Just looking for an opinion. My inner boot on my right CV joint is torn. The axle inside should be fine as I caught it early and don't really drive the truck much (a 6 month old baby at home gets in the way of 4x4 and I live 1 mile from work and usually ride my mt. bike!).

So should I just replace the boot, or the whole thing with a reman axle?

I'm a decent mechanic and the write-ups make replacing the boots look pretty easy, but then I see lots of "just get a reman axle 'cause it's WAY easier"?

So two Q's:

1) IS IT way easier?

2) Can I depend on the reman axles? Prob. from Checker or Advance if it makes any difference.......I figure they'll come w/ lifetime warranty, but that doesn't mean I want to be putting in crappy free axles all the time!

Thanks in advance for your opinions, thoughts, advice, flames, etc.....

Chris

edit: I'd be using the Toyota kit so I wouldn't be replacing crappy boots all the time......did I just answer my own Q?

 

Replace the boots and grease only... It may be easier to replace the whole axle but its also much more expensive and just plain not necessary.

 

I replaced just the boots on my Celica. It was a huge pain a mess, but it only cost me $50 for the front Toyota inner/outer boots, clamps and grease.

I think the axles are over $100 each!

 

Replacing the boots isn't bad, just messy. If you call around to different dealers you can get the boot kit for under $30. You can also get used CV axles from people for $20-30, but then you probably want to replace the boots anyway. I didn't and ended up having to take the axle out and replacing the boots later.

 

Even Easier.

Buy the Universal Split boots. And like the description says. they are split up the middle.

You can get 2 types. 1 is a click together, the other is a glue together.

DO NOT BUY THE GLUE TOGETHER ONES !

This way you dont have to remove the CV Shaft or anything. Plus they are easier to inspect and re-pack the grease this way.

 

Well, I'm gonna just do the boots not the whole axles. I was leaning that way in the firstplace anyhow, just wante some validation.

Any more opinions on the split boots? I started looking around and saw opinions all over the map on them.........

 

Personally I wouldn't use them. I have no experience with them, but I wouldn't use them. I like OEM.

 

Same here. I only trust OEM stuff.

 

Yeah, I guess that's the way I feel too to some extent - not necessarily married to "Genuine Toyota Parts", but definitely to doing the job "right". The split boots are intriguing - the part about being able to easily repack them. On the other hand I've never had a need to repack them if the boots don't fail.......

Thanks guys.

C

p.s. SLC Punk: Quite envious of your "Carlos Sainz Mobile" I'm looking for a new old car and the All-Trac is on my list but obviously quite rare. Not as rare as Mazda's Group A 323 though!

 

Thanks! I love my All-Trac, it is a blast! Have you gone to alltrac.net, there are a few that pop up for sale, but expect to pay more than KBB or NADA. Let me know if you have any questions about the ST185 when you start looking!

There is a 323 Group A in my neighborhood, it is red and has some graphics across the hood. Pretty sweet ride!