Hilux problem rear axle

devon deer stalker

Well-Known Member
I know what you're thinking, a Hilux problem, never!

But, i had a rear axle oil seal leak, went onto drums, and associated handbrake problem.
Took it to local garage, repair lasted about 4 months.
They tried to repair it, but it didn't last long and i lost faith in them.
Took it to another garage, they said first garage had made an error, they fixed it, that was 6 months ago, today took it for a service to another garage, amongst other things, 'you have a leaking rear axle oil seal'

What the hell, is there a common problem here?
Garages can't fix this issue permanently?

Anyone had the same issue?

Cheers

Richard
 
Hello Richard

there must be un underlying issue there that they are not seeing
Eg the shaft where the seal rubs on may be worn with a groove in it
could be the chrome on it is worn away if there is a hard chrome coating in it
might be the seal if its difficult to fit which i doubt as toyota is a relatively easy vehicle to work on
or its a non original nitrile seal buy it from from toyota
another thing is the oil they using the right viscosity

i live in london if your close i could have a look at it for you

Clinton
 
Do you do much off reading? There will be a breather in the rear axle to account for changes in temperature, ie going through water. If this is knackered, it won't vent and will instead blow the oil seals out into the drums.
 
Hello Richard

there must be un underlying issue there that they are not seeing
Eg the shaft where the seal rubs on may be worn with a groove in it
could be the chrome on it is worn away if there is a hard chrome coating in it
might be the seal if its difficult to fit which i doubt as toyota is a relatively easy vehicle to work on
or its a non original nitrile seal buy it from from toyota
another thing is the oil they using the right viscosity

i live in london if your close i could have a look at it for you

Clinton
Thanks Clinton, i will mention it to them, i am a long way from you though.

Do you do much off reading? There will be a breather in the rear axle to account for changes in temperature, ie going through water. If this is knackered, it won't vent and will instead blow the oil seals out into the drums.
Not a great deal of off roading, but i do on occasion, i will also mention that to them as well

Thanks for your help chaps

Richard
 
Sounds like a blocked breather, my MK5 had the standard breather on the rear axle and every week I would reach in and give it a turn as if it seizes up as the dif gets warm you get a slight increase in pressure and the seal leaks.
You can get breather kits from some of the suppliers on the HPOC forum, these breathers are routed by way of a flexible pipe up and away from all the road crap that congregates and builds up on the small breather (looks like a tyre valve cap on the top of the axle).

Cheers

A.M.
 
What model / year are we talking about? My 2007 HL2 has not had a problem but I might give it a jet wash underneath and check the valve as suggested.
Cheers Wingy
 
They start work on it first thing in the morning, i will mention the above.

It's a 2006 HL3 2.5

Its fairly easy to see if its leaking, you get a black mark down your alloy wheels.

Cheers
Richard
 
I know what you're thinking, a Hilux problem, never!

But, i had a rear axle oil seal leak, went onto drums, and associated handbrake problem.
Took it to local garage, repair lasted about 4 months.
They tried to repair it, but it didn't last long and i lost faith in them.
Took it to another garage, they said first garage had made an error, they fixed it, that was 6 months ago, today took it for a service to another garage, amongst other things, 'you have a leaking rear axle oil seal'

What the hell, is there a common problem here?
Garages can't fix this issue permanently?

Anyone had the same issue?

Cheers

Richard

I had the exact same thing and had it in with a local garage who gave in and put it into Bristol transmissions 4 times before they sorted it(luckily all at his expense),but I had to buy a secondhand axle where they used the shaft axles out of that one to sort it,and they said that they had to be very slightly bent and that in itself was making the gear oil get past the two seals...Mine is sorted now though.
 
Sounds like a blocked breather, my MK5 had the standard breather on the rear axle and every week I would reach in and give it a turn as if it seizes up as the dif gets warm you get a slight increase in pressure and the seal leaks.
You can get breather kits from some of the suppliers on the HPOC forum, these breathers are routed by way of a flexible pipe up and away from all the road crap that congregates and builds up on the small breather (looks like a tyre valve cap on the top of the axle).

Cheers

A.M.


I had a new extended breather put on and it made no difference,and what Devon has said rings exactly the same as mine.
 
Had the same issue with my Toyota Land Cruiser a few years back...eventually I have found out that the garage mechanic cut the bearings of my side shafts off with a bloody grinder, causing grooves on the shafts for the oil to drain through.
 
Got my truck back today.
Breather was checked and all OK, as was the shaft.
The said that a non Toyota seal had been fitted previously.
All i can do is trust them, i have more faith in this garage as the fleet they use in their the business are Hilux's
In addition, they have guaranteed the repair for 12 months.
Watch this space, if it goes wrong again i will update the thread.

Cheers

Richard
 
Had the same issue with my Toyota Land Cruiser a few years back...eventually I have found out that the garage mechanic cut the bearings of my side shafts off with a bloody grinder, causing grooves on the shafts for the oil to drain through.

I've done this before, until I found out that the right way is to hit the bearing inner race with a big hammer until it comes off.
 
I've done this before, until I found out that the right way is to hit the bearing inner race with a big hammer until it comes off.

Be very careful doing it the "new way" takbok!

You have to bear in mind that you have too hard materials here coming together; the hammer face is hardened to take the knocks and the bearing is hardened to resist wear. Shattering and projectile splinters/fragments can do serious eye and skin damage.

A better option is a combination of the two ideas; grind a weak spot in the bearing surface but NOT through as in to cut the band. Then strike the weak spot with a mild steel "chisel pointed tool" with a decent sized hammer. Often this point loading will split the inner race with no contact or damage to the halfshaft.
 
Back to the garage tomorrow, repair lasted 2 months.
I have been doing short trips around the lanes of Devon since the last repair, no leak evident.
Last week i did almost 500 miles of motorway driving over 2 days, 70mph most of the time, checked today, leaking again.
God knows what will have to do to rectify this.
Cheers
Richard
 
This must be a fake news thread. No hilux or for that matter any Toyota evey broke down or had any mechanical or other fault ever ever ever. The OP must have mispelt hilux when he meant to type Landy :D
 
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