My inner CV boots are torn on my front axels. Ive been told its a pretty big repair job. Anyone have thoughts on just leaving it alone for now, fixing it myself? It seems like the smart repair would be replacing the whole axel instead of just the torn boot so I dont have to go through it all again if the axel or another boot fails. Im not really offroading or using 4wheel often. It also feels like i need shocks so I dont really feel like blowing out a grand plus if I dont have to. So I guess my questions are replace the boot or replace it all and pay to do it or do it myself (Ive never done anything like this before but Im not a retard). Thanks kids

 

Easiest thing is to repace the whole axle, about $100 per side after core return. It's not a really difficult job, about 4-5 out of 10. If the boot is torn then the joint may already be contaminated, no point putting a new boot on a joint that might not last long.

 

the mechanic told me it was pretty involved 4-6 hrs labor and tricky.

 

if youve never replaced a cv it can be pretty involved. ive had an inner boot torn on my passenger side cv for almost a year now and i wheel it like that. im going to wheel it til it breaks and then replace it. no use replacing it if theres some life left in it if you ask me. just be aware that if you do what i'm doing, it could fail at the wrong time and youre stuck...thats why you never wheel alone.

 

Check in the tech write ups under maintenance-- Robinhood150 has a great writeup on this ordeal--helped me immensely

 

with my locking hubs disengaged shouldnt my axles not even be turning?

 

didnt know you have manual hubs but yes, you are correct. you can leave them like they are but just be aware that there is a higher risk of one breaking when you need it most off road. if thats no issue for you, then leave em.

 

The mechanic is not being honest with you. The average person with some kind of mechanical mind should be able to do it in about an hour and a half at the most. I have gotton it down to 45 minutes or less.

 

Awesome, doing mine soon and didn't spot that before. That helps alot. I'm gonna buy the Lifetime Warranty axle assembly's from Autozone when I do mine.

 

My hubs are disengaged and i notice alot of grease splatter where they are torn...not sure if they were torn when I had the hubs engaged during more inclement weather....... thanks for the helps

 

4-6 hours if you have no thumbs and are blind, maybe. Any reasonably competent DIYer could do it in half that time.

 

4-6 hours is the "book" time, which is what all mechanics charge for. If you have it done, it's probalby going to cost you @ $500.

 

I can change a front or rear cv in my subaru in 15 minutes

then I changed just one (front driver's side) on my '89 yota pickup and it took me about an hour and a half total

still not that bad and your rig is so clean looking it will probably be half the time due to no rusted bolts etc

 

Since this is in the 86-95 folder I will assume your truck is that age, thou you didnt specify. The inner boots is VERY easy on this year truck, its the outer boot that sucks . I think I have done one in 30 minutes before. Its six bolts and a clamp, and a matter of doing things in the correct order, but still very easy.

 

i have had a torn front drivers side boot for the past 40,000 miles, I dont off-road or anything. My mechanic actually told me to keep drivin on it till it breaks or i hear a bad noise when i turn. It's nice to have an honest mechanic.

 

Sorry yea its an 89' SR5 V6 4Runner. I would probly change out the axle as a whole instead of replacing a boot as preventative maintenance. Seems like I could tackle it myself just make sure I have the tools and the time. IFS always makes me nervous as far as dissasembly, I have always had german cars and it always seemed to require an alignment. Thanks for all the good advice though guys Im gonna let it ride for now and save my $$ seeign as I rarely even use 4WD and my manual hubs are disengaged.