CV Boot Warning (cinch band loose / grease leak).

[Dragon]

So I noticed some grease around my inbound CV boots and drive axle. ...quite a bit. Sure enough at a tech day here in Chicago CommGuru grabbed a boot and it turned freely on the drive axle. The OEM band was just not tight enough (or it loosened, which I find hard to believe seeing the way it is made)

...so I undid the staples holding the cinch band on, pumped some Mobil 1 synthetic grease in the boot using a needle tip on a grease gun, and then used a hose clamp to tighten it down.

I have an OME lift; only 2-1/2" but it may have been enough to cause stress on this band? I'm not sure.

I just wanted to give you all a heads up to check your boots. It is hard to know if I have the right amount of grease in there. If somebody knows how it should "feel" while massaging the boot I would certainly welcome the feedback.

Thank you CommGuru, DEWFPO, and TCao for all of your help once again.

[toyotaoffroadFJ]

i know when you lift 4runners/tacos the cv boots leak around the clamp..depengding how old it was...maybe the change in angle messed with it

[Mtbcoach]

Dragon previously said:

So I noticed some grease around my inbound CV boots and drive axle. ...quite a bit. Sure enough at a tech day here in Chicago CommGuru grabbed a boot and it turned freely on the drive axle. The OEM band was just not tight enough (or it loosened, which I find hard to believe seeing the way it is made)

...so I undid the staples holding the cinch band on, pumped some Mobil 1 synthetic grease in the boot using a needle tip on a grease gun, and then used a hose clamp to tighten it down.

I have an OME lift; only 2-1/2" but it may have been enough to cause stress on this band? I'm not sure.

I just wanted to give you all a heads up to check your boots. It is hard to know if I have the right amount of grease in there. If somebody knows how it should "feel" while massaging the boot I would certainly welcome the feedback.

Thank you CommGuru, DEWFPO, and TCao for all of your help once again.

Thanks for the heads-up, I'll be checking mine tomorrow...

[Garsgrl]

Did u notice it on both boots? I noticed my passenger side leaking a little out a few weeks ago. I assumed this wasn't normal. I guess it is fine to just sinch the clamp back down.

[Dragon]

Garsgrl previously said:

Did u notice it on both boots? I noticed my passenger side leaking a little out a few weeks ago. I assumed this wasn't normal. I guess it is fine to just sinch the clamp back down.

Both sides.
The oem clamp has a staple type of closure and can't be easily adjusted once opened up, thus the hose clamp replacements.

[Postee]

I have had this same problem too, with the same OME lift. I took it to Toyota, and they did something, I'm not sure what. But it stopped for a while, now they are leaking again.

Postee

[breauxtus]

Hey Dragon,

The Toyota mechanic I use at one of the major dealers here in Denver, also a friend of mine, with the assistance of the regional technical rep, called it "Normal Seepage" on mine. Indicated that it was due to overfilling at the factory and that it would eventually stop seeping and be fine without intervention. Of course, I don't think my boot was break dancing either.

Interesting. Now I have to go out and climb under it in the snow to figure it out! heh heh

Mike

[Dragon]

breauxtus previously said:

I don't think my boot was break dancing either.



Mike

Yeah, this turned pretty freely. Enough so that it's hard to imagine it keeping water out.

[Radio]

Hmmm... I got something similar going on. Is there a quick fix for this? All I know that it is uber bad if these boots are comprimised!

[Dragon]

Radio previously said:

Hmmm... I got something similar going on. Is there a quick fix for this? All I know that it is uber bad if these boots are comprimised!

Take the band off and replace with a hose clamp. Grease won't "pour out" so it's just an easy swap. I think I lost a lot of grease, so I added some back in.