2002 Corolla CE w/automatic (VIN: 1NXBR...) Driver side dr..

Hey,

I have a 2002 Corolla (automatic) and was told around a year ago my CV
joint was leaking but the dealer wanted an arm and a leg and I didn't
have the money then. Strangely, I hear no sounds that suggest a CV
joint is bad and I called a dealer in Fresno, CA (Bingham Toyota) who
quoted $430 for the driver side drive axle and $110 for 1 hour of
labor, assuming it takes 1 hour.

Then he looked in the computer and said for 2002 that Toyota doesn't
even make or have in stock a driver side drive axle assembly! You
have to be kidding... Ray O, can you confirm that?? Or anybody know a
dealer I can call that stocks parts??

Secondly..

The dealer even suggests going after market because the part is much
cheaper. I'm finding the part for $60-$200 online so wondering if
it's even the same thing?? I also wonder if it's wise to have a
passenger side that is still OEM and a driver side that's after
market? I know how most feel about OEM so I am willing to pay the
$430 if need be.

Anyway, just curious where I could maybe find this part. The dealer
here said '0 in the nation' but surely Toyota/OEM didn't just stop
making parts for this 2002 Corolla!

"mrsteveo" <mrsteveo.RemoveThis@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:d7c192eb-5bc6-430c-90ba-b116842b9383@q77g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
> Hey,
>
> I have a 2002 Corolla (automatic) and was told around a year ago my CV
> joint was leaking but the dealer wanted an arm and a leg and I didn't
> have the money then. Strangely, I hear no sounds that suggest a CV
> joint is bad and I called a dealer in Fresno, CA (Bingham Toyota) who
> quoted $430 for the driver side drive axle and $110 for 1 hour of
> labor, assuming it takes 1 hour.
>

It seems odd that a 6 year old car would already need a CV joint, unless the
car ahas a lot of miles.

I thought Bingham Toyota was in Clovis (at least it was when I worked in the
San Francisco regional office).

> Then he looked in the computer and said for 2002 that Toyota doesn't
> even make or have in stock a driver side drive axle assembly! You
> have to be kidding... Ray O, can you confirm that?? Or anybody know a
> dealer I can call that stocks parts??
>

Sorry, I don't have access to Toyota's parts system any more. In my
experience, when you can't find a part for a relatively new car, the parts
person is looking for the wrong part name, the part is being re-designed,
there is very high demand for the part, or the supplier has a problem.

> Secondly..
>
> The dealer even suggests going after market because the part is much
> cheaper. I'm finding the part for $60-$200 online so wondering if
> it's even the same thing?? I also wonder if it's wise to have a
> passenger side that is still OEM and a driver side that's after
> market? I know how most feel about OEM so I am willing to pay the
> $430 if need be.
>
> Anyway, just curious where I could maybe find this part. The dealer
> here said '0 in the nation' but surely Toyota/OEM didn't just stop
> making parts for this 2002 Corolla!
>

Since you described the part as leaking, with no noise, that suggests that
the boot around the CV joint is torn or worn, and the grease is being flung
on the underbody and that the CV joint itself is still in decent condition.
You can try to find an aftermarket CV joint boot - this way you will still
have the original CV joint and just the boot that contains the grease is
aftermarket. Even if you replace the OEM CV joint with an aftermarket one,
you should not have any problems, even if you replace just one side.

Bottom line, look for an aftermarket CV joint boot - it will be a lot
cheaper than the entire CV joint.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)