Torn outer cv boots driving straight

I'll take the idiot award for today.

Driving home I decided to put it in 4wd; I read on the forum it's good to do every so often to keep the system primed. I was at red light and it seemed to be taking a while for the 2wd/4hi light to come on so just as I went to push it off, the light came on. So I basically engaged and disengaged it real quick. By now the traffic light turned green so i drove off (slowly). About 5 seconds later I felt a bang. The switch was off and I was in 2wd so I wasn't sure what the noise was about. I get home (about 1 mile away) and crawl under the truck. Both outer cv boots are torn and grease is everywhere. My only thought is the 4wd was partially engaged and when I drove off the computer decided to disengage but the tires and axle rotated differently, for some reason, and the boots twisted/tore. These are year old reman'd CVJ's with little to no offroad action. Anyone else have any ideas or had this happen before?


And now I'm in the market for replacement boots. Any suggestions, tips or videos for DIY replacing outer boots?

 

Heinous! Are they torn or did they just slide out the sides a bit? I can’t tell on my screen. Blowing from seal isn’t unusual.

Watch this video in full: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YH5Cf7uJV5Y

 

They’re torn. Theres a split at the top of the first rib, closest to the tire, you can see better in the second photo. The drivers side is longer than the passenger but both in the same rib.

think i can replace the boot without taking the axle out of the front diff? Haha i hate takin the axles out

 

Thats not a thing.

Wether you have 4WD engaged or not, your CVs are always turning with the wheels.

Probably just poor quality rubber.

Unless you have a lift. A lift can kill CV boots quickly if they are angled enough to rub against themselves.

 

OP, Toyota remanufactured or aftermarket/Autozone axles?

 

ALWAYS OEM REMAN. That deserves all caps. Never, ever aftermarket. Toyota makes some of the beefiest axles you can get for our trucks. Posting this so you can hear it from a professional mechanic - just watch the first 60 seconds. Reman axles can be had relatively cheap if purchased from a local dealer through https://autoparts.toyota.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YH5Cf7uJV5Y​

 

Good point, wasnt thinking about them constantly spinning with the wheels. Hence CV. Haha i guess just a weird coincidence. The grease is pretty fresh so musta happened recently.

reman’d from CVJ.

Yall taught me right, I got reman’d from CVJ but got the cheapest ones (9550’s) which come with aftermarket neoprene boots. They’re apparently only good for about 2yrs/4k miles on a leveled tundra with minimal offroading. Haha Lesson Learned

@shifty` Any rec’s on boots for leveled trucks? I’m debating rebooting or just getting new reman’d 9550 TR’s from CVJ that come with OEM outer and high angle silicone inner boots. Weighing the time/cost benefit of just slipping in new, booted axles vs pulling, rebooting and reinstalling the current axles.

 

A lot of folks on here seem to like the ORS extended angle boots, but OEM boots have lasted many of us, some with significant lift, for the current life of the truck. I’ll never understand why people don’t replace with OEM parts of the OEM part lasts so goddamn long in the first place, but you do you

ORS boots: https://www.offroadsolutions.com/products/high-angle-inner-cv-boot/

 

The local shop said they don’t replace boots and would only replace the whole axle, then he proceeded to show me pricing for aftermarket axles. I cringed. Haha If there’s one thing I’m learning from this site is OEM is the way to go. I’m gonna give the local stealership a call and see if they can replace just the boots. If not, I’m DIY’in it with OEM boots.

Would this be the right stuff? 04438-0C020

 

Vehicle fitment is on that page. Do you see your truck in this list, maybe in one of the first 3 rows?

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Anyone have a link for this boot kit the guy in the video is displaying? Have a ripped boot and would like to do just the boot of course

 

Follow the first two bullets here: https://www.tundras.com/threads/howto-use-the-toyota-parts-system-to-find-order-parts.113808/

After you put your VIN into the search box as described, click TRANSMISSION & CHASSIS.
Then click FRONT DRIVE SHAFT, which is likely at the bottom of the list next to the first picture.
From there, choose which kit of these two you require by clicking on a part number, reading the description of the returned part
I tell you exactly how to do this for YOURSELF because someone else reading this may assume what fits your truck fits theirs, which could be a very costly mistake!
Don't forget new clamps, which you don't need to buy OEM if you don't want.

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Just a quick update for anyone following: On the left, Toyota website will tell you the available parts. Front-Drive shaft is on the left. I was unable to find TRANSMISSION & CHASSIS as shifty said, but there is Drive Chassis, and spent more time than necessary (at no fault but my own) looking for transmission and chassis. Just look for front drive shaft and said boot kit appears at the top.