I haven't done this job. Decided to let my local Toyota dealership do it when I researched the repair and read horror stories about machine shops gouging axles and I thought the specialty tools needed would be cost prohibitive. Now that I know I could have gotten an affordable press at harbor freight and other specialty puller tools aren't too expensive, I wish I would have done the job myself. Through knowledge I gained on this forum, I found my driver side axle seal was leaking almost right away because the tech failed to do the grease test to verify the seal retainer was in the right position on the axle. I got them to fix their mistake and I quickly learned I knew more about this repair than the tech doing the job.
Unless I missed it, I'm surprised nobody has yet mentioned that Toyota redesigned the axle seals some years ago. The new design has the lip of the seal sitting a little more inboard towards the differential (apprx 2mm). If you only replace the seals with new redesigned ones, the lip of the seal is going to be riding very close to the bevel of the retainer. If there's any play in the axle bearings (if there's lots of miles, there will be play), the seal will end up riding on the non-polished bevel surface, prematurely wear out and you have a leaking axle seal all over again and possibly replacing contaminated brake shoes.
From what I understand, in order for this fix to last, you should at least re-position the seal retainers a little more inboard so the the lip of the seal is riding closer to the center of the retainer and not near the edge. Then, before you bolt everything back together, you perform the grease test to verify the seal is riding on the retainer in a good position. Again, this is just me regurgitating what I've read and understand about our rear axles. I don't have first hand experience.
, Im sure there is a 4runner near you that desperately needs the seals and bearings replaced using affordable tools like the HF press.
