My first tundra related issues.

313000 miles 2011 tundra just had my first issues outside of regular maintenance. You know fluid changes plugs, belts, pulleys, brakes, rotors,
The passanger side rear wheel seal has started leaking gear oil. Good news parts are less then 25 bucks. Tammie the Tundra will be road worthy again in a few weeks when I get home to repair her. Other then that what more could I ask for it has been a dang good truck.

 

I would replace both side rear axle seals while you are at it. I'm actually amazed your rear wheel bearings themselves haven't gotten loud, especially the side with the leaking seal. Leaky seals can allow the gear oil to wick though the wheel bearings on it's way out, washing the grease out of the bearings.

And make sure to to the vent breather modification! The factory vent on top of the axle housing will corrode and seize, not allowing built-up air pressure to escape. And this can cause your axle seals to leak.

ToolCat

 

The leak is only 150 miles old or less my plan to do both

 

What is the breather mod you speak of

 

If you stand behind your truck and look under the bed at the rear axle / differential, to the left of the diff, on top of the axle housing is a little metal cap that cover the differential “breather” or opening that allows pressure buildup to release when the diff gets hot. It’s designed to be a one way valve to let pressure out, but not let water in. Doesn’t work so hot at the second part when fording streams. Also the cap tends to get gunked up over time and not let the pressure out. If yours is gunked up, the pressure will find another way out, like through your axle seals. Except those seals are bathed in diff oil and will leak that oil out. Often your leaky seals is actually a plugged diff breather. Go under there and try to spin the cap on that breather and see if it moves freely. Should be able to spin it in a circle and it should move up and down slightly. The “mod” is removing the breather cap and relocating it to a higher location, often inside the taillight housing. Rubber hose is then run from a new screw in nipple that replaces the breather on the axle up to the old breather cap or to a new breather cap in the new taillight location. Tons of pics and threads on here showing this. Probably even a sticky on one of the Gens forums

 

Ok I fig that what he was talking about I did not see the mod on the mod list I look again.

 

Ya I will order a new 1 anyone have lead on a new style

 

https://www.tundras.com/threads/diy-rear-differential-breather-mod.5253/

 

Really hoping it was just bad vent cap. Because that is the only reason I could think of for failure. I move them vents around for dust collection at least twice a year just to make sure nothing is built up on the inside but the check ball. But could of failed finally. I dont off road, 80 % of my driving is highway miles. The aggravation gets to build up. I had to leave it at home with my wife to drive in town so I could go to work won't be home until next week. Explained the situation to her and hoping she understands the issues at hand. And I don't get a burned up rear end out of the deal.. keeping my fingers crossed she is for sure unicorn so I will keep my fingers crossed.

 

Ya the leak has maybe 150 miles on it. I did it sometime after I got home. Funny thing was I walked past my truck and a old chevy truck and smelled gear lube. My dad senses kicked in and I even said to my wife, that chevy has some gear lube leaking.