torn the passenger side CV boot, and i'm down in San Diego

[2ndGen]

well, my bro just bought a house in Poway and i just drove down from LA for his house warmming party. right after i pulled in the driveway, somebody noticed some oil spots under my 4Runner. the inner boot on the passenger side was torn half way around the clamp. i don't know when it was happened but i just checked the tire pressure yesterday morning, the CV boots were fine at that time. the weird part is that it didn't make any noise, even after i found out its torn, i just drove few blocks here, nothing, no noise.

here is my dilemma:
my brother doesnt have any tool here, i don't know any trusted shops San Diego, i'm 100 miles away from home.

i know it's impossible to say without inspect the axle, but please speak for your expirence, is it safe for me to drive it back to LA? if not, i need some local connections, fast!!

thanks

[BruceTS]

Get some duct tape and wrap the boot, it'll keep the grease from flinging all over the place. Good enough to get you home. If you pick up an axle come by my place and you can install it here using my tools.

[2ndGen]

bruce, i tink the boot is dry.

[corax]

I'll assume you don't have manual hubs, or I'd say to make sure they're not locked. You should be fine to drive, it isn't a safety concern and wouldn't necessarily make any noise until they're toast, and even then you'd only here them clicking around turns in 4wd with power applied. If you're sure it recently happened, as long as you avoid dust storm and sand dunes, you should be OK just replacing the boot. I've driven on torn CV boots on a FWD car (torque applied constantly, your CV's only have torque applied in 4wd) for weeks at a time before I got around to replacing the axle.

Like Bruce said, it probably wouldn't be a bad idea to tape them up to keep dirt out. Home depot has some really slick tape you might want to try, it's silicone and bonds to itself, 5 mins after you overlap the tape it WILL NOT come undone unless you cut it. Look at the end of the aisle with all the chemicals and stuff, I think it's called Extreme Tape or something. Harbor freight also sells it.

[Robinhood4x4]

You're fine. People unknowingly drive hundreds if not thousands of miles with torn boots. Of course if it drys out the joint itself is toast but most people just replace the whole thing anyway.

[drguitarum2005]

you dont have anything to worry about. you arent driving home in 4wd. it wont pose any safety risk to you or anyone else. my pass side inner CV boot has been torn and dry for almost 3 years and i still wheel it. i will continue to wheel it until it breaks.

[Good Times]

pick up some lube and pack it and then tape it shut. that'll get you home safely.

when you get home take it apart and just inspect it. if it looks ok then just replace the boot and call it a day.

[Lee]

pick up some lube and pack it and then tape it shut. that'll get you home safely.

when you get home take it apart and just inspect it. if it looks ok then just replace the boot and call it a day.
x2, although i tend to think replacing the whole thing is easier.

[slosurfer]

Mine has looked like this since Sept. 07, I think you'll be fine getting home. I'm going to see if it will make it through this year's SNT in Nov.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Mojave%20Road%20Sep%2007/IMG_6392.jpg

[2ndGen]

i think i'll just replace the whole thing with a re-man from NAPA. do i need a special Torx bit ?

[Good Times]

you'll need a 35mm socket. if you need one I got one so just let me know and i'll let you use it. i found this one at autozone so if you want to buy one for yourself check there.

directions: how to (http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/maintenance/cv_axle/)

[2ndGen]

well, drove back to LA and had both sides boots done by a shop, and i'm glad i didn't do it myself, nasty stuff and clearly some water got in the boots before because the old grease was milky white.

thanks everyone.