So, I recently added a 2.5" lift from Ironman to my '04 UZJ100 , and drug my heels on adding the Slee diff drop. I maybe waited 3 months, and by the time I got around to it, the boots on my original CV axles had split and were beginning to leak a lot of grease. I was also due for my second timing belt service, so when I took it in to the shop (well established and reputable Toyota shop in Austin, TX) for the full OEM timing belt/water pump 90k service, I also had them address the CV axles.
When discussing the repair, I was insistent on using Toyota CV axles. I don't skimp on parts because, duh. They said, yeah we agree with you, go Toyota if you don't mind the price tag (my aftermarket warranty approved the parts) and I didn't. The repair is completed and I pick up the 100. When I take the 100 on the highway for the first time, I notice a strong vibration in the front end when accelerating between 55-62 mph, and there were no issues prior to the repair. I immediately thing there's something up with the CV install and call the shop who says to bring it in and they will make it right. This is the second week of March and Covid hits over the weekend. This moves to the back burner for two months, and the issue doesn't go away.
I finally get around bringing the 100 back to the shop about a week and a half ago, and the first thing they do is swap out the CV axles for another set and the vibration persists. They move on and begin to diagnose other issues - could be the front u-joints as they're pretty worn (206k mi originals), could be the rear u-joints and driveshaft... While I think it's very unlikely that these are the culprits, I say go ahead and order TOYOTA u-joints and driveshaft, which they do.
In the meantime, I do my research and discover tons of threads of 100 series owners having vibration issues after CV axles replacement, and the issue only seems to come about when people use cheap aftermarket CV axles, and I went full Toyota (invoiced over $600/each), right? Well, after doing some research, I discover that Toyota CV axles for the 100 have yellow metal clamps on the outside boot of each unit and distinctly remember that the ones installed on my 100 do not. I go down to the shop where my truck is now awaiting driveshaft and u-joints from Toyota and mention the yellow clamps and ask if they are sure that they used Toyota CVs because I've read about vibration with aftermarkets, etc. They say, yeah of course as that's what they billed me for, but I'll happily double check for you. They guy comes back a few minutes later and says, "man, so sorry, you are totally right. Those are not Toyota CV axles." They said they would order the Toyota CVs and put them in, but since they had already put in another set of aftermarkets and the issue persisted, that it would likely not fix the issue.
Well, the shop calls me two days later. They've got the Toyota CV axles in and you guessed it - no vibration. But, they want to keep the truck over the weekend so that they can go ahead and replace the driveshaft and front u-joints as they have already ordered the parts. This is going to leave me about $600 out of pocket. I tell them that as I just spent $4k on the 100 in March, I'd need to discuss with he wife over the weekend. I do, and we decide not to proceed as the issue we were concerned with is fixed. I call to let them know on Monday, and they say to hold off on coming in to pick the truck up. They call me back and let me know that they are just going to do the other repairs for the price that my aftermarket warranty would cover, leaving me with no out of pocket. Obviously, they'd rather eat the cost of labor than to lose out on the expensive parts that they had already paid for.
Now I have new Toyota CV axles, front u-joints, and rear driveshaft (and u-joints) which cost me nothing out of pocket. Drove on the highway last night and the drivetrain has never felt so smooth. I'd say that it is just as smooth as my '16 4Runner ever was and it just feels better because of the V8. So glad the shop made everything right. Pics of Toyota UV joints and my 100 attached.
Moral of the story - OEM or nothing.
When discussing the repair, I was insistent on using Toyota CV axles. I don't skimp on parts because, duh. They said, yeah we agree with you, go Toyota if you don't mind the price tag (my aftermarket warranty approved the parts) and I didn't. The repair is completed and I pick up the 100. When I take the 100 on the highway for the first time, I notice a strong vibration in the front end when accelerating between 55-62 mph, and there were no issues prior to the repair. I immediately thing there's something up with the CV install and call the shop who says to bring it in and they will make it right. This is the second week of March and Covid hits over the weekend. This moves to the back burner for two months, and the issue doesn't go away.
I finally get around bringing the 100 back to the shop about a week and a half ago, and the first thing they do is swap out the CV axles for another set and the vibration persists. They move on and begin to diagnose other issues - could be the front u-joints as they're pretty worn (206k mi originals), could be the rear u-joints and driveshaft... While I think it's very unlikely that these are the culprits, I say go ahead and order TOYOTA u-joints and driveshaft, which they do.
In the meantime, I do my research and discover tons of threads of 100 series owners having vibration issues after CV axles replacement, and the issue only seems to come about when people use cheap aftermarket CV axles, and I went full Toyota (invoiced over $600/each), right? Well, after doing some research, I discover that Toyota CV axles for the 100 have yellow metal clamps on the outside boot of each unit and distinctly remember that the ones installed on my 100 do not. I go down to the shop where my truck is now awaiting driveshaft and u-joints from Toyota and mention the yellow clamps and ask if they are sure that they used Toyota CVs because I've read about vibration with aftermarkets, etc. They say, yeah of course as that's what they billed me for, but I'll happily double check for you. They guy comes back a few minutes later and says, "man, so sorry, you are totally right. Those are not Toyota CV axles." They said they would order the Toyota CVs and put them in, but since they had already put in another set of aftermarkets and the issue persisted, that it would likely not fix the issue.
Well, the shop calls me two days later. They've got the Toyota CV axles in and you guessed it - no vibration. But, they want to keep the truck over the weekend so that they can go ahead and replace the driveshaft and front u-joints as they have already ordered the parts. This is going to leave me about $600 out of pocket. I tell them that as I just spent $4k on the 100 in March, I'd need to discuss with he wife over the weekend. I do, and we decide not to proceed as the issue we were concerned with is fixed. I call to let them know on Monday, and they say to hold off on coming in to pick the truck up. They call me back and let me know that they are just going to do the other repairs for the price that my aftermarket warranty would cover, leaving me with no out of pocket. Obviously, they'd rather eat the cost of labor than to lose out on the expensive parts that they had already paid for.
Now I have new Toyota CV axles, front u-joints, and rear driveshaft (and u-joints) which cost me nothing out of pocket. Drove on the highway last night and the drivetrain has never felt so smooth. I'd say that it is just as smooth as my '16 4Runner ever was and it just feels better because of the V8. So glad the shop made everything right. Pics of Toyota UV joints and my 100 attached.
Moral of the story - OEM or nothing.
