Hello, and welcome to TN! I moved your thread to the 3rd/4th Gen Camry forum where you'll be more likely to get some help.

I've seen a few threads where using an aftermarket axle seal was the problem; part just wasn't right. What brand did you use? It's safest to go OEM on this one.

 

^^^This. Its not uncommon to see OEM seals on certain components with double sealing lips. If you used an aftermarket they often do not have that additional sealing capacity or are trying to adapt SAE or imprecise metric dimensions for a "goodenough" type of fit. Additionally, some OEM seals are directional and their replacement aftermarket are not.

So many of these repair jobs are such a PITA that I will typically not use aftermarket seals because it is false economy. If you did use the OEM be careful replacing the shaft as I have sliced fingers on sharp edges of the splines. Also look at the running surface of the shaft where the lip of the seal rests. A groove by any chance? A scratch or nick maybe? If so, a good place for a leak.

 

Double check that you have the correct seal, and that the driveshaft sealing surface is pristine and not scratched. When you install the seal, lightly lubricate the lip with a light coat of general purpose grease, or if you know someone with Transjel, that's the proper lube to use. If not, coat the shaft and seal surfaces with ATF should be fine too.

Make sure the seal is installed straight, that the garter spring didn't pop out. And lastly that there is no freeplay in the shaft.

 

Hey brother how you doing, I just did this job on my 96 Camry same motor but I have manual trans. Like the others are saying it is best to go oem with this as to the aftermarket ones just wont do the job. my Toyota charged me 18 bucks for mine. Also to are you making sure that when you put the new seal in it is seated properly and all the way. You can do this by taking a socket with a big enough diameter and light tapping the socket to the seal with rubber mallet. If you do not have one like me I used a punch and light tapped all the way around the seal in a circle until it was seated properly and all the way. Also you might want to catch all your fluid in a clean pan to reuse it so your not spending more money on tranny fluid. Another thing you can do is put the car up on jack stands so when your done reinstalling the new seal you can put it in drive and let the axle move and check to see if it is still leaking or good. Make sure the e brake is on and you have 2 jack stands a jack and a tire under the vehicle for safety purposes. Trying to help you out not see you go away. Hope this helps and let us know how it turns out.

 

And perhaps more obvious that all of the previous worthy and appropriate comments, is your trans fluid at the proper level?

Here's my story, I bought our '94 2.2 used with no service history but with low miles (all part of a calculated purchase). As you might suspect a guy needs to go through everything to assess the situation and build some confidence/reliability into a new used car. Any way this car was leaking oil (oil pump spaghetti seal) and trans fluid. I knew this at the time of purchase and was willing and able to address both. So I did the whole timing belt, thermostat, water pump, oil pump job with significant input from TN. Oil leak solved. Next I move onto the trans leak. I first started with fluid changes on the trans and diff. to know for sure I had new fluids there but to also assess the fluid levels. And would you know, the trans was over filled and the diff under filled. In the meantime the driver's side CV axle splits a boot. So I R&R that axle along with the axle seal fill the trans and diff to the proper levels and Ta Da no more leak.

 

I know this is an old thread but can anyone say for certain where any auto trans fluid that may leak from the shaft seal originates. That is to say the Diff or the Trans? I always thought Diff. I mean it's an Output shaft. I do not have any leaks presently. I had my right axle out and no fluid came out when the shaft was pulled. Checked Diff fluid level and it is at the top of the fill plug...which is a much higher elevation. I know only a little is supposed to come out, when you remove the shaft. Perhap my gravel driveway is not level (it isn't/can't be.) I'm changing the ATF tomorrow as well as the right axle...so I guess if I get any fluid with the right axle out and an empty trans, That may confirm that axle is from the Diff and my driveway is not level...or if I get no fluid then the axle gets fluid from the Trans or the Diff may have some kind of check valve. IDK. Interested if anyone else may have confirmed this somehow or may have actually has seen the internal division of Diff to Trans, either physically or in a FSM diagram. Thanks.

 

When I changed my axles and seals on my 99 Camry 2.2 Auto some time ago (I used Toyota seals), I don't remember any fluid coming out. However, a long time ago I checked my differential and it hardly had any fluid in it. And the seal had been leaking for quite some time (previous shop used aftermarket seals). That's why I try to do stuff myself.