Replace a Rear Axle Seal on a Toyota Tacoma

The function of the rear axle shaft seal is to hold the axle assembly firmly to the axle housing. If the seal is damaged, you may see oil leaking from the connection point at the axle and axle housing. If oil is leaking, the axle will soon lose its lubrication and suffer serious damage. If you ignore the problem and the axle is damaged, the job becomes much more difficult and costly. You will have to remove the rear brake assembly to access the axle and seal.

Disassembly
1. Loosen the lug nuts on the rear wheel of the drive shaft seal you need to replace. Raise the rear of the truck with a jack and support the truck on jack stands.
2. Remove the lug nuts with a lug wrench and take off the wheel.
3. Pull off the brake drum. If it is stuck on, tap the drum along its edges with a mallet and spray penetrating oil around the wheel studs. Spray the entire brake assembly with brake cleaner to remove any harmful brake dust.
4. Release the return spring from the top side of the shoe opposite the parking brake cable. This is the rear shoe. Use a screwdriver to pry the spring out of the hole. Use a hold-down spring tool to remove the hold-down spring from the rear shoe. Place the tool over the spring, rotate it 1/4-turn counterclockwise and release the tool to remove the spring. Remove the rear shoe by disengaging the lower anchor spring from the shoe.
5. Use the hold-down spring tool to remove the hold-down spring from the front shoe. Use a pair of pliers or a small screwdriver to detach and remove the adjusting lever spring attached to the shoe. Remove the adjusting lever. Pull the parking brake lever out of its bracket near the adjuster lever to release it from the wheel assembly. Remove the brake shoe.
6. Unscrew the brake line from the top inner portion of the wheel assembly with a wrench.
7. Use a socket to remove the four backing plate mounting bolt nuts. These are arranged in a square pattern around the axle, behind the backing plate.
8. Pull the axle shaft out of the axle housing. Remove the O-ring from the axle housing and discard it.
9. Use a seal removal tool or large flat head screwdriver to pry out the axle shaft oil seal from the axle housing.
Reassembly
1. Use the seal installer or large socket to drive the new seal into the axle housing. Tap it into place with the mallet until it is seated flush with the axle housing. Lubricate the outer edge of the seal with multi-purpose grease. Place the new O-ring onto the seal and coat it lightly with grease.
2. Coat the axle with oil and re-insert it into the axle housing. Replace the four backing plate retainer nuts.
3. Install the brake line hose and tighten it with the wrench.
4. Reassemble the brakes in the reverse order of disassembly. Replace the front brake shoe. Replace the emergency brake into its retainer.
5. Connect the anchor spring to the bottom of the two shoes. Rotate the rear shoe into place. Attach both hold-down pins and springs into place with the hold-down spring tool.
6. Connect the adjuster and the return spring at the top of the brake shoes.
7. Replace the brake drum over the brake assembly. Remount the wheel and reinstall the lug nuts. Lower the vehicle and tighten the lug nuts with the lug wrench.
8. Drive the vehicle forward and backwards, frequently pressing the brake pedal. This will allow the rear brake self-adjusters to adjust the brakes.