Hello all!
I'm new to this forum so I've still got a lot to learn here but by the look of things, this is a great place to be!
I've been a Toyota fan/owner for many years and although I'm not a mechanic, I have don a bit of work on Toyota's. I've run into a mysterious problem and I'm looking for some opinions that may carry a bit more experience than what I have.
I have a 1998 4Runner V6 Automatic Limited with 290,000km's. During the past 2 years, I've had to change the rear axle seals 4 times - both sides! This is not only costly but mysterious. The last mechanic to do the work was/is a 25yr Toyota mechanic but even he is stumped with this one! For experimentation purposes, he decided to repair one side only for the time being. He replaced both the inner and outer seals as well as the bearing on one side. I picked up the 4Runner when he was done and did not drive more than 15miles when I discovered that IT IS STILL LEAKING!!! The oil is running down the inside of the wheel coming out between the axle housing and the backing plate. My question is: what could be causing these continued leaks? Remember - BOTH SIDES are leaking although one side generally leaks before the other. The breather vent was checked during the last replacement job so that issue has been ruled out. Given the fact that BOTH SIDES leak at least in my mind rules out the possibility of a rogue faulty seal. All four replacement jobs have been done by reputable shops - the last one being a "Toyota man!" What in the world are we all missing here????? Every shop has told me that they have never encountered something like this before. Any thoughts?
- Could it be that the axles themselves are shot? Yet how could the diameter of an axle "wear" out if it is turning inside of a bearing?(The bearings show no signs of wear)
- Could it be that the axle housing itself is the culprit - resulting in seals and bearing not fitting tightly enough into the housing?
Oil can only be leaking through two places (as far as I understand) - either somehow down the axle column, or through the seams between the outsides of the seals and the axle housing itself.
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
This is getting VERY expensive!!!!!!$$$$$$$$$$
Thanks!
Rod.
I'm new to this forum so I've still got a lot to learn here but by the look of things, this is a great place to be!
I've been a Toyota fan/owner for many years and although I'm not a mechanic, I have don a bit of work on Toyota's. I've run into a mysterious problem and I'm looking for some opinions that may carry a bit more experience than what I have.
I have a 1998 4Runner V6 Automatic Limited with 290,000km's. During the past 2 years, I've had to change the rear axle seals 4 times - both sides! This is not only costly but mysterious. The last mechanic to do the work was/is a 25yr Toyota mechanic but even he is stumped with this one! For experimentation purposes, he decided to repair one side only for the time being. He replaced both the inner and outer seals as well as the bearing on one side. I picked up the 4Runner when he was done and did not drive more than 15miles when I discovered that IT IS STILL LEAKING!!! The oil is running down the inside of the wheel coming out between the axle housing and the backing plate. My question is: what could be causing these continued leaks? Remember - BOTH SIDES are leaking although one side generally leaks before the other. The breather vent was checked during the last replacement job so that issue has been ruled out. Given the fact that BOTH SIDES leak at least in my mind rules out the possibility of a rogue faulty seal. All four replacement jobs have been done by reputable shops - the last one being a "Toyota man!" What in the world are we all missing here????? Every shop has told me that they have never encountered something like this before. Any thoughts?
- Could it be that the axles themselves are shot? Yet how could the diameter of an axle "wear" out if it is turning inside of a bearing?(The bearings show no signs of wear)
- Could it be that the axle housing itself is the culprit - resulting in seals and bearing not fitting tightly enough into the housing?
Oil can only be leaking through two places (as far as I understand) - either somehow down the axle column, or through the seams between the outsides of the seals and the axle housing itself.
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
This is getting VERY expensive!!!!!!$$$$$$$$$$
Thanks!
Rod.
