I have a 1997 4runner 2wd SR5 280K and after replacing the rear diff fluid I noticed a leak on the diff but on the other side to the fill plug, ie where all the little bolts/studs are that joins to the diff. (sorry but i'm not sure the correct terminology). I took it to a local shop and they told me that they would charge $450 to replace the gasket/seal, ie there's a lot of labor involved....question here is is that a reasonable price and also if i'm doing that anyway would it be a good idea to replace the axle seals as I hear they will fail eventually anyway?


thanks

 

Seems a bit dear on the pricing, but there's a fair amount of work involved to get that apart. Driveshaft has to come off, drums and axle shafts have to come out, only then can you unbolt and remove that differential assembly to replace the gasket. Add up the book hours and with the hourly rate these days, it's probably not really stacked up too much.

The axle seals would be easy to replace in the middle of that job, the axle shafts have to come out to get to them, so you've already got 95% of the labor involved in getting to them out of the way.

 

Honestly, it's not a hard job. If you have some jack stands and a small collection of tools, you'll only need a couple of buddies to pull the axle shafts out while you pull the 3rd.
After that you'll only need to clean the mating surfaces and seal it back up with grey RTV (don't use and OEM paper gasket, it's only going to leak again).


Diy all the way.

 

You could probably get a used axle assembly from a junk yard with less miles on it and just swap it out yourself.

 

Well I asked the shop about replacing the axle seals while they are doing the job....the guy didn't really know how much work there is involved and said they would know when they can get the axles off...he said it might be more difficult if the seal is behind "bearings"...not sure if they know about 4runners or not but I thought replacing the axle seals would, first of all, be worth doing, and secondly, not that difficult?

 

if the shop is fixing the diff leak anyway...how much extra work is it to replace the axle seals?

just want to make sure I don't get overcharged here...thanks for the advice

 

About 10minute difference if its the inner seals that separate gear oil from the wheel bearings. But if its the outer wheel bearing seals then you have got to press bearings off and might as well replace the bearings anyways.

Edit:
So ya theres 2 seals at each wheel. The important one is the inner which is really easy. The one that doesn't really matter all that much is really difficult.

 

which is the one that leaks quite often on 4runners?, ie you see pictures all the time on this forum

 

following this thread.

just noticed my 97 4wd is leaking and planned to just squirt some more gear oil in there until i get time to look into it. Not looking forward to pulling this thing apart with this cold weather.