SteveO

If anybody is considering buying the Mecatech boots for the 3rd generation 4Runners or Tacomas, please see the below site for the real info on the boots. I purchased the boots for my '99 4Runner, and what I got was 4 boots that will fit the outboard joints, and no boots to fit the inboard joints. Buyer beware.....


http://www.hunt4steve.com/99half_shafts.htm

TDiddy

Wow Steve, thanks for the heads-up on that. I actually have a kit here and I was trying to figure out when I could install them. The last thing I'd need would be to cut off a boot and not be able to get the replacement to fit.

XtremeOff-Road

Hi there Steve, you are correct about the "tripod shape"

I have been told that if you want to use the Mecatech Boots, simply cut the end of the original boot, place the Mecatech Boot over it, and tighten it down...This is what others have done with no problem, actually the rep from Mecatech mentioned this as well.

It sounds kinda messy, so I wonder about it, however, people have said it works

Mike

sschaefer3

The Tacoma and 4Runner inner boots are quite different. They conform to the shape of the tripod cup and really do need to in order to fit correctly.


I'm sure glad I have genuine Toyota boots, They fit quite nice.

SteveO

Whoa! Hadn't thought about butchering up my original boots to make the Mecatech kit work. You would think they could ship the right stuff the first time, instead of having to piece it together.

Unfortunately, in my case, I purchased some Inner Joints from ORS, and they didn't have the 4Runner boots with them. As you can see from the pictures, the Tacoma Inboard Joints are a bit smaller than the 4Runner Inboard Joints. Sooooo, off to the dearlership I go

mark from uk

just a thing , but are these boots the ones that should be put on with a special air tool that opens them up so you just slide the tool over the shaft, i am sure they are the same they can also be done with a rigid plastic cone , they are not the same rubber but are made of a much more flexable rubber compound?

SteveO

I don't know about an air tool. Nothing in the instructions about that. There is a rigid cone that the boots are supposed to slide over. I just ordered the inboard boots, 20 bones each. I was going to order the Tripod bearing (slides inside the Inboard Joint) but when I found out how much they cost ($205 each) I decided not to.


The tripod has needle bearings on the inside of the larger discs. Pretty beefy setup. The 4Runner Tripod is much larger than the Tacoma model.

Stump1883

Hey guys I know this threadis kind of old and all but I really need all the help I can right now. I just ordered the Mecatech boots, my inner joint boot has completely seperated from the drive shaft and thrown all it's oil out. I thought the Mecatech boots would be the fix of a lift time considering they are made for lifted applications, and at $85 for 4 boots instead of $50 or so for OEM boots. But it also seems as though they are workabl.

Please help me out here, what would yall suggest I do, I want as little to no axel wear to occur, let me know what you would do in my position. Thanks in advance.

SteveO

If you have already purchased the Mecatech boot kit, the cheapest way to go is to stretch a mecatech boot over the Inboard Joint's fitted section. As xtreme off-road has stated, this may be the solution for the time. However, I wanted to make sure that I got a good fit on the inboard joint boot, so I just ordered another inboard joint boot from the dealership. Good luck!!!

Stump1883

Hey SteveO thanks alot, that is what I'm going to do today, head'nout to the Stealersip to go get me some boots. Thanks again.

SteveO

:cry:
Ha, isn't that the truth!