Front diff by CV axle leaking

awpsome

awpsome

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Just redid my passenger side CV axle and noticed where the CV axle enters the front diff there is a small leak that has formed.

Now from what ive gathered through search, there is a front diff seal that probably is my issue.

At first i thought it was that dust shield that you move from your old CV axle to the new but from searching it says that the dust shield function is not for sealing the oil but "literally" a dust shield to prevent shit from getting into the diff.

Which seems to reinforce that my front axle seal is my issue?

90311-47012- driver side seal, it was about $12
90311-47013 - passanger side seal, a little bigger, and was about $21

Here are part numbers for future reference.
I went ahead and ordered the passenger side and although i copied that post from a TTORA post from 2008, amazingly its still the same price at $21 haha

So if anyone can confirm that this is most likely my issue that would be awesome.
if not ill be redoing my CV axle and hoping for the best.
 
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That is most likely your seal. Prolly due to you pounding the axle too far in when doing the CV change. Happened to me couple months back. No biggie.

Aloha!
 
awpsome said:
Just redid my passenger side CV axle and noticed where the CV axle enters the front diff there is a small leak that has formed.

Now from what ive gathered through search, there is a front diff seal that probably is my issue.

At first i thought it was that dust shield that you move from your old CV axle to the new but from searching it says that the dust shield function is not for sealing the oil but "literally" a dust shield to prevent shit from getting into the diff.

Which seems to reinforce that my front axle seal is my issue?

90311-47012- driver side seal, it was about $12
90311-47013 - passanger side seal, a little bigger, and was about $21

Here are part numbers for future reference.
I went ahead and ordered the passenger side and although i copied that post from a TTORA post from 2008, amazingly its still the same price at $21 haha

So if anyone can confirm that this is most likely my issue that would be awesome.
if not ill be redoing my CV axle and hoping for the best.
Click to expand...

I think it may have been hepar that bought new or remaned axles from Napa that were slightly too long. I cant remember if it caused leaking or not. It was something he didn't notice by just looking at the Cv. I think its something you would only catch by directly comparing the shafts side by side or throwing a measuring tape on the old and new.

I have a set of used OEM cvs sitting in my shop if you need a measurement and already traded your old Cv's in for the cores.

Edit.... http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/121866-gap-cvs-normal.html
 
Last edited:
Mr. B said:
That is most likely your seal. Prolly due to you pounding the axle too far in when doing the CV change. Happened to me couple months back. No biggie.

Aloha!
Click to expand...

Did you end up just taking the axle back out and redoing it or did you buy the front diff axle seal as well?

cj80cruiser said:
I think it may have been hepar that bought new or remaned axles from Napa that were slightly too long. I cant remember if it caused leaking or not. It was something he didn't notice by just looking at the Cv. I think its something you would only catch by directly comparing the shafts side by side or throwing a measuring tape on the old and new.

I have a set of used OEM cvs sitting in my shop if you need a measurement and already traded your old Cv's in for the cores.

Edit.... http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/121866-gap-cvs-normal.html
Click to expand...

thanks for the tip, it actually sits in the same location as the stock one did but only thing i can think of is the axle seal being slipped out of its place.

but i just want to confirm if you or anyone knows, that dust shield that you move from your old axle to the new is only for dust correct? doesnt hold oil in right?

Thanks for the offer on measurements ill take a look at it again when i work on the truck tomorrow or the day after.
depending when toyota calls me saying they have the part.
 
This happened to me on my new front 3rd from ECGS, I was a little surprised since it was brand new setup but I thought it was just a bad seal. Picked up a new seal from Toyota and installed it, 5 min later same thing.

I have Napa Max drive CVs (lifetime ones) but didn't have the problem till I swapped out my 3rd. I had about 15,000 miles on them in my original 3rd with no leaks. When I put in the new 3rd, I too was concerned about the gap between the diff and the CV dust shield as it seemed rather large. So I did the 'grease' test and put grease on the inside of the seal and then installed the CV shaft, then I pulled the CV out to see how much of the sealing surface was making contact inside the seal. It wasn't very much and realized this was my problem. It seemed like the cv was not going in the hole far enough. (giggity)

When I installed the new seal I used a seal driver and installed it 'flush' with the the output shaft opening like you are supposed to. This proved to be a bit 'too deep" inside and was causing the shaft not to seal properly. So I pulled the seal out slightly using a seal puller so it wasn't sitting so far into the output shaft. My seal sits about 1/8 inch outside of the opening. This allows for the seal to make greater surface contact with the CV shaft and prevents the leaks.

I played with it for a while and realized that you could actually install the seal about half way, then install the shaft, slide a flathead screwdriver in between the CV and the output shaft and push the seal in by twisting the screw drive for a finer adjustment. I did the grease test again and it was seated much better. So I buttoned it all up and test drove it with no leaks.

That was about 700 miles ago and still no leaks.
 
TheeMikeB said:
This happened to me on my new front 3rd from ECGS, I was a little surprised since it was brand new setup but I thought it was just a bad seal. Picked up a new seal from Toyota and installed it, 5 min later same thing.

I have Napa Max drive CVs (lifetime ones) but didn't have the problem till I swapped out my 3rd. I had about 15,000 miles on them in my original 3rd with no leaks. When I put in the new 3rd, I too was concerned about the gap between the diff and the CV dust shield as it seemed rather large. So I did the 'grease' test and put grease on the inside of the seal and then installed the CV shaft, then I pulled the CV out to see how much of the sealing surface was making contact inside the seal. It wasn't very much and realized this was my problem. It seemed like the cv was not going in the hole far enough. (giggity)

When I installed the new seal I used a seal driver and installed it 'flush' with the the output shaft opening like you are supposed to. This proved to be a bit 'too deep" inside and was causing the shaft not to seal properly. So I pulled the seal out slightly using a seal puller so it wasn't sitting so far into the output shaft. My seal sits about 1/8 inch outside of the opening. This allows for the seal to make greater surface contact with the CV shaft and prevents the leaks.

I played with it for a while and realized that you could actually install the seal about half way, then install the shaft, slide a flathead screwdriver in between the CV and the output shaft and push the seal in by twisting the screw drive for a finer adjustment. I did the grease test again and it was seated much better. So I buttoned it all up and test drove it with no leaks.

That was about 700 miles ago and still no leaks.
Click to expand...

sweet thanks!

Got my seal from toyota today, from what i researched before reading your post everyone says to put the seal into the diff opening but have the seal sit flush with the diff opening? if that makes any sense.
Meaning to push the seal in till it sits flush with the outer diff opening?

After reading your input seems like you had it work with the sticking just slightly outward of the diff?
 
awpsome said:
sweet thanks!

Got my seal from toyota today, from what i researched before reading your post everyone says to put the seal into the diff opening but have the seal sit flush with the diff opening? if that makes any sense.
Meaning to push the seal in till it sits flush with the outer diff opening?

After reading your input seems like you had it work with the sticking just slightly outward of the diff?
Click to expand...


Yes mine sticks out about 1/8th of an inch. I think you just need to evaluate your situation specifically and see what works best for you.
 
I know this is an older thread but seems like it might be my problem as well. I replaced the cv with a reman from autozone and after the install its leaking. I wish I had seen this thread before, I would have replaced the seal at the same time. oh well I can do it faster now!
 
Just found that my diff is leaking on the driver side. I believe I have the same issue mentioned by the OP. I recently rebooted my driver side CV and have noticed a "grease" smell ever since. I've looked under the truck several times thinking maybe a CV boot was seeping. I just chalked it up to leftover CV grease on the inner fender well. I wasn't able to see the actual problem because of my aftermarket skids...until today. The diff fluid finally started dripping off of the skid.

Thanks for providing this thread!
 
Looking for help with this same issue. Swapped the seal, which seemed different than what was in there. I chalked it up to there being a new part #, which there is. However, maybe I'm just dumb, but the seal doesn't seem to seat, just sits on the outside of the collar. There doesn't seem to be any "driving it in". So, put it back together and it still leaked. Took it back off today to look at it, with a spare handy. When I took CV off, seal fell off too. That shouldn't happen, right? Looked at it again, but I don't see any way to install other than what I'm doing. Put it in again, back together, still leaks.

Should have taken pics while it was apart today, but didn't. Maybe the old seal came apart & I didn't get it all out? Anybody else have anything like this?

I will post pics when I take it apart again. Maybe tomorrow. I'll try and take some as-is to see if anyone spots my mistake or issue.
 
When I woke up this morning, I looked at the diagram again and the part description and I think I may have the wrong part (or am trying to put in wrong place). My part desc says "SEAL, OIL (FOR DIFFERENTIAL SIDE GEAR SHAFT)".

Now that I am re-reading that, it seems that should go on the diff side, not the axle side? I wish I had taken pics when I took it apart originally. Ugh.

Any thoughts?

What I "thought" I was replacing was the outermost seal that comes in physical contact with the axle shaft. Like I said in my last post, even though I don't remember exactly what it looked like, I do remember that the part I bought (90311-47012)didn't look like what I took off. It is not fitting tightly on the diff housing, as I would expect it to. But, again, I may have in wrong place (or have wrong part, rather). Just confused now. Rainy day, so may take apart again shortly and take pics.
 
RedDragonATL said:
Looking for help with this same issue. Swapped the seal, which seemed different than what was in there. I chalked it up to there being a new part #, which there is. However, maybe I'm just dumb, but the seal doesn't seem to seat, just sits on the outside of the collar. There doesn't seem to be any "driving it in". So, put it back together and it still leaked. Took it back off today to look at it, with a spare handy. When I took CV off, seal fell off too. That shouldn't happen, right? Looked at it again, but I don't see any way to install other than what I'm doing. Put it in again, back together, still leaks.
Click to expand...


The new seal does look different than the original. Toyota updated and replaced the old seal. You have to seat it in properly or the fluid will just leak past the outer ring. Go buy a race and seal seating tool set and hammer that sucker in. The outer edge of the outer ring should be flush with the edge of the diff. Double check to make sure the metal ring from the old seal was pulled out before trying to reseat the seal.

Once I replaced my seal I had no more leaks.

Which side are you trying to replace? There are 2 different parts for driver and passenger side.
Part # 90311-47012 is for the driver side.
Part # 90311-47013 is for the passenger side.

This is the old seal on the driver side.
 
I never did open it back up yesterday, but I am pretty sure the metal ring from the old seal is still in there. The new seal definitely wouldn't go into housing as I thought it should.

Thanks for the info! I will open it back up tonight, probably and hopefully solve this once and for all.

I love this forum!!
 
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