2004 Tacoma needs front CV shafts but it's lifted

[Bob Kontak]

I'm not sure what I need. Original size or a special CV shaft that can articulate better? Longer? R O C K auto sells them for trucks that are lifted up to 4".

Below is the truck picture.

Just need a push in the right direction.

[A930Rocket]

With it being lifted, I take it the angle of the axles are too much and you’re having problems? On the F150 forms, I know some guys have dropped their front differential to lower the angle of the axles.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

With it being lifted, I take it the angle of the axles are too much and you’re having problems? On the F150 forms, I know some guys have dropped their front differential to lower the angle of the axles.

All of the boots are torn wide open and because of that the shafts need to be replaced. One shaft is lumpy as you spin the wheel by hand and the truck is on the lift. I suspect the angle contributed but they have lasted for many years.

I don't know the length and the guy that sold it to my friend after lifting it has passed

However, I do have access to the truck in ten days for "a while" while she recovers from a medical procedure. I may just pull a shaft out and measure it to determine what length I should put in. I hope it's stock as the cost of the special shafts are three times higher.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

could you find new bearing/boots assemblies and just install them on the old shafts?
(especially if the shafts are longer than oe)

.. oh never mind, I bet the shafts go into the case/hub. I was thinking like old 911 cv joints.

[IROC]

Look up Tinkerer's Adventure on youtube for a very detailed discussion on everything related to Toyota suspensions. He specifically discusses lifts, travel, axle binding, differential drops, etc.

Most likely you do not need anything beyond the factory axles.

[A930Rocket]

I doubt you need longer, it’s the high angle, that’s wearing them out. And depending how long that takes, it’s a maintenance item.

[911 Rod]

Is lowering it back to stock an option?

[IROC]

Lifting a Toyota front suspension does not change the travel that the wheel moves thru - that travel is defined by the length of the shock (in droop) and the bump stump (in compression). Installing a lift only changes the nominal position of the wheel in that overall travel. Since the actual wheel travel doesn't change, the angle that the CV joints see also does not change (at the extremes of travel). So, the lift itself does not induce more wear or stress on the CVs. Also for this reason, differential drops and the like don't have any real effect on the CVs. The lift itself likely had no effect on the CV joints and they probably just need maintenance.

If you installed some long-travel shocks with the lift (Bilstein 5100s for instance have an additional 1" of travel in the front) you might have some additional wear, but I am not sure the 1" would even make a difference. That vehicle doesn't look like it gets a lot of hard offroad use. I would just replace the axles with stock replacements and I bet you'll be fine.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by IROC

Lifting a Toyota front suspension does not change the travel that the wheel moves thru - that travel is defined by the length of the shock (in droop) and the bump stump (in compression). Installing a lift only changes the nominal position of the wheel in that overall travel. Since the actual wheel travel doesn't change, the angle that the CV joints see also does not change (at the extremes of travel). So, the lift itself does not induce more wear or stress on the CVs. Also for this reason, differential drops and the like don't have any real effect on the CVs. The lift itself likely had no effect on the CV joints and they probably just need maintenance.

If you installed some long-travel shocks with the lift (Bilstein 5100s for instance have an additional 1" of travel in the front) you might have some additional wear, but I am not sure the 1" would even make a difference. That vehicle doesn't look like it gets a lot of hard offroad use. I would just replace the axles with stock replacements and I bet you'll be fine.

I said to her, there is always a guy that knows way way more than you do on that forum.

Thank you and thanks to all for helping.

I'll just buy the standard ones and double check before installing.