Rear axle leaking gear oil into brakes

Inspected rear brakes and found them covered in fluid. I pulled the ABS sensor and confirmed it is gear oil. Both passenger and driver sides are drenched.

I pulled the diff breather valve and cleaned it up good. I cleaned the drums and shoes and entire areas w brake cleaner and rags.

I bought two new inner seals from the dealership today as well as new o-rings. I took one side apart and was ready to change the seal but I chickened out.

The YouTube videos I saw show the inner seal is almost flush with the end of the axle housing, but mine is tucked in a bit which makes it harder to pull and harder to press the new one in.

I have a seal puller but no special tool to press a seal in. Stealership wants $1200 to do the job which is insane.

Any advice?

 

Find a proper sized metal cylindrical object and a mallet. Big socket, pipe coupling, soup can LOL.

 

Maybe pick up a set of seal tools? They’re not expensive.

 

That’s how I’ve usually done it

 

I think I have a metal cylinder I can use to press the new seal in, but how far do I press it? How do I know when it's where it needs to be?

Also, the seal puller I have doesn't really work for this application since the seal is set so far back in the axle housing. Can I use two picks to pull it out instead, or is that a bad idea?

Here's what I have

 

I normally drive a screwdriver through it and twist it causing it to buckle and pull out. Careful not to booger the bore. If careful you can drive the new one in with a large (1/2 or so) flatfaced punch if you don’t have a seal driver.... that seal should be flush. I bet your axle bearings are sloppy too. If you can wiggle the backing plate all over the place they are worn, thus your new seals won’t last very long. I normally buy 3 seals in the event I screw one up... good luck

 

How bad is this bearing?

 

I would replace it, mine were that bad, I had to put it back together to get to work, replaced just the seals and three months later they leak... there’s a gazzilion threads on this....

 

Like previous said, new bearings on both sides. Otherwise you’ll end up doing seals again in a few months, or worse, left on the side of the road

 

Goodbye savings account. I hardly knew you.

 

Being a former Toyota mechanic, I would also recommend you replace the the brake shoes since they were coated in diff oil. Take your time it will be fine.

 

So, if all you are after is the tool to seat the new seal, then this one works great: OTC 4507 Seal Driver Kit. It is what I used, doing this job multiple times on different trucks (full write-up with pics).

That said - if I were you, I'd replace more than those seals. Once they start to leak, they contaminate your axle bearings and essentially wash all of the grease out of them. Also - as noted above, you should seriously consider changing your brake shoes, once you know that your axle seal/bearing replacement was successful.

Here's a step-by-step write up, with parts needed as well as tools (special and otherwise) that will allow you to do the entire job yourself for ~$600 (both sides, and leave you with a bunch of great tools in the process). Shout if you have questions.

Step-by-Step Replacing Rear Axle Seal & Bearing w/ABS (1st gen Tacoma or 3rd gen 4Runner)

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Here's a link to Timmy the Toolman's video showing exactly how to replace axle seals on a truck with ABS. It's an excellent video and well worth a look-see:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVhSDnw2ugo&list=UU9EMiD9KPy61kJ6hdXcbjxA&index=90&t=7s

 

huge thanks to @turbodb

For now I'm going to go ahead and install the new seals I bought, hope for the best, keep checking the brakes every week or two. If they start leaking again (or if the bearings start to go) I'll buy all the tools in that super helpful write-up and just do the whole shebang (bearings, seals, etc).

Only trouble is my gf and I live in a 2-car garage (converted into an "in-law unit") so I have no idea where I'll keep that huge press. My friends live in the main house and they do have some space. Hopefully I can stash it in there. I have friends with older Tacomas and 4runners, so maybe I'll get more use out of it.

 

If all else fails just pull the axles and bring them to a machine shop. I think the last time I had it done the shop charged me something like 40 per side. I provided outer seals and bearings

 

ok reporting back

DONE DID THE DANG THANG. Feels good man. Borrowed the bearing/seal press kit from AutoZone (for pressing the new seals in). Was able to remove the old seals with a 17" pry bar and a rag for padding. Everything went real nice and easy. Thanks y'all!

 

Good job!!

 

so fresh, so clean

 

Lmfao truest thing I've read today