Rear axle leak effect on bearings

[Poriomania]

I found the rear axle on the drivre's side of my wife's 4runner was leaking and I'm going to replace the inner seal. Researching the boards it seems most people just do the inner seal and avoid the extra work of changing out the sealed bearings. However some say that if oil is making it's way past the bearing that the bearing seal is damaged. Is this likely? Would I be able to see any damage with out pressing the bearing and dust seal out?

 

[Jetboy]

IIRC it wont leak unless the bearing is toast. I had both rears go on my pickup with 5k miles of eachother at 220k. Kinda funny that both factory bearings went at nearly the same time. Anyway, I don't think that fluid generally should be able to leak past unless it goes through the bearing which is sealed meaning that it soon to go. You should also plan on rear brakes at the same time as the gear lube is probably in them and the pads will absorb some of the lube and cause braking issues. My experience was that it actually caused them to grab and lock up sooner rather than reduce friction. Anyway at the dealer it should cost about 130-150 to have a new OEM bearing pressed onto your shaft if you just bring the axle in already out of the vehicl. That's what I have paid anyway. Probably could do it cheaper your self, but I don't have the proper bearing puller for that application. I think a ford 9" set will work on the toyota axles, but I have not tried.

HTH

 

[FLYINGLOW]

Look down a couple posts. https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=179632
This post covers replacing bearings.

 

[Mark W]

If it's leaking then it's 95% that the bearing is bad.

Replace it.


Mark...

 

[Poriomania]

If it's leaking then it's 95% that the bearing is bad.

Replace it.


Mark...

The usual problem is that the inner axle seal is leaking into the tube and past the bearing. I don't know that the bearing is leaking. Some say that if diff oil is leaking past the bearing that the bearing is bad in addition to the axle seal. Is this what you're saying?

 

[Mark W]

Yep. I have yet to personally see an axle tube seal go bad unless the bearing is bad which causes the axle to fit off center in the seal and wear it off center as well.


Mark...

 

[Jetboy]

I know it's been a while since I've been in a rear, but my recollection is that the inner axle seal has two small holes drilled in it to allow ventilation. Maybe not, but I think thats what I remember. If that is the case there would be some gear lube in the axle tubes anyway. The seal just keeps the lube from pouring out of the diff on angles, but not a dry axle tube. I might be crazy though?

 

[jtaco1]

Mine was leaking after a trail ride, so I pulled the axle out replaced the seal that goes in the outer axle flange, hasn't leaked since.