S.O.S.!! Leaking cv axle oil seal, replaced seal 3 times now STILL leaking! (1 Viewer)

[keepit100]

Alright I’ll jump right in... I’ve got a 99 LC uzj100.
One day a few months ago I noticed my passenger side CV axle oil seal was leaking gear oil and my inner cv axle boots were blown. No big deal, the truck is going on 20 years old so I’m always expecting something to need to be worked on.
The next day I went to my local Napa auto parts store and purchased the left and right cv axle oil seals, left and right remanufactured cv axles, royal purple gear oil, and some grease.
I downloaded the Toyota service manual for my truck and dove right into ripping my old cv axles and oil seals out and replaced them with all of the new parts/seals.
Refilled the dif with gear oil and I patted myself on the back for a job well done. WRONG! A few days passed and I happen to be looking under my truck and noticed gear oil was leaking again from the passenger side cv axle oil seal.
I cursed a little bit and swallowed my pride and tore the passenger side cv axle and seal out again and replaced with a brand new seal thinking maybe i damaged the last seal during installation. Put it all back together and refilled dif fluid. STILL leaks!
So I said WTF and tore it all apart again and replaced the seal for a third time and long story short... it still has a small leak. Small enough for a drip on my garage floor overnight.

So here are my questions I’m hoping my fellow mudders can help me out on:
Why is the cv axle oil seal not working?
Are the remanufactured CV axles diameter to small?
Are the seals no good? (Purchased Napa’s premium seal)

Any help would be great!!! Thanks in advance.

 

[jahawk]

I had the same issue, and it sucks! I went through three and finally installed a Timken brand seal. The Timken has almost a rubber coating around it like the drivers side. The link below isn't to the actual seal, but gives you an ideal of the style. I got mine at Parts Authority.

I've also had them leak when the diff was overfilled.

Axle Shaft Seal Front-Left/Right TIMKEN 710596 | eBay

Jim

 

[keepit100]

I had the same issue, and it sucks! I went through three and finally installed a Timken brand seal. The Timken has almost a rubber coating around it like the drivers side. The link below isn't to the actual seal, but gives you an ideal of the style. I got mine at Parts Authority.

I've also had them leak when the diff was overfilled.

Axle Shaft Seal Front-Left/Right TIMKEN 710596 | eBay

Jim

That makes sense! When I purchased the Napa seals the driver side seal was all rubber and worked great the first time. The passenger side seal was a brass/rubber combo and if you’re suggesting a brand that has an all rubber passenger side seal then that would be greattt!

Also, to much dif oil?? The service manual says to fill dif with oil until it starts to spill out of fill hole. Fill till you spill...can you really put to much gear oil in the dif??

Thanks for the response. Cheers!

 

[aging fleet]

I had problems with a NAPA seal too, bought the Toyota part and no more leaks. To me, worth the few extra dollars. Front diff takes 1.8qts, it's full when oil spills out the fill plug.

 

[jahawk]

Interesting. All of the seals I had leak were from NAPA.

I not sure if the 100 will leak if too full. I have had other vehicles that would though.

Jim

 

[Ohthetrees]

I know you didn’t ask, but many on these boards have found that part store CVs just don’t cut the mustard and frequently fail. Since you’re going in there yet again, I would return your parts the parts store, and start again with Toyota parts. The Toyota ones are very good.

 

[keepit100]

I know you didn’t ask, but many on these boards have found that part store CVs just don’t cut the mustard and frequently fail. Since you’re going in there yet again, I would return your parts the parts store, and start again with Toyota parts. The Toyota ones are very good.

I would have to agree. I usually always buy Toyota parts and this has been my first real go around with Napa... looks like it’s back to Toyota again. Haha yayyy

 

[keepit100]

Anybody have any suggestions for online toyota parts dealerships with the best prices?? Seems like I find a different online dealer every time I google search...

 

[keepit100]

 

[trdcorolla]

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[Spike555]

Also, to much dif oil?? The service manual says to fill dif with oil until it starts to spill out of fill hole. Fill till you spill...can you really put to much gear oil in the dif??

Yes, it is easy to do and I always prefer a slightly over filled diff and t-case, but thats just me.

You raise the fill hole above level, then you can add more gear oil. Obviously the higher the fill hole is from level the more fluid you can fit.

 

[keepit100]

Alright so I went out to my local Yota dealership and bought a new cv axle oil seal for that passenger side. So far so good! Will update in a couple weeks.
Below is a picture of the Napa oil seal with the brass outer ring next to the OEM Toyota seal. Seeing the rubber on the yota seal made me happy!

 

[keepit100]

 

[keepit100]

Side note...the Toyota seal cost 3 times as much as the Napa premium seal. Go figure.
Passenger seal was $18.77.

 

[hickuptruck]

Just to confirm for OEM Toyota Part #s

They both have different #s for left and right:
CV front diff oil axle seal for left: 9031147013
Right: 9031147027

Are these correct #s for them?

 

[keepit100]

Just to confirm for OEM Toyota Part #s

They both have different #s for left and right:
CV front diff oil axle seal for left: 9031147013
Right: 9031147027

Are these correct #s for them?

I’m not sure about driver side but passenger part #’s are below. Took a pic of front and back of seal wrapping for you.

 

[keepit100]

 

[keepit100]

UPDATE: no leak in 24 hrs! Things are looking good so far.
Lesson learned. Napa can be a great place for certain parts, tools, fluids, and wipers or whatever. But for the love of God and all that is holy, do yourself a huge favor and buy Toyota seals of all types!!!

 

[TheForger]

I’ve noticed over time that these trucks only like to use OEM parts in certain areas. With some parts it matters and in other parts it’s not such a big deal, but I haven’t had good luck with any non-OEM seal or gasket in the engine and drivetrain.

 

[nissanh]

Stay with OEM WHENEVER possible. When I first saw your thread, I knew that you are using aftermarket oil seals (which are useless).

The OEM oil seals are made by a company called NOK and it should be embossed on the lip. There is a fake brand called KOK, so if you plan to buy from ebay/amazon, check it.

I had a CV axle leak in my 5 speed car (corolla) and in a hurry used an autopart store brand like National or something. It started leaking in few days and then I went with a high grade oil and it stopped the leak for few weeks and again, it started leaking. Drained all the oil and bought an OEM from Camelback toyota and added the 75-80 grade gear oil. It is been 3 years and NOT a drop of leak!

The aftermarket seals are basically garbage. You hit it once and the structure deforms. It happened to front hub inner sear of my car.

Left OEM seal is $13 and right is $12 at camelback
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Just curious, are you with Overland Expedition team in MT? I think they are also from your town.