I had to spend $339 to get a $15 part fixed.

My wife's 1998 Toyota 4Runner has 186,000 miles. Last week when she got home from work she told me her ABS light was coming on in her vehicle. I went down to the garage to investigate. The driver's side rear wheel axle seal was leaking. I pulled the tire and drum off and saw that because the oil/grease got on the the brake shoes they cracked. Here's the breakdown........New brake shoes $35, new brake cylinder $15 (Need to replace because they never have been and the old cylinder could leak on new brake shoes and ruin them), new axle seals $15 for the set of two, inner and outer for that one side), wheel bearing $99 (mechanic said I would need this because when he pulls the hub off the axle the bearing will probably fall apart), Shop labor $120, shop labor (a different shop that had a press) for press fitting new bearing $40, Misc. shop expenses $15.......for a grand total of $339 because a $15 part failed!

 

that stinks dude

 

.....and that expense was for only one side! I guess when the other side leaks I will already have the new brakes for it........but will have to buy everything else all over again.

 

wow

 

if i remember correctly, the seal is put on the axle and then the bearing is pressed on. most of the time the old bearing gets destroyed while using the splitter on the shop press to remove it. at the least the cage gets bent and needs to be replaced. it really sux but thats how it is sometimes man. blame the crap design not the mechanic though. i feel your pain.most of the time the seal is leaking because the bearing is out of spec and alowing the axle to move up and down in the seal lip.as far as the brakes being replaced.i f they are not saturated i usualy clean them up with a non residual solvent like brakeclean. let them dry and scuff them with some emory. if they are saturated they absolutly must be replaced. as they will just fall apart. also oil acts the opposite when applied to a friction material.it makes them bind and grab .making the affected wheel lock up at the slightest application of brake pedal pressure, wich imho is verry unsafe.

 

Make sure the axle breather is clear. That's what killed the right side seal on my 86 4x4. The left side never did go out after I cleared the breather.

 

good point

 

I'm sorry man!