Pinion leak?

T

T100toyota13

New member
I had my rear diff rebuilt with all new bearings and seals in my 2000 4Runner. After installing and filling the diff fluid to the bottom of the fill hole I drove it and noticed oil spray above the pinion flange, axle housing, rear coils, shocks, sway bar, and gas tank to name a few areas.

There is no oil running down the bottom of the diff itself, and no oil on the ground under it.

I took off my breather from the housing and air hissed out after my 40 mile commute home yesterday.

I sprayed brake cleaner through it and blew air through it.

After all this I still have more spray showing up underneath the rear areas.

Any ideas on if I should change the seal or just keep checking the fluid level?
 
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Agree with Daniresch, there should be no pressure in the diff case. That's the purpose of the breather. The pressure can damage your axle seals and cause them to leak as well. Suggest you just replace it - part #90930-03031 and Camelback Toyota's online price is $7.21. If you want, you could do one of the breather mods that are discussed at length on the forum but, regardless, I would get it done ASAP.

Just to make sure, you might pull the fill plug when you are on level ground and verify the fluid level is correct - not over or underfilled. Directions in the FSM state: "Remove the filler plug and feel inside the hole with your finger. Check that the oil comes to within 5 mm (0.20 in.) of the bottom edge of the hole. If the level is low, add oil until it begins to run out of the filler hole." Don't put the fill plug back in too quickly - let the excess fully drain.


Buckaroo
 
Last edited:
New breather, no pressure and still flinging oil....
Attached photos show the fine oil spray dotting the underside components.
 

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Undercarriage very clean! I don't know how many miles you have put on since the new pinion seal was installed but would suggest you let it seat in over a little bit of time. Good idea to keep an eye on fluid level as you suggested.

Seems like you ought to be able to see some fluid around the outside of the seal if it was leaking although wouldn't take much fluid to make those spots. If you are having trouble verifying the source, you could take some aerosol foot powder and spray it around the seal and on the flange to show the track. I guess I would replace the pinion seal if it persists but would really like to see you verify exactly where it is coming from.

Buckaroo
 
Immediately started spraying after 40 miles of driving.

I know a marlin crawler seal was installed.
Also, I can SE some slight oil at the flange side with the dust cover next to the diff.

I wonder if oil got pushed past when the old breather was there and now it's sitting on the outside of the seal.

Like you said, it's not very much coming out, as I checked the fluid level again today after 80 mikes driving and still just below the fill hole.
 
Did you grease the drive shaft splines recently? Incorrect grease? this can also be from that. Never seen a pinion seal failing like that. I had the same in my cruiser after I greased the shaft.
 
Updated:

Well, been driving it for a week. I have about an 80 mile round trip to and from work. The last couple of times I checked the underside after arriving home, there has been less splatter. Each day I wipe the oil splatter off and see what new splatter has been made.

It's not enough to lower the diff fluid a significant amount as it is still at the bottom of the fill hole when I have checked with my pinky each time.

I can definitely see a small amount of shiny oil at the pinion flange edge as well, so I'm positive it is coming from there.

I will keep driving it and see if the splatter abates even more.
 
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