Mechanic botched CV re-boot. Now what?

[cwininger]

I bought an OEM boot kit for the original driver's side axle from the local stealership. The outboard boot had a full tear right at the inner clamp. Made arrangements with a local front-end specialist mechanic to reboot the whole axle using my parts. He was hesitant and recommended just replacing the axle with an aftermarket part. Although he speaks highly of the aftermarket brand he uses, I've done my homework and know that even an original axle at 180k on it is better than any new aftermarket part. So i insisted he just do the re-boot. Tried to explain why, and he sorta agreed but I could tell he still thought i was nuts (some people, even experienced mechanics, just dont "get it" when it comes to cruisers...)

so anyways, he calls an hour or two after i drop it off with some "bad news." As he was trying to bang off the joint from the axle, the snap ring on the axle itself broke. Apparently there isn't a spare snap ring in the boot kit (is there supposed to be?) and he had no idea where to get just a replacement of the same size. And then he starts complaining that "this is why i didn't want to do this in the first place. These aren't really designed to come apart easily. we should have just done a new axle" (and i'm thinking- if you didn't want to do the job, how about just saying "no"?). And that he can't have this truck up on the rack all day while looking for a new snap ring and it's "seriously messing up his day".

...so, i told him to just put a new aftermarket axle on it. i didn't have time to chase down a new snap ring (or even where to look, or even exactly which snap ring he was talking about as he tried to explain it to me) and i needed the truck back on the road that day, no exceptions.

so here's where i'm at- "new" aftermarket axle (which is perfectly fine at the moment, just drove it 250 miles on a road trip and everything seems fine, but i know the clock is probably ticking...), and the original axle, with outer boot removed, a full boot kit, but a broken inner snap ring. he showed me which one is broken- it's the one that goes on the shaft where it interfaces with the star race of the CV joint.

so my question is- can i just source that snap ring itself? i looked at the parts diagram and it looks like it should be part of the kit, but he swears there wasn't an extra one. my plan is to reboot the axle myself and take it back to him and see if he'll swap out axles again for free, and then i'll just hold onto the aftermarket axle as a backup.

input?

 

[highonpottery]

Personally I don't see any reason why you cannot source another snap ring. Snap rings break, stretch, bend, fatigue, get lost etc. Many are not even reusable depending on application. Toyota likely would want to sell you a whole CV axle unit instead of a $4 part, so I'd go to a 3rd party that sells snap rings.
Take some calipers and measure the specs, then use that to find something in those parameters. Good luck!

 

[TheForger]

I believe @cruiseroutfit sells a snap ring kit with 6 various thicknesses for the 100 series. Part# FAWB9807TKIT for $15 and that will leave you with spares for the next time you decide to repack bearings or tear the front end apart for any reason.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Whopping $1 from Toyota.

 

[aging fleet]

I just happen to have two boot kits waiting for a warm day and some free time to be installed. Here is what is included...

 

[abuck99]

Removng the axle from the differential it's hard to understand how the "snap" ring broke.

Was it the locking ring that locks the axle in the differential or the snap ring that that holds the bearing cage to the axle inside the tulip?

From the picture of parts above which snap ring broke?

 

[cwininger]

from what he described and the parts diagram i looked at, i'm assuming its the part that @Trunk Monkey highlighted. However, looking at the parts supplied in my boot kit, that snap ring is sitting right here as clear as day. So I have no idea what this guy is whining about. I'm starting to think he got it apart and just decided he didn't want to clean up the tulips and re-grease/re-boot and made up some excuse as to why he couldn't finish the job. i don't know... i'm out of town now and didn't have time to really press him on it. i'll have to follow up when i get back.

on a related note, i'm finding it very frustrating to find a qualified mechanic who's willing to do things the right way and who appreciates this rig. i feel like i'm the only person in a 50 mile radius that can perform the maintenance this truck deserves properly. although i'm fully capable of doing a job like this, a) I really don't like wrenching, and b) i really don't have the spare time.

 

[TheForger]

Sounds like a bad mechanic if he truly did miss something that simple. But as much as I hate to say it maybe your needs point towards a different vehicle. You want service to be done properly and with the appreciation and respect that it deserves, and the only person who can really offer those things while simultaneously meeting every expectation you have set is yourself. Unfortunately there is not a Slee Offroad in everyone's city that can provide that type of service on a moments notice. Being a full-time engineering student I understand not having spare time to wrench because that impacts my maintenance schedule as well as just about anyone else's, but these trucks are not ones to just top off the oil every now-and-then and expect it to run for ten's of thousands of miles flawlessly. They WILL require preventative maintenance as well as repairs and when they come around you need to be prepared; that means both financially and logistically (have a couple thousand set aside if something breaks, make sure to have a trusted mechanic on speed dial BEFORE something happens, if you opt for DIY then set a weekend aside to get it done, etc...). One thing I've learned in my life is if it's really important to you then you will make time for it. You have a beautiful LX that deserves the best service you can find, sometimes you have to realize that "best service" is you on a creeper with a flash light, six pack, and a breaker bar. Best of luck to you

 

[e9999]

so he broke the snap ring, didn't see it there in the kit, and complains "it's messing up his day"? wow...!

and sold you a new axle...? wow...!

 

[cwininger]

^ yeah that's what i said. i was in a jam though and needed it back on the road that afternoon for this trip i'm on. The new axle doesn't really bother me as it was actually cheaper than the re-boot. It's just a hassle now, since i don't want that one on there long term. I'll have to twist his arm to swap them back when i get home and have more time to deal with it.

 

[MikeFromMT]

Are you sure you want this guy putting his hands back on your car? From the sound of your story I wouldn't let him rotate my tires. I'm willing to bet he's not interested in re-doing the job either.

 

[SWUtah]

I think I would've told your mechanic that you were too busy cleaning you're gun to deal with things he messed up and that he needs to fix it and fix it right and you're gonna have it check by the dealer after he completes the work

 

[SWUtah]

I also had a local shop tell me the same thing as your guy and I took mine To Lexus and had it done right ended up being the same price as a new aftermarket axle Plus I got a free loaner car and cookies The only person this is easier on is the mechanic that put in a new aftermarket it's more work to reboot it so I'd stay away from this guy