I just discovered a grease leak on the CV boot on passenger side of my 90 4Runner 4x4.Will it hurt to keep driving it if I dont use my 4x4? I have no money to fix it right now.

 

If the boot is broken, water and dirt can get in and hurt the CV joint. On our trucks, the front axles turn with the wheels even if 4x4 is disengaged, unless you have manual hubs, which you probably don't.

Fix it as soon as you can.

 

There's no load on it providing it's not in 4WD... So dirt and water will take longer to degrade the joint... And even if, how much time do you spend driving through dirt and water?

It does spin all the time though, so it will just sling out the rest of grease...

Do yourself a favor and put some manual locking hubs on it.

If you're lazy and can't live w/o auto locks, you can just lock them in the season and it's like you never messed with anything. It will connect and disconnect 4WD in the same place...

Unlock them for DD duty and the shafts won't spin and there will be that much less drag on the vehicle...

 

The boot has no tear but is dry rotting in the top crease.There is grease blots slung around.Again Ive got 0 dollars to fix it.I just spent a fortune on a clutch job.I could find no open 'wound' or tear in the rubber just tiny dry rotted cracks in the top fold of the boot.I dont offroad at all,its a pavement queen until I can make it trail worthy.Thanks for the replies.

 

Tried4x2 that is what I wanted to know,that I can still drive it.I will replace both CVs when Im gainfully employed.I just spent 858$ replacing clutch,flywheel,rear main seal,clutch master and slave cylinders.

 

Update,I just discovered the small pin hole.When I push on the area it discharges grease onto my finger.Crap!! why cant stuff last forever.Besides ignoring it because Im broke,what are my options? Whats the cost to replace it?

 

I hate to say it, b/c it's prolly not an AISIN piece, but this might be your best bet...

http://www.napaonline.com/Search/Det...+50070+2070015

You'll need a few wrenches and hours, but if any other mortal man can do it, so can you...

otherwise, you could just replace this.

http://www.napaonline.com/Search/Res...+50070+2070015


And I don't know why you feel you need to replace both CV's when you get the money, but unless you've got about 200,000 miles on it in 4WD, they're prolly in like new condition so I'd say that's a waste of money...

Remember, if it's not in 4WD, there is no load on the joints. So wear is ONLY in 4WD...

 

Ok got it tried4x2,thanks,your a big help in getting me to understand CV joints.Boot kit is my best and cheapest bet.And your right its got 241K on it,but not in 4WD lol.

 

Sounds right. And given that it's squirting pure grease (it is, right?) and the hole is still small, then there's little chance that you've got much dirt or water in there, so changing just the boot is the right thing to do.

 

Yeah betelnut its squirting 'clean' black grease out.I need to get a new boot on it ASAP.Whats involved in replacing it? Thanks for input guys!

 

Check out the search function.

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f128...-boots-149769/
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f128...toyotas-81059/

 

Thanks but Im going with the split boot kit.I dont have the tools or work place to take my front end apart.

 

Where are you finding the split boot kit? Just curious

 

Toyota sells the kit,I got to call them in the morning to see if they stock it or if they have to order it.

 

Its not a big deal, my boots had a small leak for a couple months and nothing came of it, I just wouldn't go driving through any swamps with it ripped.

When you have the money, you can replace the boot for less than $20- it adds maybe half an hour to the job of changing out a CV, and you get to keep your truck OEM CV shaft. I think I did a writeup on that, check in my signature link https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116...v-boot-156096/

When you have the CV out of the truck, tap the studs out of the diff flanges and grind the splines off them to make them into bolts, this will make the job easier next time.

 

Sounds like a good idea Matt but unfortunately I cant work on my vehicle where I live.

 

Don't do the split boot... When you fix a Toyota, it should be a law you fix it the right way...

The split boot POS will not. Just spend a little more time and do it the right way.

These things spin all the time so I'm sure ppl will have SUBSTANTIALLY less problems outta those that don't...i.e those with manual hubs. B/c they just sit there. ADD Toyota shafts do not. They spin 100% of the time, unless you install manual hubs.

 

Then like I said, I don't like to advise it, but the $50 shaft might be your best bet.

Just swap shafts and roll... 100% ready to go. Just swap.

 

Ahhh, thank you for saying that.

A law with harsh consequences for those who break it.

 

Not possible,unless your paying.The split boot I can do,no disasembling required.Making it a law to do it the 'right'way doesnt magically make money appear in my wallet.