My 2019 front axle is leaking fluid... input please.

Hi All,

So I've noticed drops on the driveway and just figured it was one of our older vehicles. today I looked under the 2019 tacoma which I've had since new and it is leaking front diff fluid from the what seems to be where the axle meets the diff. I did do a lift just over a year ago and pulled the whole axle out to do the ECGS needle bearing replacement. wondering if I maybe damaged a seal when removing/reinstalling the axle and it has just gotten bad enough over a year to start leaking....Thoughts?

I doubt that warranty would cover it, and I don't think I'd trust them anyway. think I should just replace the seal or should I do the whole axle? I'm thinking just the seal, but I'm not super experienced in these things. Thanks all.

 

Sounds like just the seal. I'd replace that before spending big money on other things.

 

warranty def wouldn't cover it at this point and yeah prob when you pulled it apart needs new seal

 

thanks all - what a pain in the ass. IDK, I guess a small part of me was hoping y'all would say oh it's just this random screw that you tighten up or something lol. I friggin hated pulling that thing off! should have put new ones in when I was in there.

 

Don't overlook the diff vent. 2019 is fairly new, but if you spend a lot of time on dirt roads it gets coated in dust. Touch it you should be able to wiggle move it. It lets pressure escape but prevents water ingress.

 

anyone have advice on the seal to get? Looks like the local parts store stocks the cheapo for 5.99 or can order a "nicer" one for 16.99 OR I can get it from the toyota dealer near me for 21.95. Part of me thinks the 5.99 one is the same as all the others but I also don't want to have to do this again in a year....

 

This is the front diff - that is up under the hood, right? I have a breather mod done to the rear one. I live on a dirt road FYI.

****EDITED TO AD: I checked and all are free and clear*****

 

Get the OEM. It’s a fair amount of work, and you will save $15 max.

 

yeah - thanks for that. I needed to hear someone else say it!

 

For years any seal I got from a bearing house was good. Then I started seeing crap from china and the lowest cost vendors. The worst is some of the Amazon and eBay "Made in Japan Toyota OEM" are counterfeit parts! Some back shop in China, I used to be able to look at the box and plastic and know "knock off" but they learned, hate to admit it but now I use OEM Toyota Parts only from Toyota Dealers.

Ask yourself "how long will it take you to replace a bad seal?"

 

I had a toyota one and 2 $5 parts store ones. I compared them visually and they appeared to be identical down to the mold lines/marks, subtle reliefs in the rubber, oil film forming texture on the sealing lip, etc. I didn't have a good way to test the durometer of the rubber or the chemistry, but they looked and felt identical. At this point I would be surprised if they weren't identical. The cheap parts store ones were "National Oil Seals" brand by Federal-Mogul, red/white box. P/N 710596 "made in Japan"

 

I agree 100%. Get the OEM seal unless you want to do this again in the near future