salaki

My wife's 216k miles Lexus ES 330 finally starts splashing spots of grease around the wheel/strut/control arm.
The CV boot itself isn't torn/split, it's just grease starts coming out from the clamp.

I looked at OEM boot from Lexus/Toyota.
Part: 04438-44051
Seriously, It's $100 for one side ($200 for both sides) ??


Where do buy quality boot that will last as long as OEM for reasonable price?
I looked at EMPI, Beck and Arnley, and Moogs these are all Neoprene boots which probably won't last more than 2 years.
I found Rockford CV which is supposed to be made of Thermoplastic but no body return my call to order.

Any other alternatives?

LeX2K

Look into reman axles from a dealer.

salaki

Not looking to replace the axles as they are not making any noises for now.
It's just the boot starts to leak a little

LeX2K

I don't know what to tell you, to reboot with OEM is silly expensive more than an entire aftermarket axle. I recently did one out of a Camry used Beck/Arnley boots the rubber seemed fine to me and it came with the same OE style clamps which are awesome. I used Redline grease not the stuff that came with the boots since it is likely poor quality.

salaki

Gotcha. Looks like Toyota OEM is silly expensive at least for ES300/330/Camrys V6
How many miles has the Beck/Arnley last so far?
Maybe I'd just go w/ the Neoprene since $200 for 4 boots are crazy.

LeX2K

About 5,000 I did it summer last year. I don't expect them to last nearly as long as the originals (they went over 300,000 miles) but I also don't expect the car to last another 300k. The thing with Beck/Arnley is they make nothing all their parts are reboxed. Meaning you don't know what you're going to get I bought them because I liked the clamps. The boots looked and fit exactly like OEM.

Oro

Beck/Arnley usually tries to provide OEM or OE quality parts, so I usually trust it. Looking quickly at what's available at RA, I'd definitely just order the BA.

As an aside, at 216k miles, if you have the ability to press out the front bearings while you are in there I'd do that. Save tearing back into it before awful long (very likely, no guarantee to that of course, but good probability).

salaki

Thanks for the advise Oro!
I will probably just try Beck/Arnley boots for now and see how long they last.

For the front bearings, do you mean front wheel bearings in the knuckle?
I probably wait for the these bearings go bad since removing the axle doesn't take that long :P

OR you mean bearing that is on the right axle (passenger)?
I tried to search for DIY for this but I can't find it so far.

Oro

For a lot of people, the front bearings fail 200 to 250k, so you are in the zone. Getting the axle out is not hard if it's been done recently - it can be challenging after a while. Just a thought and depends upon your appetite for re-doing the work to get most of the way there.

ObSCessed

I second the notion of remaned oem toyota axles. Just went through this with my 01, replaced by my shop they got the axle for a little under 200$ and so far it is performing great. Just be careful of the trans axle seal depending on which side it is.