Inspection

Today, I went to get my 01 tacoma inspected and it failed inspection embarrassingly. The main reason was because the rear seals were leakin oil on the brakes. Is this a common thing that happens in the trucks?

 

I believe so, here is a bump maybe others will chime it. I will you the best in getting it fixed and inspected.

 

I don't know if it's specifically common to Tacomas, but it's not uncommon in a 10 year old vehicle. It shouldn't be too big of a deal to get that taken care of.

 

do you mean your wheel cyliders are leaking???

 

Ha mine were gone too, no biggie its a pretty easy job, just hope the brake lines come off and you will be good.

 

This was the exact reason my 01 failed inspection as well. They wanted 1300 to fix it. I used my uncles mechanics (read: free) to do it, but I had to take the axle to toyota to press apart. Ended up costing 900. DO THE REAR DIFF BREATHER MOD.

 

The main reason the seal goes is because the diff breather gets plugged or sealed, so its always a good idea to get under there and make sure the diff breather cap moves.

 

I blew a seal on my 01, of course from pulling a camper 65-70mph through the mountains. It's an easy fix but remember to pick up a bottle of brake fluid if you diy, your gonna have to do quite a bit of bleeding when you get everything put back together.

 

This can't be stressed enough. The diff has to breath ~ with heat the oil and gasses expand then cool contract.


Want to fix it on the cheap?

Most likely your seals are not bad but the internal pressure from poor venitng is just pushing oil past them. Pull the rear brakes and clean them up well (replace if necessary). Clean the drum / backing plate and around the rear hub. DO the breather mod and then go for reinspect. Damaged seals generally only come with age (not likely) / dirt mud contamination (still rare on somthin this new) / or bad bearings (again not likely) .


How were your brakes before inspection? How did the feel? How did they stop? Good / Good = clean and go.


**** One note of caution !!!! Often brake shoe replacment is necessary as oil gets absorbed into the friction material. Dry shoes work better...


On the other hand if you are thinking of this quick fix but doubt the conditon of your seals then just clean up the oil and drive it for a week or two then reinspect. Some auto cross guys have ben known to grease the rear brakes to vary brake proportioing in stock classes that do not alow adjustable units. Even with those cars the grease is only a temporary fix before the brakes come back to regular force.
I have a fleet of 20+ year old vehicles that tow up to 10k# hwy and see heavy mud with original seals and no leak.