The front axle seal on the passanger side of my 2002 4runner was leaking slighlty after I swaped in a regeared diff. I must have mangled the seal while wrestling with the most frusterating axle system ever. I attemped to replace the seal. The first time I didn't have it in far enough. Then I got another and hammered it in with a huge socket. But it is leaking at a steady drip. How far in should push it in? Any tips for seal placement would b appreciated as well as any tips for getting those axles installed easier.

 

Did you check your breather hose to make sure its clear?

It goes in so that its flush with the outside lip of the diff. as far as i remember right at least. Same distance and orientation as the one you took out.

 

IIRC you should have the surfaces flush together. I gotta replace a seal on mine friday while i'm throwing in a new diff.

 

Ah I must have pushed it in too far. Bummer. I'll try backin it out if I can dream up way to do that

 

I have a write up on this--search for Hross14....it is under "leaky front axle seal" i do believe. It needs to be 2/10ths of an inch below the inner lip on the extension housing. Look it up--i describe the process and problems. Honestly if i were to do it again i would make an installation tool from wood so that it would go in perfectly.

Good luck

Henry

 

here is henry's write up

i came to the same conclusion on my own. wish i would have searched harder instead of going thru 3 seals. crazy thing happened, a toyota dealership had the part and was open til midnight! so glad to get that job out of the way.

 

Congrats--Yeah its not a hard project but can be a pain if not done right...