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

Why do I keep blowing pinion seals?

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by FailRated, May 26, 2012.

  1. May 26, 2012 at 11:16 AM
    #1
    FailRated

    FailRated [OP] RTO

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2012
    Member:
    #74855
    Messages:
    294
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Evan
    Maryland
    Vehicle:
    03 Double Cab TRD
    5100's w/ Eibachs, Front sway bar in trash mod, Diff drop, 265/75-16 Duratracs or 33x10.50 KM2's on 15x8 wheelers steels, ARB front bumper, Warn VR8000 winch, Trailgear sliders, Allpro rear bumper, Sky Offroad E-Locker guard, Sky Offroad weld on differential guard, Savage skid plates w/ Budbuilt cross member, e-locker rear, ARB air locker front, 4.56 gears, bought it from my mom who bought it new :-D
    Since I put 4.56 gears in my truck a month ago I have gone through two rear pinion seals. The first one was the dust shield on the new pinion yoke contacting the seal. So I pulled the 3rd member and took it back to my diff guy. He took it back apart checked everything, removed the dust sheild and now a week later with no dust sheild on the yoke, I'm leaking from the pinion seal again.:pout: WTF do I do now?
     
  2. May 26, 2012 at 11:22 AM
    #2
    Rich91710

    Rich91710 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2012
    Member:
    #73470
    Messages:
    16,331
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Rich
    Los Angeles
    Vehicle:
    08 Base
    Satoshi with FJ badge, factory cruise, factory intermittent wipers, Redline Tuning hood-lift struts, Hellwig Swaybar, Rosen DVD-Nav
    Breather plugged?
    Lube overfilled?
    Pinion shaft has a crack/chip/scratch?
     
  3. May 26, 2012 at 11:25 AM
    #3
    92LandCruiser

    92LandCruiser Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2010
    Member:
    #31761
    Messages:
    8,317
    Gender:
    Male
    Nevada
    Vehicle:
    80 series Land Cruiser
    Cummins, tons, 40s
    Pinion bearings set up correctly?
     
  4. May 26, 2012 at 11:30 AM
    #4
    FailRated

    FailRated [OP] RTO

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2012
    Member:
    #74855
    Messages:
    294
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Evan
    Maryland
    Vehicle:
    03 Double Cab TRD
    5100's w/ Eibachs, Front sway bar in trash mod, Diff drop, 265/75-16 Duratracs or 33x10.50 KM2's on 15x8 wheelers steels, ARB front bumper, Warn VR8000 winch, Trailgear sliders, Allpro rear bumper, Sky Offroad E-Locker guard, Sky Offroad weld on differential guard, Savage skid plates w/ Budbuilt cross member, e-locker rear, ARB air locker front, 4.56 gears, bought it from my mom who bought it new :-D
    How would I check the breather?
    Oil level is correct as far as I know. It took a little over 2 qts before it started pouring out the fill hole.
    I'll inspect the pinion where it contacts the seal the best I can.
     
  5. May 26, 2012 at 11:32 AM
    #5
    FailRated

    FailRated [OP] RTO

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2012
    Member:
    #74855
    Messages:
    294
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Evan
    Maryland
    Vehicle:
    03 Double Cab TRD
    5100's w/ Eibachs, Front sway bar in trash mod, Diff drop, 265/75-16 Duratracs or 33x10.50 KM2's on 15x8 wheelers steels, ARB front bumper, Warn VR8000 winch, Trailgear sliders, Allpro rear bumper, Sky Offroad E-Locker guard, Sky Offroad weld on differential guard, Savage skid plates w/ Budbuilt cross member, e-locker rear, ARB air locker front, 4.56 gears, bought it from my mom who bought it new :-D
    As far as I can tell. There is no movement when I grab/shake the drive shaft by the pinion flange.
     
  6. May 26, 2012 at 11:40 AM
    #6
    koco

    koco Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 25, 2012
    Member:
    #79503
    Messages:
    385
    Gender:
    Male
    Bay Area Ca.
    Vehicle:
    '01 Taco
    Around $26,000 worth of unleaded in the fuel tank.
    Spin the breather by hand to see if its free. If it's clogged the pressure will force the oil out when it heats up. Then again, it would've leaked before the gear change, and would probably leak into the rear brakes too.

    There could be a groove in the tailshaft where the seal is. Could be a bad seal too. There's many things to guess at, but an inspection is in order.
     
  7. May 26, 2012 at 11:41 AM
    #7
    92LandCruiser

    92LandCruiser Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2010
    Member:
    #31761
    Messages:
    8,317
    Gender:
    Male
    Nevada
    Vehicle:
    80 series Land Cruiser
    Cummins, tons, 40s
    The breather sits on top of the housing, little silver cap, make sure it moves around loose. You could always re-route it higher with a filter on top if you like to drive through water.

    Just wondering if they set the right pre-load on the bearings.
     
  8. May 26, 2012 at 11:52 AM
    #8
    FailRated

    FailRated [OP] RTO

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2012
    Member:
    #74855
    Messages:
    294
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Evan
    Maryland
    Vehicle:
    03 Double Cab TRD
    5100's w/ Eibachs, Front sway bar in trash mod, Diff drop, 265/75-16 Duratracs or 33x10.50 KM2's on 15x8 wheelers steels, ARB front bumper, Warn VR8000 winch, Trailgear sliders, Allpro rear bumper, Sky Offroad E-Locker guard, Sky Offroad weld on differential guard, Savage skid plates w/ Budbuilt cross member, e-locker rear, ARB air locker front, 4.56 gears, bought it from my mom who bought it new :-D
    I know where the breather is. I'll spin it to make sure it's free. As far as correct bearing preload, I have to trust my diff guy. He is reputable, very straight forward and I know him personally(not just a random mechanic I found in the yellow pages)

    This is just getting frustrating. The 3rd member is to freaking heavy to keep pulling it out.:p Although I've done it enough times recently that it only takes me an hour to remove and an hour to install.
     
  9. May 26, 2012 at 11:54 AM
    #9
    Rich91710

    Rich91710 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2012
    Member:
    #73470
    Messages:
    16,331
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Rich
    Los Angeles
    Vehicle:
    08 Base
    Satoshi with FJ badge, factory cruise, factory intermittent wipers, Redline Tuning hood-lift struts, Hellwig Swaybar, Rosen DVD-Nav
    Yet his "solution" to your problem was to remove the dust cover that is on every other diff on the road and not causing problems?
     
  10. May 26, 2012 at 12:09 PM
    #10
    FailRated

    FailRated [OP] RTO

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2012
    Member:
    #74855
    Messages:
    294
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Evan
    Maryland
    Vehicle:
    03 Double Cab TRD
    5100's w/ Eibachs, Front sway bar in trash mod, Diff drop, 265/75-16 Duratracs or 33x10.50 KM2's on 15x8 wheelers steels, ARB front bumper, Warn VR8000 winch, Trailgear sliders, Allpro rear bumper, Sky Offroad E-Locker guard, Sky Offroad weld on differential guard, Savage skid plates w/ Budbuilt cross member, e-locker rear, ARB air locker front, 4.56 gears, bought it from my mom who bought it new :-D
    The new yoke is an aftermarket unit and he did show me where it was contacting the seal. I see your point though. Why would the dust sheild contact the seal?
     
  11. Jul 7, 2012 at 8:55 AM
    #11
    allian04

    allian04 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 23, 2010
    Member:
    #29898
    Messages:
    91
    Gender:
    Male
    Folly beach, sc
    Vehicle:
    03 trd tacoma 4x4
    arb bull bar, B.A.M.F. rock sliders w/kickout, 265/75r16 Wild peak, 3" ome 881 coils, dakars 5150s, deck plate, snugtop, viair on-board air,Simpson 3 rtt
    did you ever figure out the issue? i just installed 4.56s and mine is leaking also, i just cleaned my breather out it was rusted shut yesterday so I'm gonna see what happens today
     
  12. Jul 9, 2012 at 6:56 PM
    #12
    FailRated

    FailRated [OP] RTO

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2012
    Member:
    #74855
    Messages:
    294
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Evan
    Maryland
    Vehicle:
    03 Double Cab TRD
    5100's w/ Eibachs, Front sway bar in trash mod, Diff drop, 265/75-16 Duratracs or 33x10.50 KM2's on 15x8 wheelers steels, ARB front bumper, Warn VR8000 winch, Trailgear sliders, Allpro rear bumper, Sky Offroad E-Locker guard, Sky Offroad weld on differential guard, Savage skid plates w/ Budbuilt cross member, e-locker rear, ARB air locker front, 4.56 gears, bought it from my mom who bought it new :-D
    Nope. Still barely leaking. I check the fluid and it's still full so I'll deal with it when work slows down.
     
  13. Jul 10, 2012 at 2:48 PM
    #13
    BamaToy1997

    BamaToy1997 Wheel Bearing Master

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2012
    Member:
    #71846
    Messages:
    10,792
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Bill
    Navarre, FL
    Vehicle:
    1997 Tacoma 4X4 AKA "Blue Beast"
    best wheel bearings around! www.marionbumper2bumper.com
    Am I the only one who read the title and thought to tell him to leave those seals alone....lmao
     

Products Discussed in

To Top