Leaking Diff, How hard can it be?

[daveBoston]

My rear Diff is leaking, and I was quoted by a trusted shop today 2.7 hours or $225. Since I have an 87 4runner with the 7.5" rear end, I have to remove the axels to get the differential out, so the quote looks right. But really how hard can it be? The last time I replaced a Diff I got into a lot of trouble with the rear brakes and the axel seals. Can I pull the axels without messing with those things? It's 4 hours of my time and $30 of materials verses $225, and no worries.

[thebeast8888]

My rear Diff is leaking, and I was quoted by a trusted shop today 2.7 hours or $225. Since I have an 87 4runner with the 7.5" rear end, I have to remove the axels to get the differential out, so the quote looks right. But really how hard can it be? The last time I replaced a Diff I got into a lot of trouble with the rear brakes and the axel seals. Can I pull the axels without messing with those things? It's 4 hours of my time and $30 of materials verses $225, and no worries.
nope you gotta dick with the dam breaks to fix it is it a leaking from the pinion or bottom of the diff

[AzBearFan]

where is it leaking from?? if it is just leaking around the third, it would be VERY easy to fix. You can even leave the wheels on. Just take out the four bolts holding the backing plate to the housing, the driveshaft, and the brake lines and diconnect the ebrake cable (cotter pin on each wheel). Slide the axles out until you feel them disengage, support the tires with a jackstand, block or whatever (this will keep you from damaging the seals), and unbolt the third and pop it out. Clean up the sealing surfaces, reseal it with Grey RTV and bolt it all back together. Shouldn't take more than a couple hours and only cost you 4 bucks for RTV.

[FAUX X 4]

where is it leaking from?? if it is just leaking around the third, it would be VERY easy to fix. You can even leave the wheels on. Just take out the four bolts holding the backing plate to the housing, the driveshaft, and the brake lines and diconnect the ebrake cable (cotter pin on each wheel). Slide the axles out until you feel them disengage, support the tires with a jackstand, block or whatever (this will keep you from damaging the seals), and unbolt the third and pop it out. Clean up the sealing surfaces, reseal it with Grey RTV and bolt it all back together. Shouldn't take more than a couple hours and only cost you 4 bucks for RTV.

..........yeah, what he said! :)

[daveBoston]

It's leaking from the bottom of the diff.

[daveBoston]

That sounds pretty easy, Ive done it before but I messed up by trying to do the the rear brakes and replacing the axel seals at the same time.

[4xClover]

It's leaking from the bottom of the diff.

Any chance it's leaking from the drain plug? If not, that would mean it would be leaking from where the 3rd member attaches to the diff OR your diff is cracked. Sounds like you have a couple of quick/easy fixes available to you:

1. Check the drain plug
2. Remove the 3rd member and re-seal it with RV.

I would try those first before spending the $$ to have somebody else do the same thing..

[daveBoston]

True that! I haven't even looked at the drain plug, except that it has crap all around it. I just started worrying about it today because the leak got a lot worse this weekend.

[4xClover]

True that! I haven't even looked at the drain plug, except that it has crap all around it. I just started worrying about it today because the leak got a lot worse this weekend.

If it's got "crap" all around it, than it is probably leaking from there - dirt and such will stick to the oil. If you are going to replace it, see if you can get a new one that is recessed a bit and is removed with an alan wrench rather than the hex - the hex has a tendancy to get roughed up from rocks and such and is then a real pain in the ass to remove since the socket won't fit snug - however, the alan does not get a 'boger'd" up and is therefore easier to remove when you need to.

Good luck!

[daveBoston]

Thanks Timmea!

[thebeast8888]

where is it leaking from?? if it is just leaking around the third, it would be VERY easy to fix. You can even leave the wheels on. Just take out the four bolts holding the backing plate to the housing, the driveshaft, and the brake lines and diconnect the ebrake cable (cotter pin on each wheel). Slide the axles out until you feel them disengage, support the tires with a jackstand, block or whatever (this will keep you from damaging the seals), and unbolt the third and pop it out. Clean up the sealing surfaces, reseal it with Grey RTV and bolt it all back together. Shouldn't take more than a couple hours and only cost you 4 bucks for RTV.
hahah dude i had a message that sounded exactly like that! but i deleted it cus i wasnt 100% possitive about the 3rd on that year hahah i think thats kinda funny.....

[4xClover]

Thanks Timmea!

No worries! :kewl:

[Captkirkyota]

Thanks Timmea!
Here is what Tim was telling you to get.

http://frontrangeoffroadfab.com/nfoscomm/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=23&products_id=84&osCsid=cee59cb36f321396feefefc0cf521b8f

[daveBoston]

Thanks Kirk, Love your ride!

[hotwheels]

If you want toyota factory FIPG let me know I have a few tubes.

[AzBearFan]

when you get the new drain plug make sure not to overtighten it. That is what usually leads to it leaking since overtightening will crush that brass or tin washer.

[4xClover]

Here is what Tim was telling you to get.

http://frontrangeoffroadfab.com/nfoscomm/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=23&products_id=84&osCsid=cee59cb36f321396feefefc0cf521b8f

Yep...that's the one I got! Thanks for the link! :kewl:

[daveBoston]

If you want toyota factory FIPG let me know I have a few tubes.
What's FIPG, Diff sealer? I'll buy it from you, depending on if you are closer than the dealer. Where you at Dogg?

[daveBoston]

Here is what Tim was telling you to get.

http://frontrangeoffroadfab.com/nfoscomm/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=23&products_id=84&osCsid=cee59cb36f321396feefefc0cf521b8f

Hey, I just noticed that your ride is all over thier Solid axel page. Nicely done.

[hotwheels]

I live in south phoenix around 19th ave and southern. I work at right toyota in north scottsdale. Yes fipg is diff sealer and if you buy it from the dealer make sure you get orange sealer not black. let me know what you are doing and I can get you a tube if you want.

Rob

[grumpy]

I live in south phoenix around 19th ave and southern. I work at right toyota in north scottsdale. Yes fipg is diff sealer and if you buy it from the dealer make sure you get orange sealer not black. let me know what you are doing and I can get you a tube if you want.

Rob

whats the differnce between orange and black? never seen orange

[daveBoston]

Hey, I work on I 17 and Cactus so that may not be so far for me. Can I come buy and get it sometime this week after work?

[Captkirkyota]

whats the differnce between orange and black? never seen orange
Orange is what Toy uses. I think Grey RTV is better/same/more convenient/just fine.

[grumpy]

I've only seen black.

[FAUX X 4]

FWIW...Black is the same stuff as the "right stuff" sans the fancy packaging.......the orange is the same as the gray (just how it's packaged for Toyota and several other automakers).....it's more of an all purpose than the Black and a little easier to remove than the black stuff (Just ask how I know this! :D).........all this is what I've heard as according to a few reputable Toy Mechanics, dealer reps and Marlin. It's just permatex's way of "repackaging" thier products for comsumption.

[hotwheels]

With black fipg toyota uses it to seal anything that deals with oil on their engines, with orange toyota uses it to seal trans and diff. which equals

Black for oil
orange for diff and trans
They both clean off the same one is not harder then the other to get off.

get me your number and i will bring home a tube tomarrow and I will give you a call.

Rob

[grumpy]

FWIW...Black is the same stuff as the "right stuff" sans the fancy packaging.......the orange is the same as the gray (just how it's packaged for Toyota and several other automakers).....it's more of an all purpose than the Black and a little easier to remove than the black stuff (Just ask how I know this! :D).........all this is what I've heard as according to a few reputable Toy Mechanics, dealer reps and Marlin. It's just permatex's way of "repackaging" thier products for comsumption.


thx, just prefer to use the correct stuff for the application.

how do you know this??? :D

[hotwheels]

Grumpy, were you asking me how I know or faux x 4, how he knows? I know because I work as a toyota tech her in phoenix.

thanks, Rob

[grumpy]

Grumpy, were you asking me how I know or faux x 4, how he knows? I know because I work as a toyota tech her in phoenix.

thanks, Rob

I was asking Eric. in his reply he said "ask him how he knows" so I did!!! :D

[FAUX X 4]

Well, maybe the fact that it took some considerable (understatement) sledging to break loose my oilpan (used "right stuff") and it only took me a couple taps with the rubber mallet to break loose the front diff cover (used gray rtv) I used the black "Toyota" stuff to put the third in the rear axle the time before last and it took 3 monkeys and a small child all with dead blows to break that sucker loose :D........I used gray rtv this time when I put it back together and it's leaking now (go figure) but at least I know it'll come apart without droping it off my roof to break it loose!

[daveBoston]

With black fipg toyota uses it to seal anything that deals with oil on their engines, with orange toyota uses it to seal trans and diff. which equals

Black for oil
orange for diff and trans
They both clean off the same one is not harder then the other to get off.

get me your number and i will bring home a tube tomarrow and I will give you a call.

Rob
623-734-4298
thanks Pal!

[daveBoston]

Grumpy, were you asking me how I know or faux x 4, how he knows? I know because I work as a toyota tech her in phoenix.

thanks, Rob
Rob,
Let me ax you this, since you're a Toyota tech. Can I recharge my 87 4runner A/C system with a kit from the store or is it freon?

[AzBearFan]

Well, maybe the fact that it took some considerable (understatement) sledging to break loose my oilpan (used "right stuff") and it only took me a couple taps with the rubber mallet to break loose the front diff cover (used gray rtv) I used the black "Toyota" stuff to put the third in the rear axle the time before last and it took 3 monkeys and a small child all with dead blows to break that sucker loose :D........I used gray rtv this time when I put it back together and it's leaking now (go figure) but at least I know it'll come apart without droping it off my roof to break it loose!
that is actually why I use it, but I have never had a problem with it leaking. It is relatively easy to clean off and get the pieces apart.

[FAUX X 4]

Let me qualify exactly why it's leaking.........Big Rock + Droping Diff onto said Big Rock, hard x 2 = Drips small amount on garage floor. I know if I had used the Toyota black or "right stuff" it would not be leaking......but I would like to be able to remove it again also, so it was a trade off! :D

[hotwheels]

You are exactly right, that is why it could be leaking, or it could just be old also and over a long period of time it could start to leak.

[grumpy]

Let me qualify exactly why it's leaking.........Big Rock + Droping Diff onto said Big Rock, hard x 2 = Drips small amount on garage floor. I know if I had used the Toyota black or "right stuff" it would not be leaking......but I would like to be able to remove it again also, so it was a trade off! :D

thats why I'll use right stuff and have to deal with when need disassy

[thebeast8888]

fuk... i gotta pull my 3rd befor saturday and re weld my spiders, god damnit

[daveBoston]

Sorry, I haven't updated lately. I cleaned it up and tightened the nuts on my diff. It is leaking from the seal and not the drain plug. It is not leaking nearly as bad now so I'll wait a little before I go tearing into the rearend. I would like to get the Orange FiPG and a seal so I can do it when I have the time.
Rob,
Can you let me know hom much and When I can get it from you?

Thanks,