Driver rear axle leaking grease.. what do I fix and how

Hey everyone

My 02’ sr5 Taco had been leaking grease from the rear driver a axle for a while now and I’m just now getting around to fixing it.

Firstly, How would one go about diagnosing the problem?
What could be causing grease to be leaking from that axle. I’m not sure EXACTLY where it’s coming out, but the wheel hub is covered in that Grease/road muck buildup, so something is clearly leaking fluid..
I’m no mechanic but I’m trying to save $ for my wedding in a few weeks, so I’ll likely attempt to repair it myself. If possible..

Any help, as always, is Greatly appreciated!!!

-Thanks

 

Sounds like you blew a seal

No, seriously; Rear axle leaking grease sound like exactly what happened to my truck in late 2019, and it ended up being a blown axle seal...

 

Leaking gear oil? If it's leaking gear oil into the back of the wheel/brake drum, you have a blown axle seal. Will likely need to replace the rear wheel bearing as well

 

Tim goes into "why" you might need to replace your rear axle seal(s). He then goes on to walk you through the job.

IF ABS Brakes, start here ---->
https://youtu.be/AVhSDnw2ugo

IF no ABS, then here ---->
https://youtu.be/vW25hvODHcs

 

Watch the second video tell the end.

 

Timmy's video is great. If you're more of a reader, you can also use this write-up, which links the parts and tools you'll need as well:

Replacing My Rear Axle Seals & Bearings – ADVENTURETACO

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BEAUTIFUL!!!
Damn I love this forum!

Thanks a million!

 

Be sure to check out Dan's other tutorials/write-ups
https://adventuretaco.com/how-to/

His trip reports are pretty awesome too

 

First thing I check is a blocked breather it will push out the place with the least resistance .

If it is a seal do both sides and be done.

My condolences on your Up Coming event.

 

Fyi this cost me about $700 to have a reputable shop do it a few years ago. I was pissed when it happened a 2nd time . I bought the tools for a little less and i now enjoy having a press handy now. And i can do my kids 4runner if it goes or mine if it happens again.

 

Do you want to change the bearing as well or just the seal?
If it’s just a gear oil leak all ya gotta do is pull the axle and change the seal in the end of the housing, no special tools or press needed. The axle bearing is a sealed bearing with its own grease so if it’s a oil leak and the bearing is good why change it.

 

Sorry to be blunt, but this is bad advice.

The bearing has dust shields, but is not sealed. If enough gear oil has passed through the bearing to be visible on the wheel/brake drum, it has washed out the bearing already.

 

When you're in there doing the work, I suggest to replace the bearing and seal on both sides.

Each side has traveled the same distance and had the same life conditions.

 

That doesn’t make sense, if the bearing is lubed by gear oil why would it have an inboard seal, dust or otherwise. No, the bearing has grease and the gear oil is sealed by the seal in the end of the housing. They are independent of each other. When the seal fails the gear oil leaks passed the outer race of the bearing since that is just a slip fit in the axle housing with no seal.

 

I don't have a photo handy of my bearings when I did this work, but Ben @m3bassman posted a great photo of what the bearing looked like on the side that was leaking vs. the side that wasn't. Those dust shields are not tight, and the path of least resistance for the gear oil is through the bearings. This is why everyone says to replace the bearings if the seal has failed.

Here's his post: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...t-gen-edition.138573/page-10120#post-24070517

Here's the photo:

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Ok, I see what you mean but that has not been my experience. The few I’ve done on my own trucks the bearing has turned smoothly and felt like it had grease in it, definitely not gear oil.
But the pics don’t lie so thanks for the correction.

 

I think there's valid points on both sides of the replace seal vs replace bearing and seal thought process. If you catch the leak quickly I see no reason to replace the bearing unless it has play. If the leak has been occurring for a while the grease will be mostly washed out and that bearing will overheat and fail soon regardless of play.

From my own experience I caught my passenger side seal failure the day it happened. After checking the hub for play I was sure the bearing was fine. I pulled the axle and replaced the seal only. 38K miles later I still have haven't had any issues from not replacing that bearing.

 

Excellent Debate!

Thank you all for the info

Any chance anyone knows where I can get those OEM parts for cheap?
OR OEM quality less expensive aftermarket parts.
I’m saving money for my wedding so every $ counts!

Also, does replacing the wheel bearing require special tools?
How difficult is it to diy?

 

You need to watch the videos. They require a press and a special adapter to pull the barings and tone rings