TOY: Re: '82 Rear axle seals

["Erik Bibelheimer" <thebeebs@xxxxxxx>]

Chances are if its leaking to the brakes/drum area, the wheel bearing is
toast.  If there is much play in the axle shaft at all, then its definitely
the bearing.

The inner seal is easy to replace and no, you don't have to remove the
brakes to do it.
http://www.outdoorwire.com/content/4x4/toyota/maintenance/rear_axle/oil_seal
/

The outer seal doesn't normally see any oil so if thats leaking, then oil
is getting past the inner seal, through the sealed wheel bearing and then
through the outer seal.  Usually this happens because the wheel bearing is
toast  :(

Bearings are about $50/each, plus seals, so both sides ends up being around
$120 or more. And that doesn't include having someone press the old
bearings off...

I've had good luck getting the bearings off myself using the "bash the axle
on the ground" trick.  Remove the snap ring, wear some heavy duty gloves,
hold the axle by backing plate about head-high (shaft pointing down, and
slam it against the cement as hard as you can a few times.  Sometimes they
can be a royal PITA to get off, other times they're not too bad.  I usually
put some masonite or something similar on the cement to pound on to keep
from boogering up the end of the axle shaft.  Also, leave all the brake
parts on so that you have as much weight as possible working for you to
pound the bearing off.

Once the bearing is off, you can get to the outer axle seal, replace it,
and use a chunk of appropriately sized pipe or tubing to hammer the new
bearing and the spacer on.

HTH, good luck!

- Erik Bibelheimer, Auburn, CA
'86 44Runner, '97 T100
http://home.off-road.com/~bibelheimer

----------
> From: Bruce Robertson <mrmomo.geo@yahoo.com>
> 
> Hello, moving along with my truck now, I was fixing
> the rear brakes today (what a pain in the ass) and I
> think my left rear axle seal is leaking, rather than
> destroy the new shoes I just put in, how hard is it to
> replace the axle seal, and can it be done without
> removing the brakes? What am I looking at for cost and
> time and are there any special tools needed? Should I
> do both sides while I'm at it?   
> 
> Only thing left is suspension, I got my lift kit this
> week, now I just need to go to the shop and throw it
> on the hoist... (next week)