Did this mechanic rip me off???

Hey guys, so I have a 2003 tacoma which is irrelevant to what I'm about to post but by the way, what gen is my truck? So I know where to post in the future. Back on topic, so I had my differential seal replaced on the passenger side of my truck. Upon pickup n payment he showed me the old seal.... Until I got a weird itch that made me question the seal and the condition it was in. The outer flange of the seal looks flawless. I wondered if he just oiled up the new seal and said it was the old one.
2 weeks or so prior I had replaced it but it started to leak again so I took my truck to a new mechanic to replace it since he had a garage n I don't and it's been cold out lately. Is there a tool that can take out the seal so that the outer flange don't have any marks on it? When I took it out with a screw driver you could tell it was just taken out. Ha. So what you think, did he sham me?

 

1st Gen

 

Any decent machanic will have a seal puller tool. Some are the pry type, some are the dent puller type. Both should have left tool marks on the old seal unless the seal was stupid loose to begin with.

 

^^this

 

Was not loose when I put it in. So what kinda marks should I be looking for?

 

Is it no longer leaking? That's the important part of the equation...

 

The outer side should be "flawles". The inners side should have some marks where the tool was used to pry/pull it out.

 

Still leaking..... The saga of the diff seal unfolds. I saw one minor mark on the Angled rubber part of the seal on the inner part. It sure is a bummer having this pesky leak... It's a slow leak but other question is how long can I drive it for until I need to fill it again or have it repaired? 1-10 how serious a repair. 1 get to it when you can or 10 your truck isn't running.... Haha

 

Have you checked the surface of the CV joint shaft? You know, the part that rides against this seal. If that part is not very, very smooth, your seal will fail prematurly.

If you are only seeing a couple of drops when you park over night, just top it off ever month . If it gets worse, you are going to have to change the seal and the inner CV joint axle stub. easier to just change the whole trans axle, tho.

 

I had a persistent rear axle seal leak on my Ranger. (I know...different truck, etc...but it's still a seal on a shaft) The first time it was replaced, it started leaking pretty much immediately. Took it back and they realized the first bad seal had worn a groove in the axle shaft. The new seal failed very quickly. They polished out the groove because it was very small (and because a new axle shaft was very expensive for my particular Ranger). Didn't have any problems for the next 10,000 miles when I sold it for the Tacoma.

 

Ahh!!! I was thinking the same too sorta... Gonna claim defective cv since I just put it in a month ago n put that in with a new seal. Thanks so much for responses...

 

Hoping of course that'll fix my problem.

 

i bet you and the mechanic put the seal in too far.
put it in so its almost flush, seal still sticking out of diff a hair, then put in cv axle. the axle will put the seal to its correct depth.
i had this issue for months, and it fixed it. i was just pushing the seal in too far. passenger side only.

 

4runnercaged.... You wouldn't happen to have a pic to reference what you typed do ya???
Also the depth you speak of is that from the differential housing or the housing that the outer diameter of the seal slides into?

So weird though that it seems the passanger side has the issue of leaking after cv axle being changed. I am starting to become slightly annoyed with this issue. So if it be possible any exact viable instruction or pics would be greatly n sincerely appreciated. As they say, ". Got people to do, things to meet n places to see...!":0) haha

 

Without even reading your post. I will say Yes!

 

Good job! When can I take my truck to you to fix it?
Seriously though thanks for those of you that have offered your advice n friendly opinions.

 

A seal wears a groove into what it rides on. If a sleeve is not utilized, on the old axle, the new seal will be worn out quickly by the groove. If the axle was new, as well, forget my tip.

 

That's my next attempt... Core this cv for a new one and do again with seal set at suggestions I've gotten. Attempting tomorrow. Will update.

 

Been a week n no leak so as of to speak. Ha! Pain in the knuckle to change alone... But doable. I'm surprised it sealed though because when viewing from underneath vehicle the seal is almost in the middle of the gap between the cv n differential case.

 

So truck started leaking again and thus time I took it to a mechanics garage with reputable mechanics n would you believe after I picked up my truck today that upon arriving hind it started to leak!!!

I'm really getting irritated now to the point where I'm debating to sell my truck because if this is gonna occur with the passenger side I'd rather be rid of a problem that seems to be common with these trucks.

If anyone has any ideas on how to fix issue of leaky diff seal pass side, share the knowledge. Thank you!!