heat
Member
I did take careful measurements, but we'll eventually know. I'll keep an eye on the ABS area. The other side wasn't oily, at least not yet.
Why would I need bearings?
Axle seals - To attempt or not bother... your opinions please
- Thread starter htomeheb
- Start date
Why would I need bearings?
Drcoffee
Senior Member
If the gear lube has reached the bearings, it will accelerate their wear. Short term the bearings will be fine, but they will wear out faster. I wouldnt worry about it right now if they feel tight. Just keep an ear on it for the tell tale moaning of failing wheel bearings.
sportscarfan
New member
I replaced inner seals and shoes 10k miles ago + breather - no issues to date with bearings etc...only took a few hours. 198K on the 4runner now.
nevada
Senior Member
huh? how do you figure that? why would lubing the bearings make them go bad?
If the bearing were packed with grease gear oil will be too thin for the internal clearances and likely cause the balls to "skid" instead of roll.
pluton
Senior Member
Here's an FYI, for peripheral interest:
When I acquired my 97 4Runner(119K miles) in June, having the wheels off at the tire shop revealed leaking rear axle seals, both sides. Brake shoes soaked on both sides, but no grabbing or other brake performance issues.
PO had receipts for having bought new seals, but may have installed them himself. No biggie--my brother does his own on his big Ram Crew Cab 4WD.
Had the job done at my local dealer: ultra$$...about $1100, but with a one year warranty parts/labor.
Dealer techs reported that the PO had used non-Toyota seals, and had damaged one upon installation.
3 months later, one side leaks again.
Redo.
One week later, the other side leaks agin.
Redo.
They swear(actually, they just said that they "checked") that the axle(s) and/or housing aren't bent.
I'd rather it not leak, and I hope these dealer techs are competent, but for now I'm on the dealer gravy train(or should it be grave train?).
May your axle seal repair be more trouble free than mine!
When I acquired my 97 4Runner(119K miles) in June, having the wheels off at the tire shop revealed leaking rear axle seals, both sides. Brake shoes soaked on both sides, but no grabbing or other brake performance issues.
PO had receipts for having bought new seals, but may have installed them himself. No biggie--my brother does his own on his big Ram Crew Cab 4WD.
Had the job done at my local dealer: ultra$$...about $1100, but with a one year warranty parts/labor.
Dealer techs reported that the PO had used non-Toyota seals, and had damaged one upon installation.
3 months later, one side leaks again.
Redo.
One week later, the other side leaks agin.
Redo.
They swear(actually, they just said that they "checked") that the axle(s) and/or housing aren't bent.
I'd rather it not leak, and I hope these dealer techs are competent, but for now I'm on the dealer gravy train(or should it be grave train?).
May your axle seal repair be more trouble free than mine!
JayRolla
New member
If the bearing is not too lose you can get away with just doing the seal. I did nothing but the shoes and seal at the beginning of summer and have drove a good 10k miles and its still not leaking. I didnt have the case either and doing just he seal cost me $5. Plus it was a learning experience and will be ready to do it right if it fails. Just remember to buy a good tool for removing the seal, dont want to damage that axle housing.
Snowy21
New member
Your breather is probably clogged and he pressure is blowing out your seals. I replaced one axle seal 3 times before I thought to check the breather. Go for a drive and then open the fill plug, if you have air rush out then it is clogged. Easy fix, pull out the old breather on the top of the pumpkin and replace it with a 1/8th npt barbed fitting and route the hose up into your filler neck. Fail safe and cheap.
pluton
Senior Member
Actually, Immediately after the original big dealer seal/brake shoe replacement back in June 2013 I installed an extended breather running up to the gas filler door area.
Used a new breather "valve" that free flows in either direction.
The original OEM breather valve is free flow in the outward direction only, and so typically creates a vacuum in the axle over time and normal heat cycles.
Immediately after the most recent redo of the seals a few weeks ago, I went back and checked my extended breather: perfectly fine, free flow. It hasn't been on the car long enough to get clogged up.
One could logically posit that the seals depend on the presence of the vacuum in the axle housing, but that seems like it'd be extremely shaky engineering.
Both my old Landcruiser FJ 60s and my '91 4WD truck did fine with free flowing rear axle breathers.
Oh, and one last thing: Yesterday, after just a few weeks of boring around-town driving since the last seal replacement, I smelled the telltale smell of gear oil at the left rear wheel. We'll see....
Last edited:
heat
Member
11 weeks, ~1700 miles, everything is dry.
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