Front axle seal leak

[jneimeyer0227]

Took my 84 4runner to a Toyota dealership when I bought it in August and had them go through it. One of the things they listed was a leak on my front axle. The leak wasn't bad. Recently I've noticed small dime size mini puddles in the garage every so often. I'm getting a little nervous and wanted to get some input from the experts here! Toyota quoted me at $1400 to reseal both front knuckles and repack birfield joints. That seemed high and I didn't know if I needed all that? I'm currently refurbishing the vehicle is a number of areas, and I hated to have to invest 1400 if there was a another way. I read other post about cv leaks and duct taping? Is this the same kind of thing? Other options? Thanks in advance. The support from people on the site is amazing...

 

[loki the trickster]

Took my 84 4runner to a Toyota dealership when I bought it in August and had them go through it. One of the things they listed was a leak on my front axle. The leak wasn't bad. Recently I've noticed small dime size mini puddles in the garage every so often. I'm getting a little nervous and wanted to get some input from the experts here! Toyota quoted me at $1400 to reseal both front knuckles and repack birfield joints. That seemed high and I didn't know if I needed all that? I'm currently refurbishing the vehicle is a number of areas, and I hated to have to invest 1400 if there was a another way. I read other post about cv leaks and duct taping? Is this the same kind of thing? Other options? Thanks in advance. The support from people on the site is amazing...

have you thought about shop rates? the parts and mark up on them may only be like lets say $300 cause i dont know how much seals are! but lets say $300 of that quote is the gaskets and grease for the seals and the joints!but the 900 of that might be the shop rate to pull apart replace and reasemble! the rest is tax and desposal fees! so if it takes 2 toyota sertified mecanics 3 hours @$100 per hour = $600. no it should not take 2 people 3 hours to do the work. i do know that when i had my motor replaced the hole in the wall mecanic shope was charging a $85 hour shop rate and wern't toyota certified! i do know that shop rates suck if you are on the payng side they are grate if you are the mecanic! if that makes any sence to you i dont know but that is my 2cents on your problem but i do know that it is leaking prety good just look next to your rim on your tire. if you had diffrent colored oil streaks on it you could sell your tires as off road psycadellic art!

 

[loki the trickster]

have you thought about shop rates? the parts and mark up on them may only be like lets say $300 cause i dont know how much seals are! but lets say $300 of that quote is the gaskets and grease for the seals and the joints!but the 900 of that might be the shop rate to pull apart replace and reasemble! the rest is tax and desposal fees! so if it takes 2 toyota sertified mecanics 3 hours @$100 per hour = $600. no it should not take 2 people 3 hours to do the work. i do know that when i had my motor replaced the hole in the wall mecanic shope was charging a $85 hour shop rate and wern't toyota certified! i do know that shop rates suck if you are on the payng side they are grate if you are the mecanic! if that makes any sence to you i dont know but that is my 2cents on your problem but i do know that it is leaking prety good just look next to your rim on your tire. if you had diffrent colored oil streaks on it you could sell your tires as off road psycadellic art!

and you should check out other mecanics in your area for prices. it might give you a ball park idea on what it will cost!

 

[fourwd1]

That leak is from bad axle seals.
A complete axle seal kit is maybe $50 (check Marlin or All Pro).

so if it takes 2 toyota sertified mecanics 3 hours @$100 per hour = $600. no it should not take 2 people 3 hours to do the work

But if you've never dis-assembled the front axle before, it's going to take those 2 people waay more than 3 hours.

That sludge dripping out is a mixture of gear oil and grease. Both the knuckle and the Birf have to be cleaned completely before you start putting everything back together. There's an hour each there.

And you could spend 8 hrs just trying to get the cone washers out !

But even if it took all weekend, it's still cheaper.

 

[loki the trickster]

fourwd1 i was using 3 hours as a estimate to show that shop rates suck and can be costly! i have never cracked open a axel to do the seals yet!

 

[fourwd1]

I was just trying to give the OP an idea of what's involved.
Shop rates do suck. For $1400 they should be installing a brand new axle