Hi All,

Looks like my rear differential is leaking fluid through the drain plug. Seems like the most likely culprit is the pinion seal, from reading the forums. Would it be leaking out the drain plug if that seal needed replacing? Here is the picture. Thanks for any input.

 

Do u see any oil by the oil seal or it is only by the drain plug ?
If it is only by a drain plug try to tighten it some more, if not working use some teflon tape, or get a new one ( try one with better magnet from goldplug)
Let me know.

 

Thanks for the reply.

The plug is definitely tight enough. That was the first thing I checked. I believe it is only leaking from there. I will clean it off to verify though.

I take it a busted pinion seal wouldn't cause it to leak from there though? Perhaps goldplug is the best bet, as you mentioned, although I'm not sure if they do differentials.

 

It looks like it might be the seal to me. Wind blows oil over the top and down the bottom, etc.

 

My '87 4Runner had the same problem. I had to by a new air vent at the top of the axle. Very cheap from my local Toyota dealer so I bought one for the front as well (they are the same size). Problem solved. The vents get clogged after oh 20 years or so. Good luck.

 

I should have mentioned that it's a 92 Pickup with 155k on it. I'll pick up a new air vent tomorrow and try that out.

 

Take a pic of the other side. Leaking pinion will sling gear oil all over the gas tank.

:wabbit2:

 

Well, unfortunately it seems as if it's my carrier bearings. Cheap part, but an $800 job at the shop because it's time intensive.

 

That doesn't make sense. Explain more.

 

$800 is way high IMO

$250 bench fix if you pulled it and brought it to me.
Maybe $500 at a high shop to pull and fix themselves.

Get a 2nd estimate.

:wabbit2:

 

Shoot, my bad... mistype. I meant to say carrier gasket, and possibly axle seals if they are marginal. $800 still high for a carrier gasket?

 

Carrier gasket is nothing more than cleaning and they should RTV it instead.
Bearing/seal both sides parts $200
RTV $15
Labor to replace bearings/seals on both axles and RTV the diff maybe $300

$800 is still way high IMO unless you are going to the dealership.

:wabbit2:

 

I found this DIY guide from Philbert (albeit on a 4Runner instead of a Pickup, but I imagine it is very similar) - https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116...e-pics-205316/

It looked pretty time intensive to me. This shop isn't a dealership, but I believe their hourly rate was a bit more than $100 per hour.