Rear Axle Seals: The Ultimate Information and Replacement Thread (3rd gen)

Ron Helmuth said:
You might have referenced one of my own posts along the way.

My only question with tools/parts used-is a 2.25 ton jack of sufficient strength for our rides? I don't know-I am asking. Clearly it must have been....

I don't think even YOTA TECH has a writeup this detailed over there. Would you care to make them aware of it and have it posted up over there? It is stunningly valuable for all 3rd gen owners.
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Ron, Yes, I have seen your post about the part # ending in 06. I even "favorited" the thread along the way. I was waiting for someone to make a comment on the newspapers and the current events in ABQ, NM. Those are actually old newspapers I've had stacked in my kitchen for tasks like this, so it's old news, but DWI is always a problem in NM.

RE the jack, the 4Runner weighs about 2 tons total, so a 2 ton jack supporting just one corner of it (1000 lbs. supported by a 4000+ lb. capacity jack) should be more than sufficient.

RE Yotatech, I could duplicate this thread over there. I wanted to post it here first though, since this site is dedicated to 4Runners. I've learned alot from that site as well, although I have not registered as a forum member.
 
Well crap. Just went out to my 4Runner to unload some stuff and smelled something that was a strong oily smell.

Looked under the back and crap, the passenger side tire looks like the OP's picture.

Rear axle seal rebuild, here we come!
 
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OK, so here's a question.

After taking it apart, if I find that the axle bearings are OK, could I get away with just replacing the seals and brake shoes?
 
Skybill,

Yes, you can get away with that. As long as you feel comfortable that your bearings are within specs, you can skip all the machine shop work, replace the O-Rings, Inner Axle Seals, and Shoes and you should be fine.

If you decide to do the shoes, get your drums machined as well. Also, you may want to dig through the link I provided in the write-up for the Toyota FSM and see if you can find a procedure for checking the bearings to make sure they are within spec. I'm sure this will require some type of SST, so you may want to take the axles to a Toyota shop and have them check the bearings for you.

Also, don't take a chance with aftermarket axle seals. Get the OEM seals from Toyota. Same with the brake shoes, aftermarket rear shoes have fitment issues in my experience.
 
"Also, don't take a chance with aftermarket axle seals. Get the OEM seals from Toyota. Same with the brake shoes, aftermarket rear shoes have fitment issues in my experience."

100% agreed on the OEM parts! I've bought 5 vehicles and tons of parts from my local dealer and they cut me a great deal on parts! They actually have my discount (about 30%) set up in their computer system!!!

Thanks for the info. Bucks are real, real short right now and I need my 4Runner!

BTW, this is an EXCELLENT write up, thank you. I know that when I do mine, I'm going to print it out and use it as a reference!
 
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Got the quote from my dealer for the parts; $358.52 including tax, plus an hour labor per side to remove and reinstall the bearings and stuff. Total around $550.

One of the local salvage yards has the complete rear axle with the e-locker out of a '99 with 131K for $450.06! (mine doesn't have the locker)

I think I'm going to go that route depending on how it looks when I get there.
 
Just wanted to say thanks for this excellent write-up. Just did both sides on mine about a week ago and everything looks good still. Saved me $ and time with all the part numbers listed. To those of you that are not super mechanical but can change your own oil and are thinking about this repair.... Do it yourself, take it slow, and save yourself some money.
 
Ron Helmuth said:
...
x8 on the sticky for the 3rd gen sub forum. This is a very common failure that if caught before it happens does not have to cost an arm and a leg to fix. edit I don't think even YOTA TECH has a writeup this detailed over there. Would you care to make them aware of it and have it posted up over there? It is stunningly valuable for all 3rd gen owners.
Click to expand...

I'm relatively new to the site/4runners in general, pardon a stupid question but

What would the preventative step be to keep the rear axle seal from blowing?

Just replacing the inner seal with the part number ending in a 6?

(I'm looking to buy a 4runner and want to fix problems before they start)

(like external transmission cooler and the rear axle seal)
those seem to be the only 2 common issues i see with the 4runners (well that and their brakes etc)
 
Kurtmann415 said:
I'm relatively new to the site/4runners in general, pardon a stupid question but

What would the preventative step be to keep the rear axle seal from blowing?

Just replacing the inner seal with the part number ending in a 6?

(I'm looking to buy a 4runner and want to fix problems before they start)

(like external transmission cooler and the rear axle seal)
those seem to be the only 2 common issues i see with the 4runners (well that and their brakes etc)
Click to expand...

One way to help prevent blowing axle seals is to do the "extended diff breather mod" (search that term). It's an easy mod to do and will help prevent the breather from getting clogged and/or water from going into the diff.
 
well said brian! thanks for covering the question for me (and BigFish himself)

it is a delight to have you around this forum and Yota Tech.

Particularly since this one does not notify us when a thread is still in action....:violin:

Kurtmann415 great idea to get to this stuff before it happens. cheaper and a lot less hassle when you can plan your maintenance.
 
Ron Helmuth said:
well said brian! thanks for covering the question for me (and BigFish himself)

it is a delight to have you around this forum and Yota Tech.

Particularly since this one does not notify us when a thread is still in action....:violin:

Kurtmann415 great idea to get to this stuff before it happens. cheaper and a lot less hassle when you can plan your maintenance.
Click to expand...

Thanks Ron, I appreciate that. You are definitely a good guy and great resource to have around the 4runner/Toyota community too!

I hope they do fix the notification thing soon, peter78 said today he's still working on trying to figure out why were not getting the emails. For now I've just been going to my User CP page 1st since it at least lists all the threads that have been replied to since my last visit. It's not as nice as email notifications, but I can still see who has replied.
 
Thank you!!

I had recently purchased a 1999 4runner. Going to replace the seals myself and have our machine shop replace the bearings/retainers/snap ring/seal. Thanks to this thread and the incredible write up I have the confidence to do this myself and save some money. Thank you so much for this, I've been researching all over the internet for a write up like this and so far this is the best user write up I have found.

Aloha from Hawaii!
:surfer:
 
A blessing of a write-up!

Thanks so much for the awesome write-up on the rear axle seal problem. Without that great piece of work, I was going to drop around $1200 at the dealership. Instead, I replaced the inner seals and O-rings (from Toyota) for about $20.00, and $15.00 more on a seal puller (from Advanced Auto Parts) and pvc pipe (from Lowes) to make a seal installer tool. I'll get some shoes from the dealer and replace them next, because one seems to be freezing to the drum in the mornings of these cold winter months.

Thanks again!
 
eric.laprad said:
Thanks so much for the awesome write-up on the rear axle seal problem. Without that great piece of work, I was going to drop around $1200 at the dealership. Instead, I replaced the inner seals and O-rings (from Toyota) for about $20.00, and $15.00 more on a seal puller (from Advanced Auto Parts) and pvc pipe (from Lowes) to make a seal installer tool. I'll get some shoes from the dealer and replace them next, because one seems to be freezing to the drum in the mornings of these cold winter months.

Thanks again!
Click to expand...

Eric, Can you please delete that photo. It is way too big and causes the text in this thread to span far beyond the screen, making it really unreadable.
 
I have patented and developed a Rear Axle Bearing Remover tool and ABS Sensor Ring Remover tool that saves the sensor ring and is so easy to use that a girl can do it. E-mail me if you want more information at [email protected]
 
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