Considering purchase of a stock 95 4Runner. All 4 CV boots are split, grease everywhere, looks like they have been split for some time. No noise or clicking or signs of damage but I still would like to leverage the needed repairs in my negotiations.

I don't know a ton about CV joints. Searching the forum suggests one can either replace the boots only, or perhaps 2 half shaft kits can be installed which would also include boots. Is it possible (as some suggest) the cost for parts and to have either option performed is about the same? But that the half shaft replacement gives you more parts replaced...

If so, I'd like to ask the seller to drop his price by the $400 or so I am seeing quoted by others for 4 boot replacement. Does this sound like the right thing to be doing?

 

Ask him to drop the price.........I'd start looking for a used set, there is some dirt and grime in there for sure by now, I don't think I would just replace the boots. That's just my 2 cents though.

 

Not knowing how long those boots have been torn is a problem. The joints could be on there way out. I would just replace both cv axles with rebuilt ones. It's not going to cost much more than replacing all 4 boots, and it's a lot less work.

 

just replace the whole thing, pretty easy, and well honestly, i think its less work, i got mine for my 87, the whole brand new CV for $90 each, boots were like $40 each, $400 seems like a big dropprice, but if you can get the seller to do it, then do it

 

I agree i would replace both sides. I got mine at O'Reilly's for $70 (no core) with lifetime warranty. I first got one at autozone and noticed no dust seal on it. After searching everywhere for a seal (other than dealer) i was talking to the guys at O'Reilly to see if they had it.

To show him where it went he got an axle shaft off the shelf and when he opened it it already had one. So i told him to give me 2 for both sides and i took the autozone one back. It was $12 higher on top of that.

 

The OEM axles are worth far more than $90 each.

 

Are there aftermarket rebuilt CV shafts?

 

If grease can get out, dirt and crap can get in.

As noted above, it's less work and about the same money to just replace the whole axle.

Unless you wheel and I mean HARD, there is no reason to buy OEM axles. Get the $70 remanned ones and call it good. I use remanned ones with a dual crawler (36 THOUSAND lb-ft of torque to the axles) and, yes, I break them if I do something stupid.

 

where does one get remanned ones? Are they fro sale, or do you just take the old ones somewhere and have them rebuilt? I dunno!

 

Autozone, Advance, O'Reilly's, NAPA, Carquest, Checker, Kragen, Shuck's, PepBoys ... did I miss any?

 

well three of them are the same thing. lol

 

Canadian Tire, Lordco ............. for us guys up north