I know this problem is well known, and apologize for not finding past threads from which to address it.

My truck is an '88 4x4 extended cab with 22RE.
I have oil leaking through the axle seals into the rear brake drum assembles. Common problem, I realize, and I understand that it is due to pressure in the differential pushing the oil out through axle seals.

I have removed the little breather valve from atop differential. It passes air but just barely. I am cleaning it in some lacquer thinner. Next step, order some parts to have on hand when I begin taking things apart. But what parts to get?

The brake drums have been replaced recently, so I plan on just cleaning and re-using them. Assuming that I should get new axle seals. But what about new wheel bearings? My truck has about 160k easy miles on it. Any other parts I should be thinking about having on hand for this job?

Would appreciate any and all advice pertaining to addressing this problem of leaking oil through rear axle seals.

I do not drive my truck through anything more than mud puddles no more than 6" deep. Probably don't need the extended height breather.

Thanks in advance.

 

Welcome.
Here's a good article on replacing the seals.
You should also replace the brake pads.
http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/mainte...wheel_bearing/

 

Axle seals and possibly wheel bearings (bad bearings are usually why the seals fail). Once the shoes are contaminated with oil they're ruined...don't reuse them.

If you're looking for stuff to do while you're in there, you could replace the differential studs with bolts since you'll have the axles out anyway, and replace the pinion seal. With the stud elimination and FIPG between the diff/housing (no paper gasket), it will be a long long time before it ever leaks from there.

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116...cement-241933/

 

Rear axle/seal bearing kits one per side
http://www.wabfab.org/Rear-Axles/Rea...ypage.tpl.html

New rear drum brake shoes

:wabbit2:

 

If you don't replace the brake shoes, at least put them in the oven and bake the grease off, and I assume that you have verified that this is diff fluid leaking and not the brake wheel cylinders leaking.
I just recently replaced my third member studs with bolts and a word of advice if you do decide to do it, once you can fit 2 nuts on the end, it will make the job a lot faster to screw them in.
Also, maybe extend the breather just as a precaution to getting water in.

 

I chased the threads in the housing with an M8x1.25 tap and the bolts threaded in by hand.