95.5-2004 Tacomas & 96-2002 4Runners 4th gen pickups and 3rd gen 4Runners

LEAKY Front IFS Axle Seal

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Old May 21, 2008 | 11:05 AM
  #1  
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LEAKY Front IFS Axle Seal

INFO--99 4Runner, 5spd, V-6

The passenger side of my Front third member is leaking oil like crazy. That is the seal where the front axle goes into the IFS 3rd (snap ring side). So i put a new seal in there but it still leaks.

So thought being--on the passenger side seal, are you supposed to seat the seal all the way down the sub axles on the 3rd housing or press it in even with that first lip? Any insight would be appreciated--but that is where i think i am going wrong
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Old May 22, 2008 | 05:56 AM
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Bumping this--does my description make sense or do i need to clarify it more?
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Old May 22, 2008 | 06:47 AM
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I was looking at the diagram, and that doesn't offer much help on how far to seat the seal, but, I think you may try to drive it in further? How much money is the seal?

http://ncttora.com/fsm/2003/Repair_M...dc4wd/comp.pdf
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Old May 22, 2008 | 07:27 AM
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Seat the seal flush with the differential carrier end. Coat the oil seal lip with MP grease. If you seat them too deep they will leak.

Gerone
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Old May 22, 2008 | 07:54 AM
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Originally Posted by trdparts4u.com
Seat the seal flush with the differential carrier end. Coat the oil seal lip with MP grease. If you seat them too deep they will leak.

Gerone
Thanks Gerone--thats what i was looking for. Yep the seal was seated all the way in the sub axle--clear to the bearing retainer.

Leasson learned--THe seals by the way are $20--and i have been through 4 of them
1. When member was first rebuilt
2. replacement
3. Another Replacement
4. New seal for the next try

Thanks again--personally, this is the first time i have ever had to replace one of these.
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Old May 22, 2008 | 07:59 AM
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From: Dallas
Yep,

I went through 3 seals in a week when I put the front locker in on my 96 Taco. The inner lip of the diff housing makes you want to seat the seal in too far.

Jacque


Originally Posted by hross14
Thanks Gerone--thats what i was looking for. Yep the seal was seated all the way in the sub axle--clear to the bearing retainer.

Leasson learned--THe seals by the way are $20--and i have been through 4 of them
1. When member was first rebuilt
2. replacement
3. Another Replacement
4. New seal for the next try

Thanks again--personally, this is the first time i have ever had to replace one of these.
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Old May 23, 2008 | 06:09 AM
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Installed right at the second lip of the front diff and now--oil stays in the differential. Thanks again
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Old Jul 9, 2009 | 11:51 AM
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Well for whatever reason the seal started leaking again. I think it was because by the time I tapped it in, it had gotten a little loose and eventually worked free/loose/moved or something like that.

This time i installed the seal little less than 2/10ths of an inch past the second inner lip. This is my understanding from the FSM on TTORA. I also tried the ZUK (differential guy) trick and coated the outside of the seal with grey sealant before installing. Then ran a bead on the outer portion of the seal.....

Hope i got it right this time because i am fooking peeved at the amount of time i have had to do it!!!!

FWIW--i also saw that you are not supposed to fill the diff till it runs out of the diff plug hole. It is supposed to be about a 1/4 in below or something close to that.

Anyways, putting the axle back in tonight and will let you know how it turned out.
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Old Jul 11, 2009 | 05:56 PM
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DO you have a P/n for the seal? Mine is leaking too, any tips?
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Old Jul 13, 2009 | 06:43 AM
  #10  
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From: Austin Texas
I dont have a part number off hand--but tips

--Drop the lower ball joint and take out the coil
--Drain some of the oil so it doesnt run out the axle--its just easier
--Pull out old seal
--***I am not saying this is the way to do it but--Coat the outside of the seal with grey sealant and it will slide in easier.
--Make the seal flush with the inner lip in the housing (The extension side/tube)

--let the Sealant set overnight and put it all back together.
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Old Oct 22, 2009 | 06:37 AM
  #11  
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Just an Update here--I know--Holy Old Thread Batman--but it better than starting another.

The first two or three seals may have been leaking--but now i think it was my rear main seal.

Story--had trouble putting in my transmission when i put in my rebuilt motor because there were alignment pins in the tranny and motor--didnt see that one coming at all. Anyways i think through some weird way i buggered something up inside there and now it leaks oil from the rear. WELL, my drive way slopes down towards the house so i think the oil was just running down the oil pan to the sump--then onto said axle (not to mention being sprayed all over the engine by the fan).

Lesson Learned
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