5th Gen OEM or after market rear axle???

Greetings,

I need to replace my driver side rear axle after a pain in the *#% axle seal leak. Any advice if I should stick to OEM axle or is there a better aftermarket option?

any help would be greatly appreciated…

 

That’s a tough one. I’d probably go with this complete assembly

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/toyota,2016,4runner,4.0l+v6,3353820,drivetrain,axle+shaft,10439

 

There is NEVER a better aftermarket option compared to Toyota OEM.

 

I agree and that’s my motto BUT if you’re doing it your garage you need to press the axle bearing in.

 

Might just need to pull and check seal is not pinched. I looked at the after-market version of seals that seat differently (Marlin Crawler) but they don't make one for our gen as far as I could tell. I do not have experience with aftermarket shafts.

You can have an experienced shop gauge your current shaft (see YouTube). The other way to tell it is bent is put it on a lift and run it in low speed and check the rear seal for a tell-tale weep pulsing repetitively as you watch; there will also be a slight wobble to tire spin. Mine was just so slight, there was no vibration that I could discern when driven. It was smooth driving.

Pulling an OEM shaft from a junkyard supplier seems fine as long as it's thoroughly inspected.

If it's bent and you are on a budget, you can also straighten it if you find a real off-road shop. Or Use a 'hot wrench' and flat table then gauge it.

I ended up buying a new OEM shaft and bearings. I didn't cheap out as I go on long trips and wheel. At almost 215k miles, it just made sense.

I tried two different shops and 4 seal attempts later. Anyway, it was a pain in the ass. All the mechanics had serious doubts that shaft was bent initially. Yeah they can be bent, rarely, but a Jeep Hemi side-loading a mud buried 4Runner with recovery strap will do that. It takes a lot of force. Toyota wanted to put a whole new pumpkin too...that seemed extreme $$$.

Do not use any leak stopper products as your tunnel shares fluid space with locker actuator if so equipped (Pro, other models).

Just my experience. Lesson for me? Spend the time to dig out if you can, lol. And stay the hell out of thick gumbo mud.

 

Thank you for the great feedback…. Two questions…

1) Does anyone know where to buy a complete Toyota OEM rear axle?

2) Does anyone have a great shop that can do this type of work in the Los Angeles area if I decide to take it to a shop?

Thank you!!!

 

I try to buy all my OEM parts from Serra Toyota of Decatur, they periodically have crazy sales and the guy in charge of the online store is very customer service oriented. I don't live in that state but the deals and service are too good to pass up.

 

Try ECGS -- East Coast Gear Supply. They sell complete axel assemblies.