Last fall I acquired a one-owner 2002 AWD RX300 with 220,000 miles. A Carfax and the last 8 years of service records gave me a pretty good idea of its history. I notice that about 30,000 miles ago the right front axle was replaced, presumably due to a split CV boot. Because the cost of the axle was low it was obviously either aftermarket or a remanufactured unit; from the records I can't tell which. Fast forward to this week when I asked my long-term independent mechanic to do an oil and filter change. He advised that the right front axle is not original (I knew that already) and that the outer CV boot is split. He said he could reboot it. He said to get an OE kit, inner and outer. Lexus does offer such a kit, reasonably price at less than $75. My question is this: if the axle is aftermarket is there any possibility that an OE reboot kit won't fit? Any reliable way to tell by getting under there and looking at the axle that I can determine whether it is a remanufactured OE? Thanks.

 

Do you have any oil or fluids dripping on your boots? Cuz if so they will fail again.

Since your axle(right front) was replaced 30k miles ago someone else already had the fun job of beating it apart if it was seized and rusted like mine(FWD) so a new Cardone Premium axle from Rock Auto for $100 is what I would do since your existing one will probably come out like butter.

But I'm old school cuz back in the day shops I worked at we just relaced the axle we didn't fool around replacing boots- not sure why tho cuz lots more labor $$$ in boot replacement than "hanging and banging" a new one.
PS- I think I read somewhere on RX300 AWD that transfer case fluid needs to be drained before axle replacement so axle fluids don't mix with trans fluid but I could be wrong.

 

Margate: Thanks for your input. Yes, I have given thought to the Cardone option; I recently replaced both axles on my Mini Cooper with remanufactured units from RockAuto.

 

I agree with Margate.
Its a crap shoot to put OEM boots on an aftermarket shaft.
Not knowing the actual diameter, it might be too loose when the clamps go on and end up slinging grease.

Ive also seen aftermarket shafts that the diameter of the shaft that the seal rides on are also smaller that OE.
That will end up leaking on the axle seal.

I believe reman OE comes with a GREEN inner axle housing.
43410-33202

 

Since I did reboot on the original axles, the labor was just my time. If you buy the boots and then pay labor to reboot, I would suggest get the aftermarket/refurbished part.

Remember to replace the seals and the snap-in-clip.

I simply tilted the side down a bit to let the fluid drain out a bit before seating the seal.

Salim

 

For sure if oem axle still good rebooting if possible is what I would do only because the oem axle is $1000 and felt slightly more balanced than the aftermarket.
Can really only feel a difference when I stomp on it but I hear and feel everything and it is so slight most people would never notice and at 150k miles just decided to replace them instead of reboot.
And at $100 for Cardone vs $1,000 OEM even if I only get 30k to 50k miles out of them I'm happy.
Honestly if you have 30k on your aftermarket axle you done good already not worth possible fitment issues for boots or the labor to install them at that mileage just IMHO.

 

I just crawled under and the cv joint at the inner end of the passenger side front axle is clearly green. Can we say with confidence that it is an OE axle? I am certain that it is not original; it is either aftermarket or remanufactured OE.