Rear axle seal mulitiple dealer visits, advise.

[hurt4x]

Ok so about 4 months ago I noticed my LR axle seal leaking. I really didn't feel like messing with it myself because I know what a pain they can be. So I took my 4runner to the local dealer and told them to diagnose the problem and fix what needed to be fixed ( if it just needed an axle seal do the axle seal, if it needed a wheel bearing also or a new axle to let me know) so they got paid for diag. Next day they told me it just needed an axle seal and nothing else, so I paid picked it up and went on.

Fast forward 3ish weeks and my axle seal is leaking again. I take it back to the dealer they say they will check it out. Got a call the next day saying they had put on the wrong size seal:wtf: I said ok and picked it up the next day.

Well now fast forward about 2 months. Leaking again...

I'm trying to get advise on how I should go about it this time around.
I have a feeling they are going to tell me a need a wheel bearing or an axle, but that should have been diagnosed the first time around as I see it.
If that is the case and I do need additional parts I feel I should get the original $200 plus that I paid the first time around off. Does that seem fair?

Also can they say it is because of my 4runner getting wheeled?
I think I've been wheeling 2 times in the last 2 months and nothing serious.

 

[BrianSD_42]

You have no legal obligation to tell them if the truck was wheeled or to answer truthfully yes or no.

It sounds to me like they are a pretty crappy ass service department because it really isn't rocket science.

Any REAL Toyota dealership would warranty all work for 12 months parts and labor. If it is leaking again then it is because the part failed or more likely they installed the seal wrong.

Demand that they reinstall a new seal or ask for your money back and take it somewhere else.

I will add that a lot of dealers refuse to give the option of only doing the seals, instead demanding consumers pay for new wheel bearings which increases the cost by about $500-$600 over what you paid. In a lot of cases the bearings are fine and leaking isn't a symptom of a fsilin bearing anyways. I just did mine. We cleaned off the bearing and left it alone.

 

[Riceye]

Confirm with the dealer that the rear diff breather has been inspected, and is working properly.

Might be a very simple problem.

 

[hurt4x]

Confirm with the dealer that the rear diff breather has been inspected, and is working properly.

Might be a very simple problem.

Well I hate to admit it but this was the problem ^^^. I feel stupid for not checking it:redbrick: But the dealership who deals with this every day should feel even more stupid for not checking the first time.

Ohwell, at least its fixed now.

 

[Riceye]

Ohwell, at least its fixed now.

Good to see that the problem is resolved. And, thanks for checking back in about it.

Now, how about negotiating for a couple hundred bucks of credit to spend in their parts department?

 

[hurt4x]

Leaking again already! What the hell

 

[xcmtb83]

Did you check the breather yourself or did the dealership check it? If it was the dealership it sounds like it was an easy out excuse for poor service telling you that it was a clogged breather.

Regardless the situation it sounds like the retainer ring that the seal rides on might need to be repositioned.

 

[BlazeRunner]

Sounds like the retainer ring is pressed on too far.
Read this; http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/114743-possible-solution-leaking-axle-seals.html

 

[krenaud33]

Did you check the breather yourself or did the dealership check it? If it was the dealership it sounds like it was an easy out excuse for poor service telling you that it was a clogged breather.

Regardless the situation it sounds like the retainer ring that the seal rides on might need to be repositioned.

Sounds like you know what your doing. When are we doing mine? :

 

[HiLife]

Sounds like the retainer ring is pressed on too far.
Read this; http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/114743-possible-solution-leaking-axle-seals.html

Ya this is a great write up. Take copies of the pictures to your mechanic.

 

[hurt4x]

They showed me the clogged breather, it was clogged with mud..
They also told me it would be the last time they would parts warranty it.

Is the retainer ring something that can move over time?
Should i just ask the tech if he has checked it?

 

[cj80cruiser]

They showed me the clogged breather, it was clogged with mud..
They also told me it would be the last time they would parts warranty it.

Is the retainer ring something that can move over time?
Should i just ask the tech if he has checked it?

I would give Dr. Coffees method a try. It makes sense to me.

 

[hurt4x]

I would give Dr. Coffees method a try. It makes sense to me.

If I could do it myself I would.

I doubt the dealer would warranty any work that involves putting a retainer on backwards though

 

[xcmtb83]

Sounds like you know what your doing. When are we doing mine? :

This weekend will actually be the last weekend I have access to a press before I change jobs. Press work is only required if you choose to do bearings though. If it has been leaking for awhile your grease may be flushed out of the bearing which in turn would fail in time. If you have access to a press you are welcome to my homebrew tools.

 

[xcmtb83]

Flipping the retainer is worth a shot but not required. It just allows for less precision in the location of the retainer on the shaft It really can't move around once it is on the shaft. The chamfer probably was just to help guide it or lead it through the seal without damaging it.

 

[cj80cruiser]

If I could do it myself I would.

I doubt the dealer would warranty any work that involves putting a retainer on backwards though

This kind of work doesn't have to be done by a dealer. Take it to a local shop that will let you get involved in the process.

 

[Mike&Ike]

If they say this is the last time it will be warrantied demand a refund for the diag since they didn't do any in the first place. Fill out a CSI survey and give them a horrible rating.

 

[pluton]

Your experience mirrors mine with my local dealer.
First axle seal repair: June 2013. Full boat $$$, but I said OK, I want it done right and with the one year parts and labor warranty.
Fifth redo, December 2013. Dealer installed a new, OEM breather.
Dealer claim: My custom breather extension was clogged. It wasn't.
Up is down, wrong is right, Alice In Wonderland.
So far, the December job is holding using the OEM breather valve, no extension.
However, at that time they handed the car back to me with grease-coated brake shoes, and the rear brakes dragging enough that it warped the drums.
Beware of Toyota Santa Monica...where the stars buy their Priuses.
At least the five redos caused them to lose all the profit they made on the original repair.

 

[fightman80]

Leaking axle seals make me shudder... I had the shop re-do mine over the weekend... and I think it's leaking already. Being 7hrs away, I haven't contacted them yet, to see what they are going to do for me.

 

[BrianSD_42]

When I did my breather extension I used the Toyota breather plug.

Didn't you guys?