Rear axle seals, again!

[nycfyrman]

Can anyone think of a reason why my axle seals would be leaking for the fourth time? It’s a new housing since the last two I have put maybe 5 k on it since the last set of Toyota seals. Is it possible the vent is stuck and it made it over pressure? I’m stumped.

 

[Riceye]

Is it possible the vent is stuck and it made it over pressure?

Yes. Time to upgrade.
Toyota Off Road Vehicle Differential Breather Extension. KIT-1012

 

[nissanh]

Possibly you got the oil seal lip off the retaining ring. I did once and it failed, then followed TIM's rear axle seal video on youtube where he shows SHARPIE TEST, and it has been 4 years and 100% job well done.

 

[alumarine]

Is there a wear groove in the shaft?

 

[brillo_76]

Besides the 3 things mention. How much play is in your rear bearings? As that's the 4th thing it could possibly be. Unless the seal surface is damaged. The 5th thing would be non oem seals and they are simply just junk seals and using the parts over and over again Is all I come up with on off the top of my head.

 

[3bears]

did you put in new oem bearings and seals, did you flip the retainer as shown in timmys video. I believe that the new oem seals have been redesigned and dont ride in the same old spot, thats why timmy flips the retainer

 

[nissanh]

the oil seal rides on a retaining ring usually we replace a new ring with the bearing job. OP: did you replace the retaining ring?

 

[nycfyrman]

I did not when I did the bearings replace the inner race, it was fine, I believe my issue was from the breather being clogged up with winter salt etc. Going to order the vent relocation see what happens. My driving has gone from 400 miles a week down to nothing, and this issue just popped up after back to back trips of 100 miles. I will come back now that I have cleaned the vent out and flushed it with compressed air and brake cleaner.

 

[JohnMc]

Do a grease test on the seals. Pull the axle shafts partly out, smear some grease on them seal ring, and then slide them back in and seat them to the axle housing. Then pull them back out again and see where the seal is sitting.

When a shop did the presswork on new axle bearings for my wife's '96, they pressed the whole stack together, the way pretty much every other stack of pressed on items like that would be on any other car. This left the seal ring too far outward and the seal wasn't even on it. There's supposed to be a gap or two, the ABS ring and seal collar are NOT pressed in tot he bearing.

And yeah, before you do that, take the breather off the axle and make SURE it's open. Even if the wiggly cap is wiggling, it's possible for it to be plugged up somehow.