oil pan gasket install...Need help!!!!!!

[sk8erboy209]

hey everyone, i have a 92 4runner v6 automatic and i really need to change my oil pan gasket, its leaking oil. the problem is that I cant get the oil pan out because the steering arms are blocking the way for me to remove the pan. the steering arm has ball and socket joints and a pry bar didn't do the trick to get those off. so now i'm out of ideas. please help. thanks

 

[toyoboy]

remove the idler arm for the steering linkage its being held by 3 bolts on the right side of the frame. then you have to lower the front diff the clear the pick up tube.

 

[toyoboy]

are you sure its not the rear main?

 

[sk8erboy209]

what do you mean by rear main? are you talking about the drain plug? I think thats leaking too. what do i do, add a washer?

 

[Bobby]

Get a 5lb hammer. Take the nut that holds the bolt for the ball joint. Whack the outside of the socket hard. It will pop/fall out.

 

[sk8erboy209]

Get a 5lb hammer. Take the nut that holds the bolt for the ball joint. Whack the outside of the socket hard. It will pop/fall out.

I tried the old wack my brains out method and it didn't work, although it did work for my honda civic's ball joint. toyota's are built really tough i guess.

 

[Bobby]

You might need to give it a few more whacks. I just did this on my '04 to install a lift and it didn't come out easy.

 

[beeper]

There's a nice tool you can buy for less than $10 from harborfreight.com that will do the job with no damage to the joints or boots . Or you could use a pickle fork and a hammer which you can buy from them too.

 

[toyoboy]

I was referring to the rear main crank seal. if your oil leak is near the trans bell housing, its most likely coming from the seal. not the pan. especialy if you have over 130k.