leaking rear axle seals

[wpw34]

went to the stelership to get my oil changed(its free)and they did there 20 what ever point inspection and they said my axle seals are blown leaking. ever herd of a blown seal axle seal/both driver and passenger sides? any info... hard to change? thanx

[grillmasterp]

went to the stelership to get my oil changed(its free)and they did there 20 what ever point inspection and they said my axle seals are blown leaking. ever herd of a blown seal axle seal/both driver and passenger sides? any info... hard to change? thanx

Pretty easy to change-
-Drain Rear diff fluid.
-Support truck via rear axle
-remove wheels
-disconnect parking brake at each drum
-disconnect rear hard brakelines at drum using 10mm flare wrench- try to cap the hard line to prevent brake fluid from emptying reservoir
-Unbolt 4 bolts on the back plate of the drum
-remove rear axle shafts
- Use seal puller to remove bad seals
- install new rear axle seals (90310-50001)

Installation is reverse of removal.....

http://home.earthlink.net/~grillmasterp/images/Tacoma/rear%20axle%20seal/Tacoma_Rear_Axle_seal_09%20(Medium).JPG
http://home.earthlink.net/~grillmasterp/images/Tacoma/rear%20axle%20seal/Tacoma_Rear_Axle_seal_11%20(Medium).JPG
http://home.earthlink.net/~grillmasterp/images/Tacoma/rear%20axle%20seal/Tacoma_Rear_Axle_seal_16%20(Medium).JPG

[SAStoy]

I don't see the need to drain diff fluid, you should be able to leave it in there with no problems. Anyways, I have replaced mine two times and they are still leaking. Driver side sealed up ok but passenger side still leaks. Changed axle breather and still no solution. I have a feeling that my axle shaft is bent because I know that the seals are going in all the way. Anyhow, changing seals is easy, I could probably do both sides now in under an hour.

Ryan

[SAStoy]

And to GrillMasterP, Holy leaf springs Batman! I'm running 5 in the rear with the overload pulled and she still rides a bit stiff. can't imagine how yours rides.

Ryan

[GreenTaco]

Is there any trick to using a seal puller. When I did my axle seal I destroyed my old seal and put a small mark on the inside of the axle housing. Fortunitly I was able to grind down the edge of the mark so It wouldn't effect anything.

[grillmasterp]

Is there any trick to using a seal puller. When I did my axle seal I destroyed my old seal and put a small mark on the inside of the axle housing. Fortunitly I was able to grind down the edge of the mark so It wouldn't effect anything.

I moved the puller around- but a few quick "karate chops" on the seal puller usually work

[grillmasterp]

And to GrillMasterP, Holy leaf springs Batman! I'm running 5 in the rear with the overload pulled and she still rides a bit stiff. can't imagine how yours rides.
Ryan

That is my hand in the pic but the leaf pack is the Old Man Emu installed on a friends truck. Seems to ride fine to me.

[BajaTaco]

You may want to seriously consider replacing the brake shoes. I drove for a looong time on mine with no problems, but then I ended up getting a "binding" symptom that would come and go... it was driving me nuts. I think it ended up being the brake shoes - I replaced them last week and so far so good. You can read about the symptoms here...

http://www.tacomaterritory.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5752

[prerunner2k]

just looked at mine today while doing the front brakes. decided to look at the rear brakes as they have close to 150k and there is a wierd noise comming from back there (only sometimes upon deceleration). anyway my passenger side is leaking so the pics are well appreciated.

as a side note i have jack stands that look just like thoes, well anywho one of em took a chunk out of my hand in the web area between the thumb and index finger(hope it heals ok) does'nt hurt. won't pick thoes babies from anywhere but the handle (that lowers the stand) anymore thats for sure.

[BajaTaco]

LOL! I know what you mean! They have pinched me too in the same place! Damn sunsabeeches! LOL!

[hornito]

I don't see the need to drain diff fluid, you should be able to leave it in there with no problems. Anyways, I have replaced mine two times and they are still leaking. Driver side sealed up ok but passenger side still leaks. Changed axle breather and still no solution. I have a feeling that my axle shaft is bent because I know that the seals are going in all the way. Anyhow, changing seals is easy, I could probably do both sides now in under an hour.

Ryan

Ryan,

Did you ever figure out what was cuasing the seals to fail? I've got the same problem.

Hornito

[LakesPre-Runner]

I don't see the need to drain diff fluid, you should be able to leave it in there with no problems. Anyways, I have replaced mine two times and they are still leaking. Driver side sealed up ok but passenger side still leaks. Changed axle breather and still no solution. I have a feeling that my axle shaft is bent because I know that the seals are going in all the way. Anyhow, changing seals is easy, I could probably do both sides now in under an hour.

Ryan
Next time you pull it out roll the axel on a bench with the flange and bearing just off the edge and see if it is bowed slightly or the flange wobbles, if it does replace the axel before you damage the entire rear end. If fluid can leak out water and mud can get in!