axle seal - inner and outer? (MT)

[StephanieD]

Ok, I have searched for about 20 minutes before posting this question.

If someone can point me to an existing answer I would be very appreciative!

1999 Corolla. I recently had my clutch replaced.

Now gear oil is leaking on the driver's side.

The mechanic said that the axles seals are probably shot and should be replaced.

But now he is away to some nascar event for two weeks.

I went to buy a seal for the left axle at the local auto parts store (there is no Toyota dealer in my area).

The guy asked if I want the inner or outer seal.

So that's my question to you folks. Do I need the inner or outer seal or both?

He had the outer seal in stock but he said it would take at least a week to get the inner seal.

The outer seal was $19 and he couldn't get a price on the inner seal right then (with my luck its probably $119!).

So.. inner seal or outer seal or both or does this guy even know what he's talking about?

Thanks in advance!

[Buurin]

Are you sure there aren't any dealer in your area? A quick lookup at Toyota.ca returns:

O'Regan's Toyota Halifax

3575 KEMPT RD
HALIFAX NS B3K 4X6

Toll Free: 888-606-7077
Phone: 902-453-2331

http://halifax.oreganstoyota.com

Once you're there, double check with them...
90311-34016 for passenger side seal
90311-34017 for driver side seal <-- this is probably what you want.

These two are also part of the gasket kit 04331-12110, which contains enough gaskets and seals to redo an entire transmission.

Mind you, these are most likely special order parts as well but they should get them in 1-2 business days.

[StephanieD]

Thanks for your reply.

I'm actually almost 2 hours from Halifax, I just put that in my profile because its the nearest city to me that someone on this site might recognize. There is a Toyota dealer I closer than that, but not one close enough to drop by on my lunch break!

I just had my car jacked up tonight adding a little gear oil (it was down 2 liters! ) (and I am definitely getting some sort of pump next time - it took over an hour to gravity-feed in 2 liters!) ... and looking at the axles I thought that maybe there maybe some sort of seal out near the wheel end of the axle? Maybe that's what he's calling the "outer" seal.

But I can definitely see gear oil seeping out right where the axle goes into the transmission.

It sounds like I should take a long lunch and go to the Toyota parts counter where they probably have a diagram or at least more information than the guy at NAPA.

Thanks again for the thorough reply! For a minute there I thought you were going to dial the number for me and hand me the phone.

[Buurin]

Originally Posted by StephanieD

I just had my car jacked up tonight adding a little gear oil (it was down 2 liters! ) (and I am definitely getting some sort of pump next time - it took over an hour to gravity-feed in 2 liters!) ... and looking at the axles I thought that maybe there maybe some sort of seal out near the wheel end of the axle? Maybe that's what he's calling the "outer" seal.

But I can definitely see gear oil seeping out right where the axle goes into the transmission.

2L is like (more than) the entire capacity of the gearbox!

Get a funnel with valve and tube from the local Canadian Tire. $7 and it makes the filling much easier.

Thanks again for the thorough reply! For a minute there I thought you were going to dial the number for me and hand me the phone.

[corolla_nut_83]

Originally Posted by StephanieD

Ok, I have searched for about 20 minutes before posting this question.

If someone can point me to an existing answer I would be very appreciative!

1999 Corolla. I recently had my clutch replaced.

Now gear oil is leaking on the driver's side.

The mechanic said that the axles seals are probably shot and should be replaced.

But now he is away to some nascar event for two weeks.

I went to buy a seal for the left axle at the local auto parts store (there is no Toyota dealer in my area).

The guy asked if I want the inner or outer seal.

So that's my question to you folks. Do I need the inner or outer seal or both?

He had the outer seal in stock but he said it would take at least a week to get the inner seal.

The outer seal was $19 and he couldn't get a price on the inner seal right then (with my luck its probably $119!).

So.. inner seal or outer seal or both or does this guy even know what he's talking about?

Thanks in advance!

What you should ask for is the driver side output shaft seal. That might make looking for the part easier. You might also check to see if your axle actually stays in the differential, sometimes the c-clips on the ends of the axles aren't big enough to hold the axle in the groove.

[StephanieD]

I asked for the driver side output shaft seal at the Toyota dealer and got the right part. Sometimes its just so much simpler to go to the dealer and buy oem. Thanks!

[sam333]

Those seals should always be replaced when the clutch is done ( by the time the clutch is worn out so are those seals and they usually get damaged when pulling out the axles), because you have to pull the axles the to remove the transmission . You ran low on gear oil and probably damaged your trans.I would take the car back to where you had the clutch replaced and complain and if they brush you off go online and complain.