I got my lift installed along with my diff drop! but along the way I discovered that both rear axle seals are blown. I have read the thread by BigFishAllDAy and it seems like a big job. I think that My dad and I could do it, but it would take a while to get everything done. I currently do not have the time to do this myself though so i may be resorting to a shop. I do have a few questions though. I took the rear diff breather off to check it as a possible cause of the seals blowing. It is basically rusted shut/filled with gunk. I replaced that yesterday because I have the parts and have been meaning to... I don't know if it is worth replacing the rear wheel bearings because the plugged diff filter is most likely the cause, would I be wrong to assume that? What is the average cost to have the seals replaced? I was also wondering how far I can travel with the seals leaking? I actually think they have been like this for a while now, so would it hurt to make a 300 mile trip back to where I am staying this summer. I made the trip home for the 4th. Does anyone know the size of the Diff drain/fill plugs? we tried to take the fill plug out to see how much gear oil is actually in it, but couldn't get a socket we had to fit, or a wrench to break it loose.
What seems to be an average cost to have this job done be a shop?

What sort of tools/space do you have?

The rear axle seal replacement is SUPER easy. I mean, after you've done the first side, the 2nd side will take probably 30 minutes.

For each side all you need to do:
1- Take off wheel
2- Undo brake line (get a brake line stopper that threads on to the flare nut)
3 - Take cotter pin off for e-brake cable
4- Undo 4 nuts on back of drum
5 - Slide axle out
6 - Take pliers and pull the old seal out
7 - Pound in new seal using a seal seating tool, or make your own like I did. (Buy the seal, and bring it to a hardware shop, and match the inner and outer diameters of the seal with the washers.

Yeah, I wouldn't take it to a shop, they will charge you way too much. Just buy about 4 axle seals from the dealer (they are all of $5 each, and spares means you can bend some trying to get it in , I bent 1 when replacing mine), then get the seal a driver set from harbor freight (http://www.harborfreight.com/10-piec...set-95853.html).

Way cheaper this way then taking it to a shop, and you then have the tools for the next time. Lots of us have done this ourselves, and until yo do it yourself, you don't realize quite how easy it is. It definitely takes some precision, but it isn't too difficult.

Alright, well i can try and do that tomorrow if my dealership has them, or i can do it one day after work when i get back to NC. I work at a mine, so the guys in the shop should be able to give me a hand if I end up doing it.

Good luck with those seals, I am dreading the day mine go out too.

Now on to the real business at hand, where are the lifted pics?

Pics will be soon. It is raining outside now, so hopefully sometime tomorrow. I think I am going to try and tackle it with some co-workers when i get back to NC. I checked the diff and it barely lost any oil at all, so i filled it the rest of the way up and i think i will be fine on my return trip. I'm going to pick up some seals tomorrow. I believe all i will need is the 2 seals and 2 o-rings, but I will pick up some extra seals to be safe. I just went out to pick up a seal driver kit. Hopefully it will go smoothly.

Good luck getting it done man! Hopefully you can have it done by friday so you can make it to gulches saturday morning.
By the way, where in NC are you?

Yeah man i really hope so. I need to replace the rear brakes too, but hopefully i will be able to get some help and get it all done correctly the first time. I'm in Spruce Pine, NC.

I picked up 3 seals today and 2 o-rings. I will be replacing it this week hopefully. I think i caught it at the beginning of the leak because all the pictures I have seen seem to have much more grease on the inside of the tire and rim. Mine is not too bad yet, which is good. A few pics of the lift are up in my build thread too with more to come hopefully! vthokie's 2001 4Runner Build Thread

Well the seals dont seem to be leaking at all anymore... I have cleaned them up pretty well and driven around. When i check them again they are still as clean as before. Is it possible for them to re-seal if there is no more pressure on them because of a blocked diff breather? I'm going to replace them, but do i need to be in as much of a rush? I planed on going on a wheeling trip tomorrow, but haven't been able to change them out yet. Would i be better staying home or taking the trip?

I drove with a leaky rear axle seal for about a year if that gives you an idea on how urgent it is. The only real danger is that your rear brakes won't work worth a crap (but they don't anyways so no big loss there). If it's been leaking for a while, I'd ust check your fluid level once in a while so you don't run it dry.