rear differential leak

Had my truck parked up for roughly a year drove it about say 2-3 weeks ago didn’t notice anything drove it again today and noticed a rear differential leak does anyone know what might’ve caused this

 

What part of the diff is it leaking from?
Have you checked the vent? If it's plugged up it can cause leaks.

 

I'd check out the pinion seal.

 

@Dm93 where is the vent located thank you

 

@Cucvfan where is the pinion seal thank you

 

@Dm93 @Cucvfan looks like the leak is coming somewhere from the center not sure what that part is called the area where you fill and drain it I will get an image and post it to give you guys a better idea what might be going on

 

Photos help.

But after aitting that long and not being driven, seals can dry out and you can get a leak.

 

Follow the drive shaft back to the rear differential, that's where the pinion seal is.

 

@Mark77 if that’s the case then what next thank you
@Cucvfan ok thank you

 

My guess is it’s leaking through all that rust,
I had a Tahoe were the diff cover was rusted through and the oil was leaking out.
Looks like a similar issue,
Tahoe i just replace the diff cover that’s bolted on,

Tacoma diff cover looks more complicated to replace.
A complete axle replacement might be needed because SOO MUCH rust on the axle also and cheaper if it’s not a locker if you can do it yourself

your diff cover looks completely rusted out and shot to me and the rest of that axle is not far behind from rusting out.

 

Yeah, looks like ypu need to have the diff xrained, and the pumpkin cover removed, then resealed and filled back up. May even need a new cover.

 

I've wondered about that from time to time. How does that work? Shop cuts off old cover, fabs new cover and welds back on? Tapping for fill plug?

 

Yes a while back I actually used a small harbor freight chipping hammer to get some rust off never leaked after that this was years ago then just started leaking yesterday is it possible I damaged it when I did that

 

Get yourself a new diff cover: https://www.dormanproducts.com/p-105095-926-993.aspx and find an auto shop to drain the diff, cut the old one off, and weld the new one on. Then do something to handle the rust, otherwise, the frame is toast. If you had rust you were chipping off "years ago" then you missed an opportunity to take care of your truck.

 

Does the fill plug get a crush washer

 

Yes (

$13 12157-10010 Toyota Oil Drain Plug Crushable Steel Gaskets Set of 10 OEM 12157-10010

12157-10010):


But I don't think that's the source of your leak.

 

Yep, me neither, that's a rusted up dif that's got a hole below the fill line, and yes, when you knocked off some rust you probably un covered the hole.

My guess anyway.

 

I had this done recently. Drained the diff, cut off the old cover and welded a new one on. After they fixed some of the welding issues, it doesn't leak at all.

 

Some people being very careful have done the job with the differential still installed.

controlling the heat .

The ones I have done I strip the axle housing .

I use a weld on female pipe fitting for the fill hole. the cover is to thin to tap.

I have seen replacement weld on covers.

I would not trust this job to a normal auto shop unless they focus on fabrication or you will be replacing the differential shortly.