My 4Runner has torn CV boots and a lift. Is there a way to help prevent them from tearing, or to help them last longer?
Review:
What is the vehicle and year? 1999 Toyota 4Runner Limited
Does it have lock out hubs? No
Does it have a lift and if yes, how much? Yes, about 3″ of lift.
How many miles? 175K miles
Diagnosis by phone: There are several different solutions. One is to remove the lift. Another is to do a diff drop (1″). You could also install a different lift that has drop brackets to drop the whole front end, but some think this defeats the purpose of lifting the vehicle. The last is to cut out all the IFS stuff and install a solid axle, but that’s a little extreme for most people.
Final diagnosis: Customer says let’s try the 1″ diff drop. There are several different brands out there, but they’re almost all the same. Two 1/2″ diameter bolts that are 8″ long and grade 8. Nuts and washers to match. Then there are the 2 – 1″ spacers. You can purchase these from many vendors for $25-45 plus tax or shipping.
Cheap Fix: Went to the local hardware store and picked up a couple of bolts and hardware to go with it. Then I went over to the pipe section and picked up a couple of 3/8″ couplers. They’re approximately 1.18″ long and 1″ OD. They’re cast so they should handle the pressure and torque. They’re galvanized so they’ll never rust and they’re only a couple of bucks each. I threw them in my mill and shaved off the ends to make them nice and flat.
Solution: Installed this and it helped the CV angles and looks good. Still haven’t installed the stock skid plate, but it should fit without any issues.
Check out Part I for more information on torn CV boots.