cv boot or something more serious?

[billmiller09]

1992 toyota 4runner 4x4, 5speed manual, i was driving home today and made a left hand turn and it sounded like something was grinding in the front, i have stock 31x10.5x15, i pulled over and checked out the drivers side cv boot, which was split and i noticed marble sized bearings laying on the a-arm, i drove slowly about another 3 miles at about 40mph, 4runner was making a clattering noise, and then would stop making noise.. i cant find a diagram showing anything close to these bearings!!! any help or suggestions

[OzzyO]

It sounds like it's your CV Joint to me, I had that problem with a Chev I had many years ago, I own a 94 4Runner now and have had it since 1998 no CV joint problems. BUT if your CV BOOT is tore up more than likely the CV Joint is gone, especially since your having that noise when driving slow, it sounds so similar to my older Chev and it was the CV Joint BUT if You Replace It MAKE Sure it's Torqued to Toyota Specs as my old Chev one wasn't and it went again in less than a week.
I hope this helps, Good Luck,

[fourwd1]

Does sound like a CV joint exploded (ie, marble sized bearings).
You can download a FSM @ the NCTTORA site.

[billmiller09]

thanks for the info guys,, you are both right,, it was the cv joint, completly gone, so i replaced the cv axle, which cost alot less than i ever imagined(60 bucks at autozone) problem seems to be gone now.. but have been told that now it will make the other cv axle go bad,, so im getting ready to replace it also...... thanks again for the input