My axle is leaking again!!!Need some answers

[Drcoffee]

I figured I would give you a couple of days of distress and frustration before posting. When you are done having fun with your seals and want to fix it, read my thread on the solution. There is also a video comparing the different axle seals. Maybe you should send the link to your mechanic so he can get it done right the next time.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/114743-possible-solution-leaking-axle-seals.html#post1060244

 

[2nd3rdGen]

So I just talked to my Indy mechanic and he did not use Toyota seals he used some national seal brand seals. [emoji31] so what do you guys think ?

I think if he said he was going to use OEM and didnt, and this is causing you so much hassle.. he should redo the job using all OEM and do them BEARINGS too at no charge at this point!!

Tell him if not you will simply take your business elsewhere..

 

[Arnezie]

National, while a good brand for parts for American cars (used by me frequently), should NOT be used as an inner seal replacement. OEM, nothing else.

So would you risk just a seal or do it all ?

 

[Arnezie]

So went to my mechanic and he is going to replace both the seals next Tuesday with Toyota seals that I just got. I went to the autocrats store that he got the National seal at and compared the Toyota seal to the national seal and the seals are way different !!!!! So fingers are crossedop2:

 

[2nd3rdGen]

So went to my mechanic and he is going to replace both the seals next Tuesday with Toyota seals that I just got. I went to the autocrats store that he got the National seal at and compared the Toyota seal to the national seal and the seals are way different !!!!! So fingers are crossedop2:

Dont forget the bearings while he's there!!

Maybe pay for OEM bearings and have him do the labor at no charge?

 

[Arnezie]

Dont forget the bearings while he's there!!

Maybe pay for OEM bearings and have him do the labor at no charge?

Yea I asked him about the bearings and he said he will check them again but he thinks they were good. Our bearings are sealed so I don't buy into the washout theories. At this point I just want the leak to stop the truck only has 109000 miles on it.

 

[Drcoffee]

What makes you think they are sealed? At 109k the bearings are worn and the grease is old, really old. The fancy colored panels are dust covers, not a water proof seal. If axle lube made it to the tire, it can only get there via the bearing. The bearings are fine now but in 10-20,000 miles will be chewing themselves up. Think of all the fun you have had so far. Plan on revisiting it two years from now.

 

[Arnezie]

What makes you think they are sealed? At 109k the bearings are worn and the grease is old, really old. The fancy colored panels are dust covers, not a water proof seal. If axle lube made it to the tire, it can only get there via the bearing. The bearings are fine now but in 10-20,000 miles will be chewing themselves up. Think of all the fun you have had so far. Plan on revisiting it two years from now.

I think they are sealed because that's what the dealership service guy told me that I talked to about the issue I've had. And I had the lead mechanic at that dealership tell me the same thing. They are the ones that said take it back to my Indy and have him put Toyota seals in and not nationals. They said if then it continues to leak bring it to them and they will look at it for free. He said he's done hundreds of 3rd gen seals over the years and after spinning my tire he said the bearings seem fine. I don't claim to be a mechanic just a guy with a 16 year old Toyota so I base my opinions on what knowledgeable people in that area tell me. And drcoffee you may be right however at this point I have no reason to doubt what they are telling me right now. I guess we will know after Tuesday. Thanks for your help and great write up on the leaking seals I hope at this point it's just the national brand seals.

 

[JayRolla]

I think they are sealed because that's what the dealership service guy told me that I talked to about the issue I've had. And I had the lead mechanic at that dealership tell me the same thing. They are the ones that said take it back to my Indy and have him put Toyota seals in and not nationals. They said if then it continues to leak bring it to them and they will look at it for free. He said he's done hundreds of 3rd gen seals over the years and after spinning my tire he said the bearings seem fine. I don't claim to be a mechanic just a guy with a 16 year old Toyota so I base my opinions on what knowledgeable people in that area tell me. And drcoffee you may be right however at this point I have no reason to doubt what they are telling me right now. I guess we will know after Tuesday. Thanks for your help and great write up on the leaking seals I hope at this point it's just the national brand seals.

They are sealed for dust. Not liquid. Funny how you trust those guys do much but are on this forum asking questions. Maybe trust the guys can't get it right before us. Good luck.

 

[Arnezie]

They are sealed for dust. Not liquid. Funny how you trust those guys do much but are on this forum asking questions. Maybe trust the guys can't get it right before us. Good luck.

It has nothing to do with trust just trying to solve this issue. I came here looking for answers and I found many. I am not quite sure why you have an attitude but whatever. :focus: If the Toyota seals don't solve the issue then It may be something else but when the Toyota mechanic looks at it and tells me basically what many here have said "make sure to use Toyota seals" and my indy did not then thats the simplest solution to the problem. Thanks to everyone who helped

 

[JayRolla]

It has nothing to do with trust just trying to solve this issue. I came here looking for answers and I found many. I am not quite sure why you have an attitude but whatever. :focus: If the Toyota seals don't solve the issue then It may be something else but when the Toyota mechanic looks at it and tells me basically what many here have said "make sure to use Toyota seals" and my indy did not then thats the simplest solution to the problem. Thanks to everyone who helped

No attitude. Just it was funny you didn't believe the entire washed out bearing because it's sealed and a "Toyota" tech is who told you. Good luck. Mine worked with just a seal but I did catch mine fast.

 

[2nd3rdGen]

Yea I asked him about the bearings and he said he will check them again but he thinks they were good. Our bearings are sealed so I don't buy into the washout theories. At this point I just want the leak to stop the truck only has 109000 miles on it.

Hope he is right pardner and your truck gets fixed "once and for all", let us know how it goes here please!

 

[LittleCaesar]

If you have the money to replace the bearings do it. If not the new seals and and new breather should help you get down the road for awhile.

I replaced just my inner seals in 2008. Both bearings seemed fine. In late 2010 I could hear the left bearing whine just a little. It was replaced and has been good. The right rear was never touched and has been fine for seven years. So YMMV.

 

[Arnezie]

Well so far so good, I had the Toyota seals done yesterday and today I changed the Mobil 1 out for dino conventional 75w90. I did the breather mod last week so fingers are crossed. I pulled my drivers side wheel off and cleaned any old oil off the inside as well as the previous drip marks off the rotor with some brake cleaner. Ill wait till next week and pull it off again and inspect for any signs of leakage. If there is it will be off to the Toyota dealer.

 

[OffRoadGuy]

Sorry to hear your griefs, but a good shop would properly diagnose the problem and give you a good warranty.

 

[gamefreakgc]

I really hope it's fixed this time. The likely hood of having 2 seals blow in succession points to bearings though... they don't last forever.

They are sealed in the sense that you can't repack them with grease. If the grease has gone dry the bearings can damage, which in turn gives the side effect of having blown axle seals repeatedly. I definitely get the cost part though, however I'm no mechanic and after getting a shop to press on I did the rest and I was only out $300 for the whole thing. Would have been $48 less if I didn't replace the ABS ring. Just saying...

 

[Bstrom]

I'm gonna do the extended differential breather mod out of sheer fear that my seals will go one day too. It's been identified as a possible source of seal failure when the pressure gets high enough during long driving spells and heat developing in there. Make sense?

 

[Arnezie]

Ok well just to update and publicly let those that were telling me that it's the bearings and not just the seal ............ [emoji22]you were CORRECT!!! I am still leaking on the drivers side pretty much just as bad as it was. I have an apportionment on Black Friday to have Toyota replace the bearings on drivers side $622 parts and labor. Thank you again for your assistance and I was hoping you were wrong but you guys were right [emoji37]

 

[LittleCaesar]

Sorry to hear that Arnezie. I was able to catch mine leaking after 2 weeks but as per my previous post the left rear bearing ultimately had to be replaced.

 

[Arnezie]