front diff is leaking badly on my truck. the leak is coming from where the cv axle connects to the diff on the passenger side. i was thinking that it has a bad seal so i go to napa and the parts guy and i didnt know what the name of that seal is called. all he got was a front wheel seal in the computer. any help will be greatly appreciated

 

Go to the dealer or order on from one of the online toyota dealers. I use http://www.toyotaoemparts.com/ and have had great luck. Shouldn't be too expensive.

 

It's best to get it from the stealers.

 

it's the ifs diff side axle output seal. should be Toyota part #90311-35032. good luck finding one from an auto parts store, or even an auto parts store that knows what you're talking about besides the pinion seal. Stealership should have them in stock and if not can order one for you. Should be less than $15.

 

And while you have your hands dirty I would replace the other side too. If one seal is leaking the other one is just as old.

 

thanks for the help. is there anything special that i do to remove the flange from the diff? like is there like a snap ring that holds it into place

 

Ive got the same problem, mine just leaks a tad after using 4x4.. im thinking a plugged diff breather doesnt help

 

I put a new seal in mine when I rebuilt it. It still seeps a little. The problem with mine is that the PO never cycled the 4wd so the oil didn't get splashed around to keep the shaft from getting rust on it. Now it has some tiny pits where the seal rubs which is causing the leak.

 

i don't think there's anything holding it in there besides pressure/friction since it is pressed in, but i could be wrong. in the FSM there is a picture showing the use of a slide puller to get the old one out and a seal press/punch to get it back in.

i tried taking my old one off of my 4.10 diff with one of those slide pullers from Kragen and i couldn't get it off. the teeth of the jaws on the puller were not long enough to reach the metal ring on the seal without chewing up the rubber first; so i said screw it and never swapped over the solid long-side axle. i did notice that after struggling with the puller and the seal for a while, there was some type of a ring behind it that became visible after giving it a few yanks before tearing up the rubber, but i don't know what to call it because it was a small diameter spring shaped into a ring. i think this "spring ring" is designed to fit in the ridge/crease of the rubber seal to keep the seal pressed against the axle shaft. i'm sure the slide puller would work if i was not trying to preserve the seal. i gave up because i bought a new seal and it was going onto a different diff housing anyways.

regardless, if you're gonna do one side, might as well do the other while you're at it. also if you can, punch out those studs that bolt to the CV and grind off the little ridges - this way the diff goes in MUCH easier and you can change your CVs a lot easier in the future.