Rear Bearing Seals. What happens if I don't replace?

[ARC]

So after wheeling in Moab it is very obvious my rear seals need replaced. I am betting mostly because my breather wasn't doing its job.

So my question is if I put this maintenance off what other damage can it cause?

I would like to run it like it is until October-ish and pull it into the garage and do a major overhaul. I had already planned on doing all new bushings and possibly steering rack up front, TRE's etc as well as a full tune-up and replacement of all fluids (except coolant which I did last week). For the rear end I would like do seals, bearings, shoes, gear oil etc. all at once.

Is there a potential for damage to major components by letting this slide and wheeling it like it is for another 4 months?

Keep in mind this is not my DD, but a recreational vehicle for me so the mileage in this time frame is likely to be well under 2,000 and 80% will be off road (probably 50% in 4low). Also I'll be gone for 3 weeks around July/August 2k is probably being really hopeful.

Thank you all for your expertise and opinions you can share on the topic.

 

[jgue467]

Obvious because you see oil/grease behind each rear wheel/brake?

If so why do you think it would be OK to postpone a fix? In enough time there won't be any grease to lube rear diff - not good. Then you also have no rear brakes - not good. If its leaking you have to bite that bullet, at least. Luck! :banana:

 

[KidVermicious]

You run the risk of soaking your drums and shoes and ruining them. You also run the risk of running the diff dry. One is unsafe and mildly expensive, the other isn't terribly unsafe but could be horribly expensive. Best case scenario is you spend money on gear oil keeping it topped off and make a mess everywhere you park.

Axle seals aren't hard to do, get out your wrenches and fix yer junk. :flipoff:

 

[BrianSD_42]

Pretty much you will wear out your front brake because the rears won't work any more.

I drove around this way for a long time.

 

[ARC]

If so why do you think it would be OK to postpone a fix? In enough time there won't be any grease to lube rear diff - not good. Then you also have no rear brakes - not good. If its leaking you have to bite that bullet, at least. Luck! :banana:

You run the risk of soaking your drums and shoes and ruining them. You also run the risk of running the diff dry. One is unsafe and mildly expensive, the other isn't terribly unsafe but could be horribly expensive. Best case scenario is you spend money on gear oil keeping it topped off and make a mess everywhere you park.

Axle seals aren't hard to do, get out your wrenches and fix yer junk. :flipoff:

Pretty much you will wear out your front brake because the rears won't work any more.

I drove around this way for a long time.

I want to put it off so that I can have the funds/time to do it all at once. I don't want to do seals now and the ruin another set due to worn bearings and have to do the whole job over again wasting time and money. Plus I want to spend my free weekends this summer wheeling not wrenching. (Yes I realize that one come with the other and it is a bit of pipe dream)

They are leaking and it is obvious to me because I regularly inspect under my truck. That said it has been parked in the driveway since Sunday afternoon and there is not a drop on the concrete so it's not like it is running dry. I will definitely be keeping an eye on it as I won't ruin a diff over it.

As far the shoes go I really don't care as they will be replaced when the seals are. Brian I wouldn't have thought of premature wear on the front brakes due to decreased power from the rears, that's the sort of insight I am looking for.

I am not saying I don't have the money to fix it all right now, but more would rather wait to spend it. Keep in mind I have owned this vehicle for less than two months and have invested more than I paid for it on new tires, suspension, armor etc.

It also seems to me that as common as this issue is there are probably many many owners that drive with leaky seals for at least this long before realizing there is an issue. The fact that I know they weren't leaking Friday night and that the were Monday morning makes me feel like I am already ahead of where most people would be if their DD had this issue.

Good input guys keep it coming. Maybe you'll talk me into spending this $500 sooner rather than later

 

[Dondell]

my breather went bad too..and the axle seal leaked on one side...I'm kinda strapped for cash, so i put in a new breather for 15 dollars, and cleaned up the rear drum with brake cleaner...it stopped leaking, and its been doing ok...fingers crossed...I have been driving quite some time like this...

 

[Jaketino]

^I was gonna just do this until I actually read how easy the seals were to replace. Now I plan on doing them this Friday before heading out to wheel on the weekend.

 

[BrianSD_42]

The most important thing is to be sure to replace the bearings and not just the seal. AND to use Toyota parts.

 

[Jaketino]

What would happen if you didn't replace the bearings as well? I have a slight leak and figured that replacing the seals wasn't too much work or money, but doing everything else was a bit out of my price range.

 

[xcmtb83]

If it isn't your daily driver just take the time to fix it so it is a done deal.:shrug:

If you choose to run them for only another 2k I really wouldn't worry about wearing your front pads out. The rears are only tasked with a fraction of the load that the front brakes are even in perfect working order.

 

[nevada]

What would happen if you didn't replace the bearings as well? I have a slight leak and figured that replacing the seals wasn't too much work or money, but doing everything else was a bit out of my price range.

depends how bad the leak is. if it washes the grease out of the bearing, it will wear out soon and you'll be in there working on it again.


last year I noticed a seal leaking ever so slightly, I changed it and not the bearing. so far so good.

 

[ARC]

Just came home from picking ups new breather and shift ball seat and socket. Plan currently to replace the breather and clean everything up (brakes/wheels) this weekend and keep an eye on seepage. Safari LTD said they would press the bearings for me if I wanted.

 

[ARC]

The most important thing is to be sure to replace the bearings and not just the seal. AND to use Toyota parts.

Right this is why I want to wait. Doing the bearings adds a lot of cost and work.

 

[slowpoke99]

Right this is why I want to wait. Doing the bearings adds a lot of cost and work.

keep in mind that bad bearings will cause premature seal failure. that bearing is whats keeping the axle shaft centered in the housing. once the bearing is toast, it allows the axle shaft to move around which in turn will destroy your seals (again). i say bite the bullet and do it all.

 

[ARC]

keep in mind that bad bearings will cause premature seal failure. that bearing is whats keeping the axle shaft centered in the housing. once the bearing is toast, it allows the axle shaft to move around which in turn will destroy your seals (again). i say bite the bullet and do it all.

I completely understand. In fact that was my point. Doing just seals is money down the drain in my opinion.

 

[ARC]

Well I got a quote emailed to me today and by doing it myself I would only save $147 for labor. For that price I think the hassle saved and warranty on the work it's probably worth having them do it for me. Though I do think the tech that prepared the quote missed some needed parts, but that shouldn't affect the labor difference.

 

[slowpoke99]

Glad to see you're getting it done !

 

[ARC]

Glad to see you're getting it done !

Yes it will be done, just a matter of how soon. Their quote came in under $450 for parts and labor for the whole job, seems to low to be true. I'll contact them tomorrow and make sure that was all the parts. I priced the parts online and came up with about $315. They quoted me $144 so obviously I was getting some parts they do not quote. The quote isn't detailed though it just says KIT 4RUNNER RR $77x2.

 

[spenedwrds]

I got quoted 1400 to do my axle bearings and seals. Bearings are shot and seal busted wide open. And the guy said if I have to replace my gears it'll be up near 2000. Is this a crazy price or about right?

 

[ARC]

I got quoted 1400 to do my axle bearings and seals. Bearings are shot and seal busted wide open. And the guy said if I have to replace my gears it'll be up near 2000. Is this a crazy price or about right?

From what I have seen that is a little high, but within a normal range. Retail on parts alone (not including gears) is around $500. And a few hours worth of labor is what really kills you depending on the shop rate.