Oil Leak Help plz

[96Blacklimited]

So My 4runner has had a oil leak for some months now. It was rear D/S wheel seal ( i believed) So i replaced it 3 times, but it still leaking.
I got the inner wheel seal and my first time i warped the seal, but it took only a few day to start leaking, so i replace the seal again for a second time being a little more careful, but prob got warped cause it started to leak again. On the third attempt i act use a big socket and drove the seal in and also replace the O-ring and a few days later its leaking again. this stupid leak is holding me up from putting my rims on. has anyone has this problem and how was it resolved.

Q. Could it be my wheel bearing going bad? well thanks for any help, i attached pics of the parts if that helps.

 

[brian2sun]

You may have a plugged up diff breather which is building up pressure in the diff and blowing the seals.

 

[96Blacklimited]

You may have a plugged up diff breather which is building up pressure in the diff and blowing the seals.

yeah, well that could be my problem then, because the oil doesn't leak out from where it would be if it were a inner wheel seal. added some more pictures. sorry its dark out.
1st pic wetness by break bleeder, but its not break fluid
2nd pic no evidence of inner wheel seal cause the area would be soaked in oil.
3rd pic long line is where the oil leak is previlent
4th pic driver side.
so ifs its the diff. breather what do i have to do to fix it?

 

[brian2sun]

To fix it's easy - Use a 14mm deep socket to remove it and then unclog it. It's a 1-way valve that you can run water through, blow through, whatever. Once you clean it though, you can help prevent it from blowing your axle seals again:
Toyota 4Runner Highlander Extended Rear Differential Breather

 

[004Gunner]

You may want to invest in a bearing race and seal driver set. I got a cheap one from Amazon for under $40 shipped. That way you know the seal installation was done correctly. Once the seal is installed correctly and the diff breather is clear, if it still blows seals it's a bad axle housing.

 

[96Blacklimited]

To fix it's easy - Use a 14mm deep socket to remove it and then unclog it. It's a 1-way valve that you can run water through, blow through, whatever. Once you clean it though, you can help prevent it from blowing your axle seals again:
Toyota 4Runner Highlander Extended Rear Differential Breather

Thanks a bunch. i read the attachment you sent also, and i have been in a few situation where water had to be above the breather, and act that how it all started: when i went through a fracking river. Well i gonna get working on cleaning out that line. I have a air compressor would u recommend using compressed air to blow out line. i let you know how it goes.

 

[96Blacklimited]

You may want to invest in a bearing race and seal driver set. I got a cheap one from Amazon for under $40 shipped. That way you know the seal installation was done correctly. Once the seal is installed correctly and the diff breather is clear, if it still blows seals it's a bad axle housing.

Thanks man. LOL i hope its not bad axle housing. if it was wouldn't both sides be leaking? How can you tell if axle housing going bad? would it make any specific sounds while driving? My runner only got 83K now and its a 96. i also have rear locker would that change anything? Never had a problem with passenger the side. I will deff invest in that seal driver set, but I am positive though that the third seal was done correctly. (bought a big fuking socket wrapped in into a towel and it fit perfectly then used my rubber mallet to drive it home. My third time around was much easier because i had the socket.

 

[brian2sun]

Compressed air is fine to clean out the breather. If it started leaking after a water crossing, I wouldn't worry about your housing. The rear axle seals are one of the few not-so-well engineered parts on our 3rd gens and are common to fail. The diff breather and a sure install will probably take care of the problem.

 

[96Blacklimited]

Compressed air is fine to clean out the breather. If it started leaking after a water crossing, I wouldn't worry about your housing. The rear axle seals are one of the few not-so-well engineered parts on our 3rd gens and are common to fail. The diff breather and a sure install will probably take care of the problem.

well it weren't like a huge river on nothing, it was more like truck length and the water came up to the bottom of the running boards when i did have them on. i think it the pressure thing like you said, because after i bought a 4th inner seal i wanted to take axle shaft out slow (after taking off the 4 backing bolt) to see if it was leaking. But it was not leaking from the housing and my new o-ring was dry compared to the one that was on it before.

 

[004Gunner]

Thanks man. LOL i hope its not bad axle housing. if it was wouldn't both sides be leaking? How can you tell if axle housing going bad? would it make any specific sounds while driving? My runner only got 83K now and its a 96. i also have rear locker would that change anything? Never had a problem with passenger the side. I will deff invest in that seal driver set, but I am positive though that the third seal was done correctly. (bought a big fuking socket wrapped in into a towel and it fit perfectly then used my rubber mallet to drive it home. My third time around was much easier because i had the socket.

A bad axle housing is uncommon so I wouldn't worry about that. It's when all other components are within spec but you keep blowing seals. Other than that, you wouldn't know that it was bad unless it was catastrophic failure (i.e. cracked, split). If the socket works well then you may not even want a driver set, I'm just always looking for reasons to expand my tool collection :hungry: The seals can also be damaged when you put the axle back in. Just make sure it goes in smoothly and isn't getting bounced around. I agree with Brian, once the seal is properly seated and the breather is cleaned out you should be good.

 

[96Blacklimited]

To fix it's easy - Use a 14mm deep socket to remove it and then unclog it. It's a 1-way valve that you can run water through, blow through, whatever. Once you clean it though, you can help prevent it from blowing your axle seals again:
Toyota 4Runner Highlander Extended Rear Differential Breather

Hay man, thanks again for that info. It was the diff. breather. that thing was clogged and kinna rusted. I will do the breather mod though in a week. thanks again

 

[brian2sun]

Good to hear, that should be the end of your axle seal problems.

 

[96Blacklimited]

Good to hear, that should be the end of your axle seal problems.

Well dude, its back again. But i am absolute sure its not the inner wheel seal. and the breather valve seams to be working ok. When i cleared the breather valve i also drained the rear diff. and re-fill with 2.8quarts. I can't tell where it could possible be leaking from. I added a few more pics hope you can prob tell where it may be leaking form or whats the problem

pic are to show that inner wheel seal is not leaking

 

[brian2sun]

Now I wonder if the part of the axle housing where the seal seats into is boogered up and not allowing it to seal. It's hard to say without being able to see it in person. That sucks.

 

[drmorbius]

Now I wonder if the part of the axle housing where the seal seats into is boogered up and not allowing it to seal. It's hard to say without being able to see it in person. That sucks.

If the axle bearing has gone bad it will allow the axle to move up and down and front to rear as well. This allows the axle to sort of beat up the seal. How do the leaky ones look? Is the rubber deformed or torn?

 

[Mr. Leary]

Go ahead and pull the axle shaft. Spec out the bearing position. A bearing slightly out of spec will allow the seal to leak when lateral pressure is applied, either off road or during a turn.

I had something similar happen recently.

 

[004Gunner]

If the axle bearing has gone bad it will allow the axle to move up and down and front to rear as well. This allows the axle to sort of beat up the seal. How do the leaky ones look? Is the rubber deformed or torn?

And it's not uncommon to need to replace the wheel bearing with the outer seal after having a leak. Does it smell like gear oil? The only other thing I'm wondering is if it's a leaky wheel cylinder.