1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Rear diff leak- ujoints/driveshaft?

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by AzTaco98, Jul 15, 2019.

  1. Jul 15, 2019 at 7:31 PM
    #1
    AzTaco98

    AzTaco98 [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2019
    Member:
    #297145
    Messages:
    15
    Gender:
    Male
    Hey I'm hoping someone can help me out. I have a 1998 Toyota Tacoma 3.4l 4x4 sr5. I had the rear diff rebuilt 6 months ago with parts from East coast gear supply as well as a new Toyota oem carrier bearing. I looked under my truck today and saw it was leaking gear oil quite a bit. My question is, is this due to bad ujoints/ out of balance driveshaft? I get a vibration at 65-70mph but I thought it was the front end, hence me replacing everything in the front end. Any feedback is appreciated as I'm ready to take it out to the desert and light it on fire. Help!

    IMG_20190715_184441478.jpg
    IMG_20190715_184249343.jpg
    IMG_20190715_184317377.jpg
    IMG_20190715_184331378.jpg
    IMG_20190715_184553409.jpg
    IMG_20190715_184734345.jpg
    IMG_20190715_184657444.jpg
     
  2. Jul 16, 2019 at 12:54 AM
    #2
    Wyoming09

    Wyoming09 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2015
    Member:
    #153833
    Messages:
    14,277
    Gender:
    Male
    New Tripoli Pa
    Vehicle:
    2000 Work truck 5 speed 4x4 3.4
    Super Springs
    Do the simple first make sure the vent is not blocked by anything .

    A blocked vent will force gear oil out the hotter the temperature the more gets pushed out
     
  3. Jul 16, 2019 at 7:41 AM
    #3
    skeezix

    skeezix Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 31, 2010
    Member:
    #45512
    Messages:
    2,330
    Gender:
    Male
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    1998 Limited
    ^^ Looks to me like the front seal of the differential is the culprit.
     
  4. Jul 16, 2019 at 7:42 AM
    #4
    skeezix

    skeezix Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 31, 2010
    Member:
    #45512
    Messages:
    2,330
    Gender:
    Male
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    1998 Limited
    ^

    Looks to me like the front seal of the differential is the culprit...
     
  5. Jul 16, 2019 at 11:48 AM
    #5
    AzTaco98

    AzTaco98 [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2019
    Member:
    #297145
    Messages:
    15
    Gender:
    Male

    I haven't checked the vent but will do so today. I'm pretty sure the seal is blown as well. Hey running man how would I fix the clocking on the driveshaft? Or be able to tell if that is what's going on ?
     
  6. Jul 16, 2019 at 12:46 PM
    #6
    127.0.0.1

    127.0.0.1 AKA ::1

    Joined:
    Dec 24, 2012
    Member:
    #93641
    Messages:
    3,915
    Gender:
    Male
    /etc/hosts
    Vehicle:
    2013 NBM AC 4.0 4x4 Auto OR
    that driveshaft weight has evidence of a crunch going on, have that whole shaft checked for balance. it's been chooched for sure...driveshaft is banged up in the last pic

    Capture.jpg
     
    jammer and Abeyancer like this.
  7. Jul 16, 2019 at 12:47 PM
    #7
    eon_blue

    eon_blue If I would, could you

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2016
    Member:
    #180213
    Messages:
    69,960
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ryan
    Azusa, CA
    Vehicle:
    '04 TRD 3.4l 4x4 5sp manual Xtraca & '96 4runner 4x4 5spd manual
    That's the pinion seal. Mine does it too. Common issue when you lift the rear and change the angle of the driveline. Supposedly it's a bitch to change out so I just live with it, it only 'weeps' and doesn't leak bad. I change my rear diff oil every ~20k and have never noticed it being low despite the weeping pinion seal.
     
    Last edited: Jul 16, 2019
  8. Jul 16, 2019 at 12:51 PM
    #8
    eon_blue

    eon_blue If I would, could you

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2016
    Member:
    #180213
    Messages:
    69,960
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ryan
    Azusa, CA
    Vehicle:
    '04 TRD 3.4l 4x4 5sp manual Xtraca & '96 4runner 4x4 5spd manual
    Also kind of looks like you might have a leaky axle seal where the axle meets the wheel in one of the pics...it's in the background so hard to say for sure but looks like a gear oil stain. That can become a big problem if not fixed. The pinion seal I wouldn't worry about at least not right away, unless it's really leaking bad.
     
  9. Jul 16, 2019 at 12:53 PM
    #9
    127.0.0.1

    127.0.0.1 AKA ::1

    Joined:
    Dec 24, 2012
    Member:
    #93641
    Messages:
    3,915
    Gender:
    Male
    /etc/hosts
    Vehicle:
    2013 NBM AC 4.0 4x4 Auto OR
    you need

    likely a new propeller shaft as yours does have a dent
    new u-joints (doing all this work may as well git er dun)
    new pinion seal
     
  10. Jul 16, 2019 at 12:54 PM
    #10
    eon_blue

    eon_blue If I would, could you

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2016
    Member:
    #180213
    Messages:
    69,960
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ryan
    Azusa, CA
    Vehicle:
    '04 TRD 3.4l 4x4 5sp manual Xtraca & '96 4runner 4x4 5spd manual
    On the bright side, your carrier bearing still looks good haha. At least the rubber around it does.

    Of course that's probably the easiest of everything to change out
     
  11. Jul 16, 2019 at 7:52 PM
    #11
    AzTaco98

    AzTaco98 [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2019
    Member:
    #297145
    Messages:
    15
    Gender:
    Male

    Thanks for the reply man, will a small ding on the prop shaft cause that much of a vibration?

    IMG_20190715_184539518.jpg
     
  12. Jul 16, 2019 at 7:55 PM
    #12
    127.0.0.1

    127.0.0.1 AKA ::1

    Joined:
    Dec 24, 2012
    Member:
    #93641
    Messages:
    3,915
    Gender:
    Male
    /etc/hosts
    Vehicle:
    2013 NBM AC 4.0 4x4 Auto OR
    maybe, could be a very tiny deflection in the entire section from whatever caused the ding

    you have vibes, you have evidence of damage, you have leaks, what do you think. fix it all at once and be done
     
    AzTaco98[OP] likes this.
  13. Jul 16, 2019 at 7:55 PM
    #13
    AzTaco98

    AzTaco98 [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2019
    Member:
    #297145
    Messages:
    15
    Gender:
    Male
    The gear oil on near the wheel is from that leak on the pinion seal. I believe it's just been slinging the oil around and getting it on the fuel tank/rear struts/ etc.
     
    Running Board Man likes this.
  14. Jul 16, 2019 at 8:07 PM
    #14
    AzTaco98

    AzTaco98 [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2019
    Member:
    #297145
    Messages:
    15
    Gender:
    Male
    Rear had an e locker but the guy I bought it from took it off and put this manual lever system in. I have a lever next to my driver seat in the cab that I pull up to lock the rear and push down to unlock

    IMG_20190716_200234566.jpg
    IMG_20190716_200305962.jpg
     
  15. Jul 16, 2019 at 8:58 PM
    #15
    Dhearic

    Dhearic Member

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2016
    Member:
    #195713
    Messages:
    11
    Gender:
    Male
    NW Arkansas
    Vehicle:
    97 4X4 3.4L Auto
    I definitely recommend getting your driveshaft checked out. Last year I replaced the carrier bearing and the ujoints on the rear drive shaft of my tacoma. (except the double carden)

    While doing these repairs I discovered that the rear section of my driveshaft had been installed backwards by the previous owner. I flipped it around when I was done and because I didn't know exactly how it was aligned prior I ended up putting it back together out of phase. This gave me some pretty wicked vibrations at 55+mph. I took it to a driveshaft shop an hour away and they charged me 100 bucks to balance my 2 piece driveshaft. They also squirted it with some fresh paint which was pretty cool of them.

    With that dent on your driveshaft I would 100% take it to a driveshaft shop to check it for balance. Best of luck brother. :hattip:
     

Products Discussed in

To Top