Is this a front diff leak?

Hey everyone,
Tonight I noticed a puddle of oil on the garage floor so started checking underneath my 03 tacoma. Engine looked good, but once I removed the skid plate there was a little bit of oil and upon closer inspection noticed this....

I am new to auto work so after searching I think the axle seal in the diff is bad. Am I right? or is it the CV?
Also, is this something a newbie should take to a shop or is it a relatively easy change?
Thanks everyone!

 

If you had someone who knew what they were doing to guide you, no problem. But if you don't wrench and dont have anyone to help, take it to a shop. From the pic looks like an axle seal. Smell the oil, does it smell weird or like engine oil?

 

Defs engine oil smelling. Looks like the main leak is where the CV goes into the diff case. Is there only one seal there?

 

Doesn't smell extra strong, extra smelly? Are you familiar with the smell of gear oil? It's just that the leak does in fact look like an axle seal leak, as such it should be gear oil and extra smelly. It's what hot, smart women refer to as the smell of a real man

 

what this guy said. The only thing id be wary about is if it's coming from higher up and dripping right there. Try to determine if it's gear oil or engine oil

 

Can't be certain but it does look like a passenger axle output seal leak. It's not super hard or super easy to replace. The fill plug on the diff alone can cause huge headaches to newbies.

If you do end up replacing the seal make sure to inspect the axle boots closely while its out, its a good idea to replace them if they are cracking.

 

hey bishop, you have advise for those fill plugs that like to strip out? I wound up using an air hammer with a chisel end to break mine free. Had to replace it of course

 

The trick I use is I line up a ballpeen hammer on the plug then whack the other end with a 3lb hand sledge. Then I'll smash the key in the plug and pray. Hard with the front diff though.

I fight for 30 seconds then bust out the air chisel, I don't mess around! If its seized once, it will do it again, new plug and little bit of copper coat.

 

It definitely has a sour smell to it. Just changed my oil too so it's gotta be gear oil cause it was pretty dirty. Gonna call the shop tomorrow and find out how much it is. Keep you all updated

 

@m3bassman you changed the CV seal a few times right? How hard was it to do?

 

There's an easier way to do it and it won't destroy the plug, either. Put a socket on a breaker bar and rap it with a hand sledge while applying some (not a shit-load) of force to the breaker bar. Light to medium hits with a hand sledge work better than beating the piss out of it with a ball peen hammer. If it's a recessed plug, first make sure to dig all the grease and dirt out of it with a pick so the Allen socket can go all the way in.

 

The ball peen doesnt destroy the plug. I also work on many many trucks, often it's their second or third diff fluid replacement and the plug is rusted and half rounded.

Your way works but not every time. The drain plug is also easier to work with, I was talking about the fill plug on a 1st gen taco.