[psully]

a garage mechanic told me I had a torn boot and failing CV joint
on the right side of my 95 Camry(105k miles). I can't complain,it's been a good car. Shouldn't I get both the right and left side done at the same time rather than waiting for the left side to fail also?

He estimated the cost to be $235 for the right side, does this sound about right and if it is I suppose I will have to pay $470 to replace both sides?

Is it a big deal to replace the CV joints or could my Dad replace them for them. He is no mechanic but he does do some work on cars like changing starter,battery,belts,. Or should I take it to a Toyota garage or anyplace such as a tire, front end alignment shop?
Psully

 

[Nick]

i'd say get a haynes manual (15$ at most auto parts stores) look at the procedure with your dad and see if you feel like tackling it, the parts are pretty cheap, you can replace both axles for about 200$ after the core charge, it'll probably take 3-4 hours to do the whole deal for a first timer

 

[psully]

Thanks!

to Nick:

Thanks for the prompt response and great advice!
P Sully

 

[Your Uncle Moe]

Ask him how much it would cost for a whole new Axel.

 

[shackelton]

i'd say get a haynes manual (15$ at most auto parts stores) look at the procedure with your dad and see if you feel like tackling it, the parts are pretty cheap, you can replace both axles for about 200$ after the core charge, it'll probably take 3-4 hours to do the whole deal for a first timer

Excellent advice.

The only "gotcha" I ran into was the pass/side axle bearing was frozen into the cast iron engine mount bracket. I was able to remove the axle/bracket as an assembly and destroy the outer bearing race to get it out (that's some tough steel). I didn't have a slide hammer to try and yank it out while still in the car so that route may work.

 

[ajmcamry55]

My 1994 camry has 105,000 miles on it also, and I am getting a new axle and new cv joints installed today(8/10/04) for a little under 250 dollars, I cant wait to drive the finshed project

my cardomain site:
http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/658784

 

[epborden]

Passenger side is easy, you can do it yourself in like a couple of hours if you are unexperienced.

Drivers side can be a bitch, just a warning, but you can do it yourself too.

 

[Deuce]

if you're gonna pay to have the CV boot replaced, you may as well just get the axle replaced. CV boot replacement quoted to me - $270 at ToyotaTown Stockton. It cost me $180 to replace my axle.

Food for thought.

 

[Mosquito]

our left cv joint went bad around 110k, we had both replaced for about 450 so the price doesn't sound too outrageous

 

[myconid]

The drivers side seemed easier for me. The passanger side was a b*tch to get the control arm back together with the ball joint. The driversside seemed much easier.

 

[I4 to V6 Swap]

autozone has refurbished axles for 90 each side. Really easy to do. I changed mine in about a half an hour. I was lucky, they were easy to pull out.