Just recently pulled my skid plate off to do an oil change, noticed i had a lot of residue from some kind of lubricant on the top side of the skid plate. It just looked like the greese from the cv joints since both just blew out. However, after doing an oil change and letting the truck sit over night I saw a decent sized puddle under the 4wd half shaft on the passengers side. I thought it was oil so I checked my valve cover- it definitely could use a replacement but didnt appear to be leaking much if anything. I smelled the fluid and it had a definite diff fluid smell to it. So can diff fluid leak out of this area or is it just leaking down this way from higher up on the engine?

 

anyone have any advice?

 

is it really thick?


like a heavy weight gear oil, or is it thin like motor oil

 

Looks like it's coming from the axle seal... Pretty common

 

seems like motor oil in terms of thickness.

 

if you think it's got the consistency of motor oil, then start looking above that spot for some oil leaking from the motor.

 

I couldnt see it leaking from anywhere up there. the one spot it could have leaked from would have put it in a different spot towards the front of the truck, not over the front axle.

It seemed like the consistancy of normal oil but just smelled like diff oil, thats whats throwing me off.

 

it could be diff oil then lmao wouldn't surprise me

 

The power steering pump and high pressure feed hose is on the passenger side... Both power steering fluid and gear oil have quite the distinguished smells...

 

If it smells like diff oil, then it probably is. Motor oil, when I smell it from my finger doesn't have much scent. Diff oil does. Sounds like an axle seal. Guess is that when you changed your CV boots, you either damaged the seal, or it was already ready to go when you pulled the CV's out.

 

I haven't replaced the cv's yet but will do so now!.

Jeff

 

Wheres the best place to get the oem half shafts? My dealer charges too much, any recommended websites? Not looking for off brand here.

Thanks for the help everyone.

 

TRDparts4u

 

cant seem to find them on there, they dont have much for oem replacement parts. Hoping to find a site that will also sell the diff seal.

 

TRDParts4.com won't cut it. You need to go to their OEM replacement part site (same folks, different URL) at http://www.toyotapartsales.com.

 

Just ordered some rebuilt cv's from cvunlimited.com 49 bucks a piece.

 

Its fairly easy to put new boots and grease on yourself. Its just messy.

Are the CV's OEM replacements or aftermarket?

 

re-manufactured oem's

 

nice ive been looking for somewhere to get toyota remans.