Hilux 4x4 Forum

Hi guys, i decided to check my rear brakes as i noticed oil dripping from wheel drum. if i had clean hands i would have taken a picture. I could hardly see the brake mechanism as it was totally covered with "greasy thick oil". I assume this is the side shaft oil seal on the diff that is leaking? Brake shoes also need to be replaced - soaked in oily grease. Looks like a relatively simple job according to the manual (haven't done it before), but is there an inner and outer oil seal or just one? any advise will be appreciated! gonna replace the wheel bearing while it is open as well. will get seals from Toyota. let me know thanks!

This seems like a common problem. I had my rear diff serviced and since then have had this leak on the right rear brake drum. The car has been back twice and still leaking! :?
I know I read somewhere about using after market oil seals not being a good idea. I will make sure mine gets an original Toyota oil seal next time.

yes pirate/aftermarket oil seals do not work. They only work on your nerves, and your wallet... fit the real thing, it is best in the long run..

Hi Duwayne, I did this a while ago on my Lux.

Drain the rear diff oil.
Jack up vehicle, chock wheels, put axle stands under axle for safety.
Remove the wheel.
Undo the 4 nuts on the back of the drum that hold the assembly to the rear axle stub.
Disconnect the brake hydraulic line.
Disconnect the handbrake linkage. Remove the old oil seal and the old o-ring on the stub. Clean everything up thoroughly especially any mating surfaces. Tap the new oil seal in with a suitable sized block of wood keeping it square to the axle.
Add a light wipe of silicone gasket sealer around the hub face and install a new o-ring in the groove. Wipe the new oil seal with some clean diff oil.
Insert the sideshaft into the axle being careful not to damage the seal edge.
Refit everything and tighten up.
Lower the vehicle.
Refill the diff to correct level.

Thats it as far as I can remember. Hope it helps. :)

Nitro.....
I have heard of a few caes where.
- The collar that holds the rear wheel bearing on becomes worn and causes a leak...
- When putting the axle back try to hold it up when tighting the 4 bolts some times they hang abit low and dont seal correctely (may only be 0.5mm but can healp)

To do the rear wheel bearings you will require a press. You can cut the old collar and bearing off with a grinder just be careful not to cut in the axle itsself, butDO NOT heat the collar up to slide down the axle when refitting this is dangerous and when it cools it does not hold on as thight cand can cause your axle to fall out.
Some bearings if you chose to press them off will be very tight.

Hope this helps
Tom

thanks guys for the info - exactly what i was looking for. thanks! Gonna go price the seals now.

Andrew, brilliant instructions, thanks! I am moving this to "Technical Tips" for posterity.

One trick I have seen is to pinch the brake hose flat with a vice-grip pliers, so as not to lose brake fluid. Works well, but still wise to check the brake fluid level afterwards and bleed the brakes.


-F_D

I knew I forgot something. Thanks F_D. Bleed the brakes

Is it necessary to pinch the brake lines ?

Well, if you don't, you'll have brake fluid everywhere after having loosened the rubber hose from the brake drum, which you then remove...


-F_D

You can also just use the rubber cap that fitted to the bleeding nipple to fit over the hydraulic line when removed from the back of the brake cylinder. Works like a charm for me. :)

Or, you can use a piece if clear "fish tank air pipe" from the hardware store as I did in the picture. I also use the clear pipe when bleeding the brakes to make sure no air gets back in the system. Pump the old fluid straight into jam tin.

Hi chaps,

I don't want to dig up an old thread, but I am facing the same sort of thing with my 'lux. At first I thought the wheel cylinder was toast, but when I opened up the drum, it was dry. Then I found the culprit for the oil- the axle is leaking :problem: It was leaking inside the drum, dripping right onto the shoes. Oil=lubrication, Friction is not friends with lubrication, therefore no braking. OKay, so I can conclude that the seal between the shaft and the backing plate of the drum is leaking (correct me if I am wrong), and that seal needs to be replaced. Super, but how on earth do I get the backing plate off the axle!? I am very nervous about all this cause I don't want to ruin a shaft or something expensive. Can any of you guys help me here? Just don't want to make any mistakes

Regards,
Patrick

Bringing an old thread back to life...

Is the removal of the rear side shaft on a Gearmax axle with locker the same as an import? Remove 4 bolts, the brake stuff, and just pull the whole thing out of the axle housing?

Toybox wrote:Bringing an old thread back to life...

Is the removal of the rear side shaft on a Gearmax axle with locker the same as an import? Remove 4 bolts, the brake stuff, and just pull the whole thing out of the axle housing?

Yebo...

Thanks Cassie.

After an hour of 'percussion persuasion' with a BFH it hadn't budged so I just took it in to the local mac. Now the other side needs doing...

I'll have to have another bash at it...

Jonathan, don't forget to 'pinch' your brake fluid hose tightly closed with a vice-grip, to prevent loss of brake fluid when you loosen the pipes before removing the rear axle shaft.


-F_D

Hi guys, I have the same problem. Mine leaks inside the drum and appears to leak from the outer seal. I would like to do it myself
but need to visualize the work ahead. If the outer seal leaks, I assume that the inner is also leaking... Correct? If so, then both
must be replaced. Now the main question.... Do I need to remove the bearing and its retainer to replace the outer seal?

Oooops forgot to mention that the o-ring appeared not to be sealing properly. Can this also cause a leak.

While changing the diff oil today on both diffs I spied oil on the back wheel rim. Right side side shaft seal this time. Good thing I remembered this old post, stripped and ready now. Just need to get a new seal on Monday. Anybody got a part number on hand?

Ek is besig om alles op my agter shafts te vervang. Het opgemerk dat as die retainer nie op die regte plek gepress is nie (te diep) skuif hy nie in die seel in nie en dan lek die oli uit. Ek het oli op die retainer gesit en die shaft in gesit en gedraai on te sien waar pas die seel.
Dit is op n 2005 V6 weet hoe werk die res nie.