Spew of Grease? Need Help.

[bdc87]

While trying to get home today, I had to make a maneuver and the front drivers side tire went of the road into a small embankment, wasn't much I pulled out of it like going over a speed bump. I looked to make sure my wheel was ok and I saw a spew of grease all of the inner well, and back of the dust plate. I took the wheel off and cleaned everything up. Went for a small drive afterwords and everything sounds and looks ok, no more grease.

Where did this grease come from, what caused it, did I break something, and will the dealer fix it (my car is still under warranty)?

I plan to have it looked at but, wondering how serious it is.

[Klink10]

I think it might have come from the pins holding the caliper on. There is supposed to be some grease inside those little rubber boots along with the pins being lubed. Check that one of those didn't come unseated causing your problem. Check also because dirt and moisture can get in there causing the pins to freeze up down the road. All this does harm to the function of the brakes.....worth checking.

[FunctionSpec]

Check the axle boot for any tears or punctures. Axle grease is pretty nasty stuff so if it was a light coat of grease and easy to clean off, then its something else.

[bdc87]

I checked the axle boot and didn't notice anything I might have to get underneath the car to look some more. It was pretty thick stuff and there was a good amount of it. It took about 6 papertowles to wipe it off the wheels.

I'm going to call the dealer tomorrow to make an appointment, should be under warranty right?

[Klink10]

Should be....yes. Just don't tell them how it happened.

[FunctionSpec]

Turn the steering wheel all the way to the left and then right to check the front and back of the boot. Then roll the car forward a little and then follow the procedure again. Usually rips in the crease and you can't see it until you pull on the boot.

Probably isn't even from embankment and probably was there before but you just didn't notice it until you took your wheel off. How many miles are on your car?

Dealer should cover it under warranty but if looks like something poked and snagged the boot then its probably going to be a little tougher for them to cover it.

[bdc87]

I know the grease came from the hit I don't know about the tear. I'm under the 36K miles. Called the service department today, I have a time for Thursday Morning. Guy said as long as it wasn't in an accedient or anything major it shouldn't be a problem.

My only question is what about my springs, and shocks voiding the warranty?

[IllusionX]

if it was the axle boot that was damaged. unless they prove your springs was the cause of the puncture. no it will not void the warranty.

[jambo101]

The axle boot is the only place that has a significant amount of grease,if the boot wasnt torn i'd suspect the grease was already there and you ran over it.

[lilredrocket]

some sealed ball joints can leak some to I have seen a good ammount come out of them

[bdc87]

I'll let you guys no once I hear back from the techs.

[Shroomster]

what color grease? and are you sure it wasn't 'mud grease' as in when you went off the road you could've hit a patch of greasy road mud and flung it everywhere?

[bdc87]

Axle boot was torn. Mechanic said it couldn't be covered because the axle was flat instead of at an angle? This was only on the left side and not the right. $300 to fix. Your thoughts?

[FunctionSpec]

They are full of sh!t. Doesn't even make sense. They are looking for an excuse and blaming it on the lowered ride height of the springs.

Tell them to explain to you how a "flat axle" would cause the boot to tear. An axle at an angle would put continuous pressure on the boot causing it to eventually tear when it wears out.

[ztrack157]

I have the same problem. Noticeably never happened until I put my Tokico Shocks on. Went to take off my underpanel today and noticed the melted chocolate grease all over the place.

[ztrack157]

If theres a problem with the ride height then I'm getting new bump stops ad putting my stock springs back on.

[ztrack157]

Also I did not notice any tears in my boot as well.

[bdc87]

Is something up with these Tokicos?

And for Function, I know the first thing they blamed it on was the springs, but how they were installed and not the height. How would a flat axle not cause this and how, and what do I say to them about it?

[ztrack157]

I talked to my grandfather and he said it could have been from bottoming out but the tokicos are stiffer thus no more bottoming out. I don't know since you and I both put these tokicos on about the same time and now we both have the same problem. I have 45,000 mile on my car and have had it lowered for well over a year and a half now. No problem until the shocks were replaced. I don't want this to happen again so I may be going back to the stock springs.

[bdc87]

I have 24K miles on mine and had it lowered with out the shocks for 2K miles. The shocks seem to be the culprit or we both screwed up on installing them. Toyota said they would warrant it if it was TRD, I might have to switch to TRD springs and shocks but the tokicos are suppose to be better. But I only have 12K miles on the warranty so I don't see it as viable.

[FunctionSpec]

Both you guys have the same problem? Did you guys get it installed at the same place? lol. Its possible whoever installed the shocks nick the boot while installing. There might have been a sharp edge on the tokico shocks that snagged the boot. Over time the snag got larger while the boot gets pulled by turning and suspension movements and eventually it tears.

Lowering the car or having tokico shocks won't cause the problems you guys are having. The only probable cause is installer error.

Tell them to explain to you how a "flat" axle would cause that problem. Then just give them the "WTF" look and shake your head in disagreement and tell them that there are thousands and thousands of lowered cars out there that don't have axle boot problems. Then throw your hands in the air and tell them that it doesn't make sense at all and that they are just looking for an excuse to not cover it under warranty. Just be persistent, lol.

[bdc87]

I will try. Unless I misheard him and he said that it was angled and needs to be flat? IDk. I think we both did the install ourselves. Wierd that is only on the left side? I'll see what he says and report back. For the time being I'm using a Mazda 6, not a bad sedan, but no econobox.

[detroiter]

I'm having the same issue again. I had a drivers side boot problem about a year and half ago. I checked under the car yesterday and it's back again, on the drivers side.

Is their a particular reason why it seems these axle boots are having issues and it's always tending to be on the drivers side? Is it bad suspension design by Toyota? i as well am running Tokicos and Teins. But if was running a lowered suspension that was at fault, shouldn't the passenger side have failed somewhere along the line to the 100,000 miles I'm now at.

[auxmike]

There's always more weight on the driver's side front corner when car is being stopped, turned, and generally in motion.
Perhaps the extra load makes the axel angle more severe and causes it to tear??
Just a shot in the dark...