Steering Knuckles leaking Diff oil after rebuild.

[madisonr34]

I used the $$$ Red line grease before, and it separated a lot in the container, I tossed it and used Valvoline. My Valvoline grease has not separated in years.

All you need to do to check if your knuckles are leaking is pop off the cap at the end of knuckle. If its leaking, the birf soup will be there. You can also go one step further and take the drive flange off. You will see the soup if its leaking. From the pictures, I'm pretty sure they are leaking.

Did you use OEM seals??? Did you check the bronze bushings for wear??

 

[SpenserAK]

Grease should be dark grey.... greenish tint is gear oil contamination, no?

This was mine when opened up. Lighter than your dipstick, but notice the green tint vs a freshly cleaned & repacked birf

 

[NTH89]

I used the $$$ Red line grease before, and it separated a lot in the container, I tossed it and used Valvoline. My Valvoline grease has not separated in years.

All you need to do to check if your knuckles are leaking is pop off the cap at the end of knuckle. If its leaking, the birf soup will be there. You can also go one step further and take the drive flange off. You will see the soup if its leaking. From the pictures, I'm pretty sure they are leaking.

Did you use OEM seals??? Did you check the bronze bushings for wear??

Not sure what seal was used but I know they used Koyo bearings.
Could you point to said cap at the end of knuckle?

 

[Broski]

Can't miss it, it's right on the end of the drive flange. furthest part out on the end of the axle

 

[NTH89]

Can't miss it, it's right on the end of the drive flange. furthest part out on the end of the axle o

Can't miss it, it's right on the end of the drive flange. furthest part out on the end of the axle

Oh got it!

 

[jayp2]

A lot of inner oil seals get trashed on reinstall of the birf and inner axle because people fail to support the axle and rest it on the oil seal while sliding it into place

That little spring like piece pops out and its done

The left is more often a casualty than the right because of length and weight of the axle

 

[lumbee1]

A lot of inner oil seals get trashed on reinstall of the birf and inner axle because people fail to support the axle and rest it on the oil seal while sliding it into place

That little spring like piece pops out and its done

The left is more often a casualty than the right because of length and weight of the axle

I trashed my inner seals on a rebuild in 2018 when I didn't grease them and slid a dry axle shaft across the surface. I knew my mistake immediately and figured they wouldn't last long. 4 years later I had to redo them but this time I greased up the seals and axle shafts.

 

[NTH89]

Looks like I will be taking it back to the shop

 

[madisonr34]

Looks like I will be taking it back to the shop

Sorry to hear that. Make absolutely sure they use Toyota OEM seals and check the bronze bushings for play.

 

[NTH89]

Sorry to hear that. Make absolutely sure they use Toyota OEM seals and check the bronze bushings for play.

Yes, will do.
Thank you all for chiming in.

 

[BILT4ME]

Yes, will do.
Thank you all for chiming in.

Did you put on the orange paint stripe on the knuckle studs?

Because the paint stripe is a LOT newer than the dirt and oil on the studs. The paint stripe is on top of the dirt and oil.

They probably did the short version and never even removed the steering arm or knuckle. This means they also jammed the axle in from outside, so the support while dragging through the axle housing seal was non-existent and most likely damaged.

In addition, the lower knuckle studs were most likely not retorqued and they slobbered on the paint lines to make it look like they did.

The drips may indeed be cleaning solutions because they did a quick and dirty rebuild and didn't get it all cleaned out before slapping it all back together.

 

[NTH89]

@BILT4ME No, that’s their signature paint marks I guessed. A few other 80s on the lot had the same orange/red paint marks.

 

[BILT4ME]

@BILT4ME No, that’s their signature paint marks I guessed. A few other 80s on the lot had the same orange/red paint marks.

That also means they did not do a trunnion bearing refresh at the same time.

I don't know what you paid for or THINK you paid for.

It's not the way I would have done mine. That's why I do all my own work. I trust no one.

 

[Broski]

That also means they did not do a trunnion bearing refresh at the same time.

I don't know what you paid for or THINK you paid for.

It's not the way I would have done mine. That's why I do all my own work. I trust no one.

The hard truth and why I do my own !

 

[NTH89]

I hear you. Will be reaching out to them.

 

[lumbee1]

Did you put on the orange paint stripe on the knuckle studs?

Because the paint stripe is a LOT newer than the dirt and oil on the studs. The paint stripe is on top of the dirt and oil.

They probably did the short version and never even removed the steering arm or knuckle. This means they also jammed the axle in from outside, so the support while dragging through the axle housing seal was non-existent and most likely damaged.

In addition, the lower knuckle studs were most likely not retorqued and they slobbered on the paint lines to make it look like they did.

The drips may indeed be cleaning solutions because they did a quick and dirty rebuild and didn't get it all cleaned out before slapping it all back together.

I know that stuff like this happens. It's just something I would never do myself. I fully disassembled, cleaned, and inspect everything during a rebuild. I found grooves on my front spindles indicating they need to be replaced.