Took off my wheels to paint them before the new tires go on this week and noticed oil on the rear rotor, looks like differential oil. So my guess is I need to rebuild? I like working on my own car but considering I had to buy new jack stands just to get the wheels off, I doubt I have the tools necessary to do the job on my own so unless someone wants to provide a helping hand I will probably need to take it to a shop, any recommendations and approximate price? Thanks! It is a locked 97 lx450
Rebuilding the rear differential??
- Thread starter PolishDude
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Can you get a pic? Is it on both rotors?
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- #3
I'll snap pictures tomorrow and check the passenger side as well. I only pulled the wheels off the driver side today before it got dark. Knew something was up when I saw oil on a couple lugs. Trying to keep costs down on this truck until I sell my other project car but want to make sure I service whatever needs to be serviced asap.
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Sounds like it's just your axle or hub seals. You need to do a "rear axle" rebuild. Really easily, you need a seal and bearing driver kit, hammer, 12mm socket, impact screwdriver (for the hub retaining nut), and a drift to drive out the old bearing races.
its not you diff... its likely (very likely) your inner axel seals.. parts are cheap. easy fix. 2x what matt said
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- #7
Is $200 plus parts fair to do the rebuild? Unfortunately I don't have time to do it myself due to the holidays
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It takes only a few hours, mostly letting the fresh paint dry.
$200 sounds pretty good
letting what paint dry? not everyone wants a baby blue diff cover matt..
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I don't have a diff cover any more, full floater ! 
ok polish dude here you go. call cruiseroutfitters tell them oil is leaking out of your rear axel by the hub and you want a rear axel rebuild kit. they will know exactly what you need. step #2 go to harbor fright and buy a 1/2in socket set that has a 12mm, 14mm and 17mm socket. hammer, screwdriver, crescent wrench, small tub of bearing grease (to re- pack and re use your bearings) . watch a 15 min video on youtube and your ready. ehhhh i think thats it. this is all you need to take the hub apart swap in the new bits and off you go. likely 2hrs. if you want ill let you know next time I'm going to be in the garage for a few hrs going stuff and you can come here and do it that way if you need a hand someone is there. lastly if you have factory lockers.. be sure to activate them (before taking anything apart) and leave the lockers that way until your finished putting it all bad together.
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- #13
Thanks for the reply, Frank (FloridaFJ80) is helping me with the job, unfortunately the screw stripped on the passenger side and a couple studs were not tightening on the driver side so the job is on hold until we get new studs, a new screw, and some other misc pieces. The thing is I do have a locked truck but when we did the driver side, we did not activate the factory lockers, is that bad?
It depends on your luck. Sometimes the fork will stay in place. Othertimes... well... you might end up like others have, with this problem:
rear axle service issues: can't get axle back in.
That's why I say lock the axle in my writeup... and that's why it's part of the FAQ for the 80
rear axle service issues: can't get axle back in.
That's why I say lock the axle in my writeup... and that's why it's part of the FAQ for the 80
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- #15
luckily the axle did go back in, will definitely lock it for the other side