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Front Dif Leaks After CV Install

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by Mootsman, Apr 26, 2011.

  1. Apr 26, 2011 at 5:37 PM
    #1
    Mootsman

    Mootsman [OP] Active Member

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    Anybody had a problem with the front dif seal leaking after installing a new CV axle? I ended up, very long story, with a remanufactured Toyota axle on the driver's side, and a NAPA axle on the passenger side. Sure enough, the Napa axle is seeping/leaking where it enters the dif. Toyota side is dry. Is this common at all? Do you usually use a new seal? I didn't.

    I didn't trust the Napa axle in the first place, but ended up needing to use it because of time and distance to the nearest Toyota dealer.

    02 Tacoma TRD
     
  2. Apr 26, 2011 at 6:04 PM
    #2
    tacomaman06

    tacomaman06 Carolina Alliance: Enforcer

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    getting there....
    what happened is the snap ring on the beginning of the shaft has torn the seal. you'll need to pull the axle back out and replace the seal. when you put the axle back in....add a smear of grease to the snap ring.

    mine did it first time i replaced my axles.....seals are super soft.
     
  3. Apr 26, 2011 at 7:28 PM
    #3
    4WD

    4WD cRaZy oLdmAn

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    Yup, betting you tore that super soft seal in the housing, I've warned a few here about having an extra hand in putting them into place (Axles)its got to be a straight shot or the results will be alot like yours...
     
  4. Apr 26, 2011 at 8:06 PM
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    Mootsman

    Mootsman [OP] Active Member

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    Ok. Thanks. I will get to it on Friday.
     
  5. Apr 27, 2011 at 4:46 AM
    #5
    ilove_taco_ma

    ilove_taco_ma Well-Known Member

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    nothing, all stock expect got a OE replacement air filter K&N.
    im currently redoing my axles now. i hope i don't run into that issue afterwards.
     
  6. Apr 30, 2011 at 10:01 AM
    #6
    TRDMadness

    TRDMadness Well-Known Member

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    I had three people and my friends girlfriend help us just on one side. everyone had their own part to hold on, to keep out of the way. two people holding the cv shaft and SLOWLY easing it into position making sure it lined right up. Luckily our first time doing resulted in a good finished product. We also bought a new cv shaft from Napa. Not a re manufacture axle.
     
  7. Apr 30, 2011 at 10:50 AM
    #7
    jberry813

    jberry813 Professional Fluffer Moderator

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    [​IMG]
     
  8. Apr 30, 2011 at 10:54 AM
    #8
    brutalguyracing

    brutalguyracing BIG DADDY

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    broken mods
    ok and the clip stays on top correct???
    anyone know the part # on the seal....
    is it the same # for driver n pass. side????
     
  9. Apr 30, 2011 at 11:01 AM
    #9
    jberry813

    jberry813 Professional Fluffer Moderator

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    Snap ring is generally easier to work with when you let gravity do the work. Turn the snap ring so the opening is facing up and then insert into the diff.

    Part numbers are different.
    Passenger side is 90311-47013 (I just changed mine 3 days ago and still have the wrapper).
    Drivers side is 90311-47011

    EDIT: These are first gen part #'s. Can't swear to second gen. OP has a 02
    EDIT2: Turns out Toyota is not very original. According to http://www.toyotapartsdirect.com/ part #'s are the same for second gen.
     
  10. Apr 30, 2011 at 11:06 AM
    #10
    brutalguyracing

    brutalguyracing BIG DADDY

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    :ohsnap:thanks



    so any tips or other trick for these cv axles......special tools needed or just to make things easier
     
  11. Apr 30, 2011 at 11:14 AM
    #11
    jberry813

    jberry813 Professional Fluffer Moderator

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    Check out below link. It was very helpful when I did the axles on my Tundra. The axles are identical except the Tundra one's are longer. Only special tool you'll need is a 35mm axle socket.

    http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/maintenance/cv_axle/

    For second genners tacomas, there's not a whole lot of difference really either. My wife's 4 runner is nearly identical to my Tacoma except really the lower ball joint. Instead of 4 14mm bolts (1st gen taco) your tacoma should have 2 very large bolts (17mm if i remember) that connect the LBJ to the bottom of the spindle. Unbolt those two and pull the axle nut and you can pull the entire hub/brake assembly off and around the axle and set it to one side.

    And I editied my last response, part #'s should be the same even for second gen.
     
  12. Apr 30, 2011 at 11:14 AM
    #12
    DOT

    DOT Well-Known Member

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    I went through this a couple months ago make sure your new CV has the dust cover, with the ones you get at napa and other places they like to leave them off. This is going to keep it dripping with out it makes it look like your seal is bad.
    You also wont be able to find the dust cover as a separate part so hopefully you have the old one still.

    To bad you don't live closer I have a extra seal and i would give you hand too
     
  13. Apr 30, 2011 at 11:19 AM
    #13
    jberry813

    jberry813 Professional Fluffer Moderator

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    FSM says the dust covers (2 per axle) are non-reusable and you are supposed to buy new ones. Stealership part only though. Rebuilt axles will only have a new snap ring. I say, as long as you're careful with pulling them off and putting them on, screw it. I've reused mine on all of my yotas and never had a problem.
     
  14. Apr 30, 2011 at 2:13 PM
    #14
    Mootsman

    Mootsman [OP] Active Member

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    We pulled the axle and seal. There was no evidence of any tearing or anything on the old seal. Put in a new seal and reinstalled the napa axle. It still leaks. Bottom line, the remanufactured Toyota axle never leaked a drop even with the old seal, the napa axle has leaked with both seals. Next week I'm getting another Toyota axle and seal and doing it again. I also noticed that the boots on the Toyota axle are significantly higher quality. We'll see if that one leaks or not.
     
  15. Apr 30, 2011 at 2:21 PM
    #15
    4WD

    4WD cRaZy oLdmAn

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    I'm sorry it didn't turn out to be that seal, sucks that sub standard axle fucked everything up (& NAPA ain't cheap) Yep the OEM boots are a few more $$$ well worth it though..
     
  16. Apr 30, 2011 at 3:06 PM
    #16
    tacomaman06

    tacomaman06 Carolina Alliance: Enforcer

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    getting there....
    I got my new axles from advanced auto,gsp...new,not remanned, for around $75 a piece,and haven't had any probs at all.....and the boots on them are thicker than the stock axles I replaced. Weird that the napa axle was still causing a leak.
     
  17. Apr 30, 2011 at 4:10 PM
    #17
    Mootsman

    Mootsman [OP] Active Member

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    The remanned napa is around $60, their lifetime warranty one is around $110. I am assuming it's the axle, time will tell. No advanced auto anywhere around here. I can't imagine that all these auto parts places actually manufacture their own axles, they must all draw from the same parts.

    On a related note, a mechanic friend was working on a Toyota corolla this week. Front cv axle replacement. He got one from car quest, again, our only choices here are napa and CQ. Anyway, he could not get the clip to seat in the dif. Tried and tried, something just did not fit right. I think he went through two CQ axles, and a few seals ( can't get any of these seals after market, only from Toyota which means a day wait for them to ship up here). Finally, got one in, but it leaked like a sieve. He gave up on that and got a napa axle, that went right in and worked fine. So I don't know what the problem is. Maybe it's just the elevation:) he didn't make any money on what was supposed to be an easy job though.
     
  18. Apr 30, 2011 at 5:41 PM
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    jberry813

    jberry813 Professional Fluffer Moderator

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    CV's are just a gigantic fucking pain in the ass...period.
    SAS FTW. :D
     
  19. Apr 30, 2011 at 9:07 PM
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    4WD

    4WD cRaZy oLdmAn

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    X10

    Man, ain't that the truth !!
     

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