Broken Shock - Leaking Axle Housing WTF

I came out of the grocery store tonight and when I was walking up to the truck I saw some shining from under the right rear wheel and this is what I found.



I've only had this truck for 3 weeks and it has never left the road and I highly doubt it left the road with the previous owner either since this was leased from a bank. Any idea on what would cause this? I don't intend to go off road with this (my days of 4 wheelin are long over) would you guys here reconmend the factory shocks or some thing else.
So when I got home I thought I'd check out how easy it would be to replace the shock and I found this on the rear axle housing.





At first I thought the oil was coming from the vent but that is dry and the oil is just on the rear of the housing and no where else. I am thinking the housing or the welds have become porous. My first thought is to add oil dye to the rear diff to verify that this is where it is coming from but I am not sure if that is compatible with the LSD oil. Does any one here know the answer to that one. Also I am wondering if the rear axle would be covered under the power train warranty? Thanks in advance.

 

are you still under the factory warranty?

 

Just under 40,000

 

it may be under the power-train 5 year 100k then?

 

Dude the Government has a 30 day Lemon Law! If the vehicle doesn't perform up to par within those 30 days you can return it...NO QUESTIONS ASKED

Take that thing back to the dealer ASAP!

 

Here's a link for ya...hope it helps

http://www.carlemon.com/lemons.html

 

he got is used

 

Ah, just noticed that from his profile that he had a 07...scratch that. But I'd still raise hell at the dealer

 

Hard to tell for sure from the pic but it looks to me like someone already tried to weld on the rear end right where the beads come together, its the short little spot of weld bead that's wider and newer looking, pretty much in the middle of the oil spot. As for the shock I don't know what to say? except it looks like its been cracked for a while judging by the rust.

 

I concur with Timer on the leak, clean it off really well with brake cleaner and monitor it closely. I'd bet it's that weld right in the middle of the leak. As for the shock that's really bizarre but a good excuse for an upgrade!

 

I'd sure try to press the issue with Toyota that it is, that's for sure! Don't clean the oil off though...not until you've shown it to the dealer mechanic. I imagine they will clean it off and then have you drive it to rule out it was something that splashed up on the truck somehow.

Which brings up the question: could the oil on the housing have come from the broken shock?

I really do like the stock Bilstein shocks that come with the suspension TSB (if only you were still in warranty) and the TRD's. I'm sure you can find Bilsteins cheaper than through the dealer, just avoid 5100's (more expensive) unless you really want them.

 

Judging from rust on the fractured shaft (sounds painful) that shock has been broken for a while. See if you can find some cheap rear TRD Bilsteins in the TW for sale section or fork over $150 for a pair of rear 5100s).

As for the diff leak, I'd clean it up and monitor to see where the fluid seep originates. You already have pictures to prove your point with Toyota if it is a warranty covered repair.

 

Yes, good point. OP have someone stand on your brakes while you watch to see if there is any leakage from that area.

 

Broken shock and diff leaking, were you in an accident ? The damage reminds me of when someone hit my rear tire couple weeks ago. Check if your axle is bent.

 

No accident with me and there wasn't any on record with the carfax report. I went back out and took a look at the spot on the brake line. The is white paint from the mnufacturer. The color is an exact match to th line that is painted on the upper shock mount. Also there is no dampness above the brake line bracket and the brake line is drier than a popcorn fart as well as the brake master is full with no brake pedal fade. It is definately gear lube. I'll be waiting on the dealers door step at 7 am when they open and see what they say and go from there.

 

Don't let being that it was a leased truck lead you to believe it wasnt' taken off road either. I leased a ranger before my tacoma and i wheeled the shit out of it.

 

But you are the Motor City Madman

 

Well I was at the dealership bright and early in fact I had to wait for them to unlock the doors. The shock is not warranty as I suspected. The rear diff issue they admitted they have seen before but it is not common. So I left it there for them to look at. They called me a few hours later and said there is seepage at the welds and it is normal. I told that service writer I'm in the auto industry and that was not normal either the weld or the housing has become porous. He said they added dye to the diff and that I could bring it back in a few weeks if I wanted to. I told him that I could guaranty it would be back and that I would be checking it with my own black light as well in the mean time. So then I asked what this is going to cost me and the writer said nothing for the labor but $15 for the dye. We'll see what happens in the next few days.

 

Keep us posted, and welcome to TW from a fellow CheeseHead

 

Just picked up the truck from the dealer. The first thing I did was pull the plug and make sure the dye was in there. It is and they held true to there word about 15 bucks for charges and rescheduled me for the 7th of June to re-inspect the suspected area of the leak. In the mean time I will inspect daily with my black light with the camera at the ready.