[2WD_NISMO]

Looks like I have the pinion seal leak, so i figured before they replace it I'd free up the vent to see if it was the culprit (still under warranty until 1/2011, so no worries) . The thing is, it's so rusted I'm afraid it'll snap off in which case I'd be ****ed. What are the odds it'll break? WHen they do the pinion seal, do they check the vent?
Also, is it defintive that the casue of pinion seal is the vent being frozen? In other words, is it possible that the seal went for other reasons? It has only 14,500 miles. I did change the oil putting in Amsoil 75W-140 back in August. I filled it just shy of the fill hole per the FSM, so for sure it wasn't overfilled.

 

[mike]

Got to love how fast stuff rust in the North.
I wouldn't touch it since you are taking it to the dealer. They probably are going to replace the whole diff since most dealers don't replace that seal.
IF the vent is block then the diff will blow seals.

 

[colin123]

i'd mention to them when you take it in that the vent looks so bad so you can atleast say that you brought it to their attention then they should check it out and it will all be documented

 

[2WD_NISMO]

Are you saying they replace the whole axle rather than replace a pinion seal? I'd love that becasue that would mean getting rid of the weak axle and getting the upgraded one with 4 spider gears rather than the 2 deal.

 

[Fishy_Frontier]

Are you saying they replace the whole axle rather than replace a pinion seal? I'd love that becasue that would mean getting rid of the weak axle and getting the upgraded one with 4 spider gears rather than the 2 deal.

Yup pretty much anything wrong with the rear diff and they replace it. I'd do the axle breather mod once you get it back from the dealership.

 

[reynoldstn]

"Axle Vent"

I just got all 3 seals, and bearings done on my '05's axle, the truck has 63K miles on it...cost me about $775. You are luckier than I am with this.

I did the vent mod before bringing it in to the dealer. The "vent" came out no problem, even after spending it's whole life in NH up to Dec '08. The vent looked like someone had driven a plug made out of ice into the bottom of it. When it thawed, it was almost completely clogged up with dirt, or something, except for a tiny hole. Shameful.

I used the vent mod write-up as a guide, but found a way to route a small hose up near the passenger side tail light by removing the mud flap and the piece of metal attached to that and looping the hose over some kind of body panel support near the taillight itself, thus eliminating the fuel filter thing.

 

[Sangster]

my rear pinion seal was leaking at about 20k miles and the dealer replaced the entire rear axle under warranty.

 

[2WD_NISMO]

^I'm SO hoping they will do that.

(The shady side of me wants to let it run dry to guarantee a new assembly...)

 

[eglaisi]

And when you get it back, do the vent mod ASAP!!!


http://www.clubfrontier.org/forums/f62/2nd-gen-axle-vent-mod-writ-up-40925/#post625395

I keep putting mine off, but we have a new Toyota dealership in town so I will go there and get the part.