ok guys, i noticed that my inner boot on the drivers side has a little tear in it yesturday. i got a new inner boot kit at napa for $13 but the instructions that came with it were crap! so are there any online write ups out there? any good tips?

while doin some searching i've read that some people have replaced the studs on the inner side of the axle with bolts. any idea for what the best size is and all that good stuff?

i wanna get this done by tuesday night so i can go wheelin! thankfully im finally out of school for the summer!!!

thanks you guys rock as usual!!!

 

Check out these links. They're for Tacos, but I think for the most part they would apply to 4Runners too:

Changing the CV Boots on a ADD Equipped Tacoma

Not Toyota specific, but good pics during the install:
CV Boot Installation

Tacoma Stud Replacement

 

awsome thanks for the links man! also what do you guys think about just using those adjustable hose clap things instead of the ones you have to have the special plyer kinda things for?

 

Thanks for the links also, both my drivers and passenger inner boots are toast.

 

Most people say to go with the OEM boot kit because the aftermarket ones don't last long. Did you get a boot for both the inner and outer, or just the inner? Since you're going to have the boot out, you might as well replace them both otherwise when the outer breaks you'll have to yank out the axle again, plus remove the inner boot to get the outer boot on.

I went with the toyota kit and just used the clamps that came with it, no need for any special tool.

 

Ok, quick write-up for 2nd gens using the toyota rebuild kit...


1. Remove axle.
2. Remove inner housing by removing boot.
3. Mark tripod joint and axle so that the tripod joint goes back on in the same splines. (Also, so that you don't flip the tripod joint around the wrong way).


4. Remove C-clip and remove tripod joint.
5. Old boots will slide off now.
6. It is not recommended that the outer CV joint be rebuilt. I just wiped as much of the old grease off as I could.
7. Tape end of splines so that the boots aren't cut.
8. Slide on new boots and clamps but do not clamp yet.
9. Slide on tripod joint, making sure reference marks line up.
10. Install NEW snap ring that retains tripod joint on axle shaft. Apply 6.2-6.6 ounces of Black colored grease supplied with overhaul kit to outer joint and boot.
11. Pack 9.6-9.9 ounces of Brown colored grease supplied with overhaul kit into inner joint and inner housing. Install inner housing on axle shaft so reference marks are aligned.
12. Install boot on inner housing and outer joint. Ensure boots are seated in grooves on axle shaft. Adjust axle shaft to standard axle shaft length of 15.508-15.902in (for 1995 4runner, sorry, that's all I have, probably the same for all 2nd gens). Measure axle shaft length between inner joint flange
and outer joint flange.


13. Tighten boot clamps.
14. Install axle.

 

Hose clamps worked great when I replaced both driver's side boots. Had a hell of a time finding the big ones though. The local hardware stores didn't have 'em and I ended up going to a specialty store, IIRC it was Tacoma screw or something like that.

Definitely press the bolts out. Glad I did it when it came time to replace the bolts. There's no need to buy new hardware. You can reuse the stock boots by ginding the splines off of 'em. Takes about 5 sec each on a bench grinder. Pressing the bolts out isn't too bad either. I was able to use a medium size C-clamp and socket to pop 'em out.

Have fun stuffing the grease into the new boot, I did.