have you just never rebooted them?
how long have they been leaking?
How bad is the leak?
Is there any clicking or binding?
If any of above has been significant replace the axle. Order a boot kit, tear the axle apart and look inside. If the cage and balls are scarred then you need to replace it.
How bad is the leak?
Is there any clicking or binding?
If any of above has been significant replace the axle. Order a boot kit, tear the axle apart and look inside. If the cage and balls are scarred then you need to replace it.
- Thread starter
- #5
Thanks, my LC is stock, no lift, but never rebooted. No clicking or binding, did not even notice it until had it serviced for oil change. I assume if I go to the replace axle route, there will be alignment needed. From your inputs, I will just have the boots replaced if there is no damage to the original axles.
rusty_tlc
Dain Bramaged Member
The boot kit comes with grease and clamps. The OEM clamps are a PITA to get tight I tried the NAPA tool but eventually ground two grooves in the jaws of a pair of vice grips, that cinched the clamps tight.
Pulling the knuckle is daunting the first time you do it but it's not all that bad if you have the FSM and a couple of friends who have done it before helping you.
Taking the axle apart, cleaning it up and putting it back together takes about 20 Min per axle.
What gets you is the "While I have it apart" syndrome. As long as you have torn everything down far enough to pull the axle why not replace the bearings and seals?
Pulling the knuckle is daunting the first time you do it but it's not all that bad if you have the FSM and a couple of friends who have done it before helping you.
Taking the axle apart, cleaning it up and putting it back together takes about 20 Min per axle.
What gets you is the "While I have it apart" syndrome. As long as you have torn everything down far enough to pull the axle why not replace the bearings and seals?
Reboot vs Replace Axles is what i am debating as well.
1. The dealer wants $1100 to do the boot repairs
The local garage doesn't have the tools to do the boot repair.
2. The dealer wants $1600 to replace the axles
The local garage does have the tools to replace the axles and can do it for $1100 using OEM parts.
What are your thoughts? Currently, the boots are just starting to leak, that is it.
thanks!
1. The dealer wants $1100 to do the boot repairs
The local garage doesn't have the tools to do the boot repair.
2. The dealer wants $1600 to replace the axles
The local garage does have the tools to replace the axles and can do it for $1100 using OEM parts.
What are your thoughts? Currently, the boots are just starting to leak, that is it.
thanks!
In my opinion, if the local garage doesn't have the tools to perform a boot replacement, I probably wouldn't let them work on my vehicle. If the dealer is your only other option, let the dealer replace the boots. It may be a more money, but you won't have to worry about if it was done properly, and if they happen to goof it up, they have a reputation to uphold. It doesn't sound like you need new axles.
$1100 is robbery!! I just did a OEM reboot at my dealership, for $200 per side. They were willing to do napa axle/boot combo for the same price but I opted for the OEM reboot. That said mine were NEEDING replaced (original). 1 was torn and had leaked all the grease out, the other was still good but could tell the rubber was starting to degrade. In your scenario, I would opt for pfran clamps and go with that if your cvs are leaking from the ends but not torn. If there is a mild tear and you caught it while the majority of the cv grease was still in there, I'd try some of the ghetto repairs mentioned on other mud cv threads including using RTV sealant. If they are charging $1100, u would be better served spending all day repairing it yourself, and buy a bumper!
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I also called the local TOYOTA dealer to see what they would charge for the boot repair, compared to the LEXUS dealer, and the TOYOTA dealer came back with the exact same number. So i am not entirely sure what is involved with the Boot Repair.
I am contemplating the axle replacement since the cost is not that far from the boot repair. This way, all is done and no problem.
I am contemplating the axle replacement since the cost is not that far from the boot repair. This way, all is done and no problem.
First... Dont go back to your Local garage. Only special tools needed to do this job are the following:
1. horse shoe lock ring pliers
and
2. CV clamp pliers
Other than those two, even a home mechanic with a basic set of tools can do this job with time patience and willing to dig into it. No way any competent shop should say they dont have the tools to do this. If they can pull the shafts to replace them they have the tools to reboot them. They just do not want to.
here is the thread to DIY this from the FAQ section:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/100-series-cruisers/388534-cv-boots-replaced-directions.html#post6682453
If they are "just starting" to leak, I would post a picture of each side so we an see how bad it is leaking. May be able to just reclamp and go from there saving over a $1000. for a 10 min. fix you can do your self.
I wouldn't dropped the coin quoted with any of the shops you listed above. The price is way too high!
Do NOT do an axle replacement! It is not any easier than doing an OEM reboot, and much lower quality axle. Get us some pics, I doubt it's worse than mine that were recently OEM rebooted. 100% of the grease was out of it, for quite a while, mechanic that rebooted said the axle was in perfect condition. And this is through a snowy graveled road northwest winter. You are not grinding or binding, your axles are likely in good condition. If you opt for the aftermarket ones you'll be doing it again within a couple years, or that's the narrative I kept reading on various cv threads here.
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Thank you for your input on this. Currently there is no big problem, just some leaking and grease spots on the inside of the wheel well.
I guess i suspected that the RE-Boot was just going to be an expensive repair and if at $1000+ for the reboot, for a few more hundred dollars, it was a better idea to have the axles replaced.
Either way, i will definitely use OEM parts, that seems to be the general recommendation.
I guess i suspected that the RE-Boot was just going to be an expensive repair and if at $1000+ for the reboot, for a few more hundred dollars, it was a better idea to have the axles replaced.
Either way, i will definitely use OEM parts, that seems to be the general recommendation.
If you reboot, you still have to remove the axles. So the labor of rebooting (if you pay someone) would probably be higher than just replacing with new axles. You have to weigh the cost of a little less labor but higher parts costs with new axles VS More labor to reboot but lower parts costs with no new axles.
A couple of my boots were leaking but it was just the clamps, not a tear in the boot. The grease had gotten runny too. So I just removed the clamp, used my finger to get most of the old runny grease out, put a bunch of new grease in it and then new clamps on. No leaking since then. So if the boot is torn you'll need to replace and will require axle removal. If it's just leaking past a clamp, you can replace those on the vehicle.
A couple of my boots were leaking but it was just the clamps, not a tear in the boot. The grease had gotten runny too. So I just removed the clamp, used my finger to get most of the old runny grease out, put a bunch of new grease in it and then new clamps on. No leaking since then. So if the boot is torn you'll need to replace and will require axle removal. If it's just leaking past a clamp, you can replace those on the vehicle.
cruiser100
Comfortably Numb
Are your boots damaged or just leaking? If just leaking, re-clamp them. You can remove the old clamp and install new crimp or screw type and take care of the leak.
Here's a thread on replacing the clamps:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/100-series-cruisers/191974-cv-boot-clamp-strap-replacement-pics.html
Here's a thread on replacing the clamps:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/100-series-cruisers/191974-cv-boot-clamp-strap-replacement-pics.html
In terms of labor cost, simple replacing the axle is less expensive, however parts will be more expensive. There are advantages to replacing the axle. You now have a spare that you can swap in and out for rebooting or if you have a trail breakage.
Rebooting is going to cost you the teardown labor for the front end, rebooting the CV, and installation. You will have no spare, and a old CV that may of been contaminated. Every time I cut a boot, or lose a boot, I purchase a new axle and have ACC swap it in for $200 labor. I have 2 spares, which are in perfect shape, and one that still needs to be rebuilt.
Rebooting is going to cost you the teardown labor for the front end, rebooting the CV, and installation. You will have no spare, and a old CV that may of been contaminated. Every time I cut a boot, or lose a boot, I purchase a new axle and have ACC swap it in for $200 labor. I have 2 spares, which are in perfect shape, and one that still needs to be rebuilt.
Removed
Again, thank you for the feedback, VERY helpful.
I am going to take a more thorough look at the boots and the clamps. If boots are not cracked and look in decent shape, i will then move forward with the repacking and new clamps.
I will let you know what i find out.
I am going to take a more thorough look at the boots and the clamps. If boots are not cracked and look in decent shape, i will then move forward with the repacking and new clamps.
I will let you know what i find out.
