Squeak from axle seal?

Hi all,

I thought I'd tap into the collective wisdom with something stumping me on my 2015 4Runner LE. There is a low volume squeak coming from the passenger axel tube.

Here are some details:
At 161K miles I had a leaky passenger side axel seal. No problem, I replaced it. That went well, the only thing a bit off was that the axel needed a little persuasion to set during reassembly. Other that that, it went super easy.

Now, a few weeks later, there seems to be a rotational squeak coming from the axel. Using a stethoscope, I eliminated the breaks, wheel bearing etc. It is coming from the axel tube on the passenger side. It is not loud at all, I need to have my passenger side window down to hear it. At normal speeds, it's inauditable. It only occurs at a certain point in the axel rotation, both forwards and backwards.

The 5th gen LE is AWD, like the Land Curser, so being in or out of 4 wheel drive is not a factor.

Additional details: I have after market RCV axels - they don't have a "c-clip" like OE, rather they have a heaver C-ring - When installing you still orientate the open end facing down.

So has anyone had a squeak like that, could it be the new axel seal?

Thanks for any insights you have.

Cheers,
Mike

 

No luck I guess.

it now just comes and goes, it doesn’t squeak 100% of the time. It’s probably temperature sensitive.

let me know if you have any thoughts, I’m wondering if I should just pull the axle and lube up the seal.

Thoughts anyone?

Thanks
Mike

 

Sounds like you answered your own question. New sound? Go where it was touched last.

 

Ok, so the issue was the inner dust shield. I contacted RCV and they told me that their design doesn’t require the OE dust shield. I pulled the axel, removed the dust shield and the noise is gone. My lesson learned is to call the manufacturer if you find something that doesn’t fit. Had I done that to begin with I wouldn’t have had to pull the axel twice. Live and learn I guess.

Cheers
Mike

 

is your 4runner lifted .... cv drive shaft issues ..

 

First I've heard of RCV axles on a 4R...curious also.

 

I have the Total Chaos +2 Expedition LT kit. So I opted for the axel RCV makes for the kit. I had help with the installation and at that time we thought the dust shield would transfer over along with the other OE parts. My later call to RCV provided the ( what is now ) obvious answer: No inner dust shield on the axel. By now this has become a “derr” moment for me