Rear Main Seal Replacement

msuguy44 · 06-29-2005, 10:26 AM

I was just wondering if how common it is to have to replace the rear main seal on a 94 4runner. It has a V6, 4wd with 105,000 miles. It leaks a lot of oil. I was quoted $645 by the local dealer and that was the cheapest price I could find. Does that quote seem reasonable? Thanks in advance for any responses.

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NCSU-4runner · 06-29-2005, 02:36 PM

its not unreasonable for an oil seal to go after 100k miles on an 11 year old vehicle. Wish you lived near me, i'd love someone to pay me $650 to replace it. I'm doing one on my truck, takes maybe a full evening with just hand tools and a strong buddy to drop and lift the transmission with me. It should end up costing me about $20, but i understand how intimidating something like that would be for someone un-familiar with the workings of their vehicle.

Tacoma Dude · 06-29-2005, 02:55 PM

That sounds about right. When some guys showed me how to do the clutch they figured it'd be a good idea to replace the rear main while we were there since it was SUCH a pain to drop the transmission and get the flywheel bolts out.

Even though I've been through it once I'd still reconsider doing it again at around $645.

gwhayduke · 06-29-2005, 03:02 PM

Assuming it's a manual tranny, do the clutch, heavier flywheel, and throwout bearing while you're at it. And no, that's not a bad price. Mine went at about 140K. Sheesh...Try justifying that one to your wife when the old Corolla was still purring with 250K.

DavidA · 06-29-2005, 09:03 PM

My dealership wanted $850 for it. But I just let it leak because it was costing me about $2 a month to keep it filled. I figured it would take me about 425 months to recoup the cost saved.

Flamedx4 · 06-30-2005, 12:49 PM

Mine has leaked for years, the front seal does too. I can clean it off, get it spotless, and it's all damp and oily in a week. Then it just stays that way, it has never once dripped a drop onto the floor, and I use a about a quart of oil every 2000 miles. I keep putting off fixing it figuring the engine will die soon (and be replaced by a V8) but at 216k+ it still runs perfectly. Go figure.

06-29-2005, 02:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
NCSU-4runner Contributing Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Raleigh NC Posts: 1,597	its not unreasonable for an oil seal to go after 100k miles on an 11 year old vehicle. Wish you lived near me, i'd love someone to pay me $650 to replace it. I'm doing one on my truck, takes maybe a full evening with just hand tools and a strong buddy to drop and lift the transmission with me. It should end up costing me about $20, but i understand how intimidating something like that would be for someone un-familiar with the workings of their vehicle. __________________ Jeremy, 94 4Runner Turbo Leaf Spring SAS front - Coilover 4link rear (starts December) / Supra Swap My Truck is featured on Supracharged.com - Home of the original Supra swap and Forum One of two things will happen, I will die, or the truck will be finished. I'm not sure which will be first. Last edited by NCSU-4runner; 06-29-2005 at 02:38 PM.

06-29-2005, 02:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
Tacoma Dude Contributing Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 8,360	That sounds about right. When some guys showed me how to do the clutch they figured it'd be a good idea to replace the rear main while we were there since it was SUCH a pain to drop the transmission and get the flywheel bolts out. Even though I've been through it once I'd still reconsider doing it again at around $645. __________________ Peter! 2002 Tacoma 1986 4Runner

06-29-2005, 03:02 PM	#4 (permalink)
gwhayduke Contributing Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: El Paso, TX Posts: 1,576	Assuming it's a manual tranny, do the clutch, heavier flywheel, and throwout bearing while you're at it. And no, that's not a bad price. Mine went at about 140K. Sheesh...Try justifying that one to your wife when the old Corolla was still purring with 250K. __________________ '99 4Runner SR5 4WD, 5-SPEED. Abzug's vehicle for urban expeditions, navigating flash floods and debris flows (try 12-15 inches of rain in one week). It always gets her home. '95 4Runner LIMITED 4WD, 5-SPEED, over a quarter million on the original 3vze & headgaskets. TRD heavy duty clutch, TRD heavy duty flywheel, OME 900 springs and shocks. This old gal has gotten me out into the field, and back for 8 years, never failed to start or gotten stuck.

06-29-2005, 09:03 PM	#5 (permalink)
DavidA Contributing Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 919	My dealership wanted $850 for it. But I just let it leak because it was costing me about $2 a month to keep it filled. I figured it would take me about 425 months to recoup the cost saved. __________________ 2002 Stellar Blue 4Runner Sport Edition Cold Air Intake Magnaflow Exhaust Iridium Sparkplugs Kenwood KDC-MP628 Blaupunkt Separates in all of the doors Two RF P2002 amps Kenwood 12" Subwoofer My baby: Pics

06-30-2005, 12:49 PM	#6 (permalink)
Flamedx4 Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Location: 100 miles offshore as much as possible, & Springfield Oregon USA Posts: 3,285	Mine has leaked for years, the front seal does too. I can clean it off, get it spotless, and it's all damp and oily in a week. Then it just stays that way, it has never once dripped a drop onto the floor, and I use a about a quart of oil every 2000 miles. I keep putting off fixing it figuring the engine will die soon (and be replaced by a V8) but at 216k+ it still runs perfectly. Go figure. __________________ All my Yotas are gone. Stuff to sell: http://www.yotatech.com/showthread.p...39#post1009839 -Phil

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