Topic: why do i keep blowing axle seals?

[dentedfender]

I keep on blowing the inner axle seals on my 85 4runner, which allows 90 weight to leak into my knuckles and even goes all the way to the hubs.  I replaced the vent tube so i know thats not the problem, but I'm wondering if the 3 inch wheel spacers I'm running up front might have anything to do with it? any help would be great thanks. 

[kneedownnate]

Is there a chance that the housing is bent, not allowing them to properly seat?  Are there any burs on the axle that are cutting the seal?  You have 3" overall width, or each side is a 3" spacer?

[Rocksurfer]

It usually means the housing is bent or you are to rough on the install. The most common spot to bend on the housing is right afther the bell for the birfield.

[IronClad]

its a toyota axle.. they leak there its a pisspoor design.  you get lucky if you can get one to last 15 mins..  alot of the weight of the axle rides on that seal  so it distroys it.  bent housing or not they will leak.

[Shamb]

its a toyota axle.. they leak there its a pisspoor design.  you get lucky if you can get one to last 15 mins..  alot of the weight of the axle rides on that seal  so it distroys it.  bent housing or not they will leak

This is coming from someone running a D44 and 10 bolt???   

I'm just joking!! I'm sorry I just couldn't resist.


I'd guess your housing is bent or your not properly installing the seal, I had troubles with mine leaking alot as well and I eventually got it right (I guess?!)  because it stopped leaking... I ended up selling the axles about 2 months later... lol..

Whats the rest of the axle look like?  any play in the axle shafts?  everything tight?

[IronClad]

i used to run yotas   and i run a 10bolt and a 14bolt !!   no dana spicer crap  LOL

[dentedfender [OP]]

I couldn't see how my axle is bent, I dont drive my truck hard and have never gotten pulled out from the axle.  So im thinking the axle is straight. Everything seems tight no wobble in the drive shaft from side to side or anything.  It is 3 inch ws each side, axles are smooth with no burs.  Ive been rough installing a seal b4 and know that it will warp the actual rubber if not installed right.  I last had the axle apart at the start of the summer and put new seals in (installed good) because my right side seal was blown.  Ive never had a problem with the drivers side seal until now.  I tore apart the axle because of several things, 1). i started getting a wicked death wobble in the front end around 30-40 mph at any other speed it would drive fine.  2). I noticed the drivers side knuckle was spewing out 90 weight grease. and because im going to put a aussie in the front.  I have the passengers side torn apart right now and the wheel bearings lost most of there grease, im thinking its cause of the 90 weight.  Which would cause the bearing to not roll smoothly allowing the death wobble? or could it be because i have a bad case of positive camber on the front axle? this one has got me stumped good.

[79coyotefrg]

im going to say the knuckle shims  arent evenly spaced  top and bottom

ive been running mine for months  with no leaks

[Shamb]

are you sure those cone bearings in the knuckles aren't shot?

[AlaskaToy]

im going to say the knuckle shims  arent evenly spaced  top and bottom

ive been running mine for months  with no leaks

Finally!  Thanks for posting the most likely reason aside from the bent housing suggestion.

The shims do two things:  1) they set the bearing preload  and 2) they vertically center the axle shaft in the housing & inner seal.

[dentedfender [OP]]

That sounds like a possibilty for the leaking, do you guys have any ideas about the death wobble?

[79coyotefrg]

tires  are probably the cause of that, 

and  someof it could also  be  the  shims not  properly set up

[dentedfender [OP]]

thats what i thought at first cuz it did it with my 35s, then i put on my 38s and it did the exact same thing. so im at a loss for that.

[79coyotefrg]

replace the seals  and then  make  sure  your  knuckle shims are correctly  spaced  top and bottom,  the outer knuckle must be  shimmed so it is dead center of the inner axle,  otherwise  the seal will not  stay

[Jeffe 81]

What about your brass axle bushings?  I can't remember where online I read about them, but if they are worn your knuckles will leak oil.  Marlin sells them for $29 (look in the axle products).  Hope this helps.

[FIREBALL]

Also be careful not to over-fill your front axle with 90 weight. Lube shops are notorious for pumping it in fast until it starts flowing out, then jamming the plug back in. Those little seals can't take that much fluid.
I was usually running pretty slow in 4wd, so I always ran my front end a little low on fluid. If I could stick my pinky in and down and touch the fluid that was plenty. After that I stoped having the premature leaking problems and never had a lubrication problem. (yikes, I feel like I should go on Jerry Springer after that sentance)