Add me to the list of broken 3rd gen CV's! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="images/icons/frown.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="images/icons/frown.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="images/icons/frown.gif" />

Now that I'm personally interested, I've just begun reading CV-related posts, and came across one from February where Jeff the marmot states...
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Dang! I feel lucky I haven't broken one yet. I've heard of at least a few people on these forums (3 or 4 prior to you?) who've broken a CV on a 3rd gen 4Runner. And it's always the right front outer CV. But each of those was due to wheel spin/bouncing according to what they posted. ... ALL of those others so far that broke a CV had either open diffs or just the '01-'02 4Runner traction control system. No one with at least a rear locker has broken a front CV yet on a 3rd gen.
</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Well, true to the pattern, it was the right outer CV and I have the '01 traction control system. Not certain it was due to wheel spin or bouncing, but it might have been spin.

Here's what happened:

I was running Carnage Canyon (outside of Boulder) for the first time, and was at an obstacle consisting of an upward slope, a sharp turn to the left, off-cambre to the passenger side, mountain dirt with ruts/holes, and big tree root blocking the front tires. (Not a recipe for success. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="images/icons/frown.gif" /> ) I had the tires turned to the full leftward position and was attempting to crawl up. I didn't hear a noise or notice anything peculiar. My spotter just announced that I had ball bearings and grease dripping onto the trail. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="images/icons/shocked.gif" /> I didn't think I was really pushing it. (Guys who wheel with me know I'm usaully pretty mellow.) It's possible though that the tire was spinning and then stopped suddenly. No doubt the geometry was bad.

Driving out with the axle loose and clicking made me see the wisdom in getting manual hubs to be able to disengage in such situations. Is this something I should consider putting in while I'm having the CV fixed? Would it increase the cost of repair considerably? (This may have been discussed before -- I didn't get through all the posts.)

<small>[ April 13, 2003, 01:39 AM: Message edited by: Aurora Sandman ]</small>

sucks dude. i had my steering wheel all the way to the left to. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="images/icons/mad.gif" />

EDIT: reply to my PM!

<small>[ April 13, 2003, 01:40 AM: Message edited by: RTDawgs ]</small>

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Originally posted by Aurora Sandman:
<strong> </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Originally posted by RTDawgs:
<strong>sucks dude. i had my steering wheel all the way to the left to. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="images/icons/mad.gif" /> </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">How much was the repair?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">dealer charged $500 or so.

Very sorry to hear that, Mike.

Did you make the whole drive home with the axle in place then?

I broke both in one shot !
I ordered the o.r.s. kit and i am almost ready to have it installed. I have a long travel kit and my axles had to be made ( thanks CTS!!!! )
I am going to replace ball joints and tie rods so i know they are all fresh and i will have extras for the trail now.
I also ordered 2 ARB lockers and new 5.29 Gears and did a 2 inch body lift and 5x new lt315/75r16 (35's).
so for me it was just a few $$ atleast thats what I told the wife. Anyone have a nice couch I can sleep on if she was to find out how much that cheep fix was !!!!
Doh!
Fear

Damn, this is really scaring the crap out of me about doing an OME lift in the future! <img border="0" alt="[Chicken]" title="" src="graemlins/chicken.gif" />

I guess IFS is not built for lifting. If this is the case, i am sticking to my stock springs & shocks! Damn, looks like i will be running a stock 4runner for a long time!

Thanks.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Originally posted by Thai:
<strong>I guess IFS is not built for lifting. If this is the case, i am sticking to my stock springs & shocks! Damn, looks like i will be running a stock 4runner for a long time!</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Just get a rear locker and try to avoid wheel spin. I've done some insane trails and haven't broken a CV yet.

Mike, sorry to hear that.

To update the first post in this thread, Fear is the only one I've heard of to break a CV on the driver's side.

I'd say just get the replacement axle, which would be around $110 excluding labor, purchased from a car parts store. You might also try Import Parts Warehouse on about 4th and Kalamath for a new axle. I assume you'd need your 4Runner driveable over the next few weeks. If you'd go straight for the manual hubs, you could still use the inner portion of the broken axle, since only the inner CV is re-used with the ORS kit.

If you'd get the ORS manual hub kit, it might take a while to get the parts and get it installed. I was at ORS Saturday morning and Mike said he's pretty booked up with large projects over the next month.

Oh yeah - whatever you do, don't buy a new axle from a dealership. They charge $350 just for an axle.

<small>[ April 13, 2003, 02:39 AM: Message edited by: Jeff the marmot ]</small>

I paid $69 per axle from CarQuest (after core return), and they come with a lifetime warranty. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Originally posted by Darren:
<strong>Did you make the whole drive home with the axle in place then?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">No. I drove back out to the trail head in 2WD, which was about a half mile. (I had to be pulled through by nice people in a couple of places.)

We didn't have cell coverage at the trailhead, so I ended up driving 5-10 MPH for about 4 miles to the I36 junction where I could call for a tow truck. (Since the axle was no longer connected where the outer boot is, I figured it'd be dangerous to drive at highway speeds. Understandably, I was clicking quite a bit.)

I had it towed to Boulder Toyota, and JadeRunner was kind enough to come pick us up and bring us all home. (Thanks Scott! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" /> )

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Originally posted by Jeff the marmot:
<strong>If you'd go straight for the manual hubs, you could still use the inner portion of the broken axle, since only the inner CV is re-used with the ORS kit.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Jeff, approx. how much is the manaul hub install (parts an labor)? I'm thinking I might just ask the Boulder dealer to pull the axle out for me so I can drive, and than I'll order the Offroad Solutions kit and wait in queue for an install. Does that sound like a good plan to you?

I feel fortunate to have had this happen close to civilization. The manual hubs are looking like really important insurance, because I really didn't think I was pushing it hard. (Lockers are looking really good, too.)