Is this a broken rear axle seal?

I was changing the fuel filter and oil tonight and noticed lots of oil running down my rear drivers side tire. Smells like diff fluid and my brakes work fine. What could be causing this leak? Is it safe to drive to work? The passenger side is fine and not leaking.

 

Yep, thats your axle seal. Make sure the diff breather on top of the rear differential is not plugged. The cap should wiggle around freely, you can tap it to loosen a blockage or remove it and clean it out.

On these Tacomas, the rear brakes don't contribute much of the stopping power and the shoes last 100's of thousands of miles. Take that as you will. It is recommended to replace the wheel bearing along with the seal due to the leaking oil washing out grease. Though I did not do that after replacing both seals and my bearings have been fine for about 50k now.

The breather is this thing:

 

Yep, that's a blown seal. I'd fix it as soon as possible, if the oil gets into your bearings it can cause them to implode. Happened to mine.

 

Yep, just did mine on Sunday with mechanicjon. Pain in the dick to change.

 

Yep axle seals. My driver side also started leaking a couple of months ago at 212K mi. Not good to keep driving like that. I drove mine for 4 days until I get it fixed, just short trips though & not a lot of them. Checked my breather & it was fine.

Pull your drum & have a look, my leak got on the drum shoes. It contaminates the shoes & you're supposed to replace them. Rear end shop cleaned it all up but told me to keep an eye on it & if I notice any braking issues to replace them. Said mine was not leaking for that long so I might be ok. Mine are ok, I'm glad cause I just did the drums like 6 months ago.

I chose to have both sides done as well as axle bearings.

 

Damnit. I actually just did the rear diff breather extension like 4 months ago. I replaced the breather with an OEM breather and relocated it in the gas cap.

I'm not sure how long this one has been leaking but I guess I'll just ride my motorcycle to work until I get it looked at.

I'll probably have my mechanic do the work since it sounds like a pain in the ass.

I figured the shoes would need replaxing since the oil looked pretty spread out.

Anyone wanna buy a first gen?

 

It's more frustrating since I literally just had a ton of work done to the front suspension that wasn't cheap. That was less than a month ago lol.

 

welcome to long-term vehicle ownership

 

Maybe I should have taken the advice to not daily this rig lol

If its under 300 to repair I'll be less irritated though. To me it just means new parts to keep it running longer... but damn is it frustrating when you first discover a problem!

It also doesn't help when I've been pondering selling this one for a 2nd or 3rd gen... The best thing about my 1st gen is that it is paid off. I can't mentally get back on to a monthly vehicle payment for some reason... though doable, it seems like a huge mental anchor to me.

 

If you get a shop to do it, chances are it will be over $300 due to labor/parts (probably booked at 2-4 hours).

Me, I like having no payment. Plus I don't haul or tow a lot, and gas mileage is negligible.

 

I need to do mine, too. I bought all the parts and I watched the Timmie the Toyotaman youtube video, but I don't have the press or the special tool that adapts the press to the Toyota axle like Tim has. The rear end now starts 'singing' above about 40 mph.

 

I'm in the same boat! I watched Timmy's video and once I saw the press I was like "shit" lol. My leak seems fairly recent. I did notice that I can smell fluid from outside the truck now.

 

So I just did this as well - well, not me but the shop. After 10 mins into Timmy's video, I said NOPE, not even going to attempt it. One, I don't have a press and two, that tool is expensive. So whatever, bit the bullet and dropped it off. Passenger side seal failed, driver side OK. Altogether, 1200 bones which included a brake fluid exchange since I had never did the brake fluid (156k) + new shoes of course. Expensive but IMO, worth it - no way was I going to deal with that hassle.

Feel for you OP but get it done. Don't try to postpone.

 

I don't mind investing in a good press. The Toyota adaptor, however, is a one-time use and it is expensive. Are you saying Area51runner (see any aliens?) that most axle shops have the Toyota adaptor?

 

Damn 1200?! I would hope it's not nearly that much... did you take yours to a dealer?

 

Tell you what - if I knew someone or a shop had a press and the Toyota adaptor, I wouldn't mind taking them just the axles and I would R&R the axles myself.

 

You all need to find a shop or a local guy ( goto your local threads in the regional section) to press those bearings in for you.

 

Yes. It is one of the few things I would even consider for the dealer errrrr stealership

One thing, even though they have to remove the shoes (and yes, they are contaminated), they still technically charge for a break service in addition to the axle seal repair. I argued the labor point on that one and the service manager did adjust but parts and such - yeah, its an expensive job. Think of it this way - I think that press is under 200 bones at harbor freight then you add in that tool - http://www.lowrangeoffroad.com/toyota-axle-bearing-puller-tool-plate-style-yt-p71.html, another 350ish. Then of course parts, you are quickly getting up their in cost. Then there is also the 'what if'/'oh shit' factor if you screw something up or run into another issue. So, I figured with all of that and of course time being a factor - outsourcing the job.

 

see link above - wasn't aware its a one time use tool. not sure about that.

 

So, your dealer has that axle tool? What dealership was it and did they also do several remove and replacements of the axle to make sure the bearing is centered like Timmy the Toyotaman did?