Hello all,
I recently started the process of replacing my front driver wheel bearings, seals, etc on my 1996 Lexus LX450. Watched a couple tutorials, figured it out and it was smooth sailing. However, when I went to rebuild the thing, I discovered that the OEM grease seal I bought from Toyota not only didn't fit, it didn't match the one I pulled out. At first I figured I just didn't align it correctly when trying to put it in, so I tried again with the spare I had bought. Same deal, just a little too big and it cracked. I googled the serial number on the seal I had pulled out, #24635, and it came up as a rear grease seal, as in for the rear axle. IMPORTANT NOTE: A couple summers ago I was wheeling during some off time at the summer camp I was working at and ended up breaking my right front axle in the mud, something I didn't realize until I got back on pavement (thought it was just terrain noise oops) and the driving of it resulted in a messed up diff as well, according to the shop I took it to. I wasn't able to work on it myself because of my schedule so I had a local shop take care of it. The ONLY reason I can think of that a rear seal would fit the front and a front seal wouldn't is that they put in some weird aftermarket parts. I just moved so my files are who knows where but once I find the invoice for the job I'll investigate further but I cannot for the life of me figure this out. Am I missing something?? Is there a variation between Land Cruiser and Lexus axles? I was under the impression that everything was shared between 80's and LX's aside from trim stuff, like paneling and interior design. I've attached a picture of the seal I pulled out.
I recently started the process of replacing my front driver wheel bearings, seals, etc on my 1996 Lexus LX450. Watched a couple tutorials, figured it out and it was smooth sailing. However, when I went to rebuild the thing, I discovered that the OEM grease seal I bought from Toyota not only didn't fit, it didn't match the one I pulled out. At first I figured I just didn't align it correctly when trying to put it in, so I tried again with the spare I had bought. Same deal, just a little too big and it cracked. I googled the serial number on the seal I had pulled out, #24635, and it came up as a rear grease seal, as in for the rear axle. IMPORTANT NOTE: A couple summers ago I was wheeling during some off time at the summer camp I was working at and ended up breaking my right front axle in the mud, something I didn't realize until I got back on pavement (thought it was just terrain noise oops) and the driving of it resulted in a messed up diff as well, according to the shop I took it to. I wasn't able to work on it myself because of my schedule so I had a local shop take care of it. The ONLY reason I can think of that a rear seal would fit the front and a front seal wouldn't is that they put in some weird aftermarket parts. I just moved so my files are who knows where but once I find the invoice for the job I'll investigate further but I cannot for the life of me figure this out. Am I missing something?? Is there a variation between Land Cruiser and Lexus axles? I was under the impression that everything was shared between 80's and LX's aside from trim stuff, like paneling and interior design. I've attached a picture of the seal I pulled out.
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