Oh crap is this leaking diff fluid?

[shahsmerdis]

Hi there I was nosing around go see if my shocks were leaking an now I see this. I noticed it after while looking at the pictures. My mom already left for work.

That doesn't look good !

 

[T101]

Wait for a 2nd opinion, but it looks like your axle is leaking grease from the boot. An apparently common issue here

 

[shahsmerdis]

Wait for a 2nd opinion, but it looks like your axle is leaking grease from the boot. An apparently common issue here

Going to Google now hopefully it's a inexpensive common problem xD

 

[fdbyrne]

I agree that it looks like it's a torn axle boot leaking grease. Not an expensive fix.

If it were differential fluid you would probably see drips of fluid on the garage floor.

 

[shahsmerdis]

I agree that it looks like it's a torn axle boot leaking grease. Not an expensive fix.

If it were differential fluid you would probably see drips of fluid on the garage floor.

So looks like I need to do something like this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BawuxQHhTGs

Thanks! Hopefully this is it, by google it seems I can drive this for a bit, and its not critical to replace asap? I have to drive 250 miles to my mechanic.

Thanks!

 

[ARunner]

Yeah not really a big deal to drive as-is. If your mechanic just intends to replace as opposed to rebuild, you could conceivably get months more if not years more use out of it. If you do intend to keep your factory axle, it would be prudent to have the work done as soon as is feasible.

 

[shahsmerdis]

Yeah not really a big deal to drive as-is. If your mechanic just intends to replace as opposed to rebuild, you could conceivably get months more if not years more use out of it. If you do intend to keep your factory axle, it would be prudent to have the work done as soon as is feasible.

Awesome thanks! I Just bumped an old post, but Ill give him a call tomorrow to see if he just replaces, or if he will attempt to repair. Most likely he will say he will have to see it to tell me.

are there any obvious signs if has completely failed? I assume products on rock auto have been rebuilt? Would be kind of hard to tell if there is excessive ware on a refurb right?

 

[CruzadoBlanco]

if its a factory axle i would try to have it rebuild or if its very minor just rebooted. but if its a replacement axle just spend the 60 bucks on a NAPA reman axle, just make sure its a remanned factory and not a aftermarket POS. after i figured that out i got a set of NAPA remanned factory Toyota axles and have been running them for almost a year now. The actual task of replacing the axle is pretty dang easy and straight forward.

 

[nevada]

Hi there I was nosing around go see if my shocks were leaking an now I see this. I noticed it after while looking at the pictures. My mom already left for work.

That doesn't look good !

its pretty slight right now, id say you could hold off on this repair for a while.

when I picked up my 06 2 years ago, there was a mess of cv axle grease all over the right front, and up under the fender. I fully expected the boot to be torn. I pressure washed it, and checked, didn't find any tears. I decided not to change it just yet, its been clean ever since.

I think it was the same issue as yours, some grease escaping from under the clamp.

 

[shahsmerdis]

if its a factory axle i would try to have it rebuild or if its very minor just rebooted. but if its a replacement axle just spend the 60 bucks on a NAPA reman axle, just make sure its a remanned factory and not a aftermarket POS. after i figured that out i got a set of NAPA remanned factory Toyota axles and have been running them for almost a year now. The actual task of replacing the axle is pretty dang easy and straight forward.

Yeah, it depends what my mechanic wants to do. I'd prefer to refurb it and save it. Toyota sells a rebuild kit I think, but not sure if that is for the inner or outer... I see other people here have made their own clamp and filled it up with CV grease with a pump. Of what I've seen it seems that is okay providing the boot isn't ripped. Ill show him that link and see what he wants to do. Ill definitely do both sides though. Since he is a family friend, and he is doing so much work, if he doesn't want to get involved in rebuilding it, maybe ill ask him to take it out and ill rebuild it in the parking lot with bunch of cans of brake grease and the rebuild kit as he works on the rest of the car...

its pretty slight right now, id say you could hold off on this repair for a while.

when I picked up my 06 2 years ago, there was a mess of cv axle grease all over the right front, and up under the fender. I fully expected the boot to be torn. I pressure washed it, and checked, didn't find any tears. I decided not to change it just yet, its been clean ever since.

I think it was the same issue as yours, some grease escaping from under the clamp.

Okay great! I have major service coming up for the car, this will be on the list of items to address this weekend! I'm so excited to get things done on the car! This has really been stressing me out for 2 months now.


Edit: Is there a seal that goes into the axle, where the diff fluid is, (not sure I know the technical name) should that be changed while im there? I believe its a 10-15 dollar seal no? Or just leave it. I know its pretty easy to get back in there with our 4runners.

 

[shahsmerdis]

One more addition,

Just put these two things together, when I turn the wheel all the way I hear nasty rubbing and clicking sound. Maybe a combination of the steering stops and CV axle dying??

 

[Wavesport]

Could be. No grease in the boot means likely more wear, and clicking is either just lash in the joint itself, or bits of crap mucking around inside the boot. Typically no grease will bear a similar click, and grease makes it go away. If it were me I'd just pull the axle, clean, degrease and replace the boot to prevent it from getting any worse. Winter is coming so expect accelerated wear once water / ice builds up, unless of course you are blessed to live in Arizona. . Then you'll have less to worry about.

 

[shahsmerdis]

Could be. No grease in the boot means likely more wear, and clicking is either just lash in the joint itself, or bits of crap mucking around inside the boot. Typically no grease will bear a similar click, and grease makes it go away. If it were me I'd just pull the axle, clean, degrease and replace the boot to prevent it from getting any worse. Winter is coming so expect accelerated wear once water / ice builds up, unless of course you are blessed to live in Arizona. . Then you'll have less to worry about.

If I have time to take it a part, or spend money, I got to know its fixed... Ill see what mechanic says this weekend.

We already went through a winter with it so I wouldn't be surprised if there is a bunch of salt in there.

Is the only solution Refurbed CV axle? or new toyota? Does anyone know what they do when they refurb cv axle? besides putting on a new boot?

Toyota OEM is painfully expensive....

 

[Wavesport]

Refurb axles are just the best inexpensive option. Full new oems are very dear, aftermarket often have crappy boots that wear out in a hurry, and reman's are about the same price but oem quality.

Reman'd axles might get a new joint or two, and will have the splines replaced if they have any damage.