ES350 2007 (odo reading: 170k)

Hello experts,
I took my car in for routine service this week...

The technician at the Lexus service center reported leaking CV joint boots (both right & left), and recommended replacing them (quote: $1500 total for parts & labor).
I'd like to get a few alternative quotes. Has anyone got similar work done at an independent shop or a Toyota dealership recently in the Bay area? I'd appreciate any tips & experience you can share.

Thank you!

 

That's about what I expect from a dealer meaning way to much $$$$$$$$$$ for a routine job. Get a 2nd opinion or even better crawl under the car yourself and have a look, even more better post some pictures.

 

I had the same, but one boot. Here is the thing, most non dealer places will offer to replace entire axle. Be careful with cheap axles. Best to replace a boot if you find non dealer. Lexus oem axel is very expensive, better fix the boot to save the axle.

 

If possible yes, OE axle is vastly superior.

 

Each factory axle is $500-600. Cheap aftermarket is around $100-150/each. I also second the opinion of salvaging the factory parts with a boot kit if possible.

 

When you shop around, make sure you ask them if they can replace CV boots only. Do not settle for after market axles. Lexus charged me $500 for one axle, but that was 2 years ago, maybe $700 is what they charge now. Its a couple hour job, maybe toyota dealer will do it for less. Lexus sells OEM CV boot kit

 

Agreed. Stay away from aftermarket. I made this mistake. Ended up going to a salvage yard and getting lower mileage OEM. On one I had to replace the boot before I installed it, but it was fairly easy with it off the car.

 

Had both axles replaced at my local shop for $600.

 

Thats a decent price for labor only. If I had to get axel, I would get OEM.

 

OE axles are $550. I wasn't about to spend $1600 on a car I paid $4500 for. And there's no reason to. The replacement axles worked perfectly fine.

 

lets see how they hold up. Car vibration on highway and etc. Too many complaints with cheap axels after a year or so. I am sure there are good after market axels, but they are not cheap.

 

I got good ones. It solved the vibration issue I was having. Unfortunately, some drunk totaled the car while it was sitting parked. So the axles held up for the life of the car LOL.

 

If you are near the South Bay, Foreign Exchange in Santa Clara does excellent work and will service your stock axle correctly while replacing the boot. If dirt has gotten in the CV joint, it's imperative that all the old grease is properly removed and the proper new grease is installed during the boot replacement. While it cost extra to do this right, its the only way to get back to that great Toyota/Lexus reliability we expect.