2002 leaking diff fluid at the wheel.

Picked up a beat up '02 SR5 and noticed that the back left was slinging oil around the wheel. Figured it just needed a new seal so ordered a new one and the o-ring and popped it off, it was an absolute mess of black oil and mud in there. But when cleaning things up I found something I'm not sure how to explain:



My best guess is this has been done before and the last guy pushed the stack down too far so it wasn't contacting the seal, so then just decided to stick another one on top? But that one has a split in it so of course would continue to leak. Hard to tell from the picture but it also is going so far in it's ground away some of that internal piece so there's a pretty extreme lip you can feel in the highlighted area.



What should I do in this situation? If I just haul the axle to a shop and have them knock everything off and and put it back at the right distances (with new bearings and without the extra part lol) will I be good to go? Is that damaged piece of the axel housing anything I should worry about or is it mostly there to just help guide it in?

 

I had an issue similar to yours with my axle leaking, just not with that other strange occurrence with how far the stack? was pushed. I would check out this other posting to see about guidance with your problem: https://www.tundras.com/threads/rear-axle-problems.118006/#post-3036246

Just a heads up, I replaced my seal myself, correctly, after a day of labor in the sun last summer. It fixed my issue for about 6 months before they started leaking again. I took my truck to an axle shop, and had them fix it up, and it has been fine for about 18 months. If you have already tried fixing it yourself to no avail, that's usually when bringing it into the shop comes into question for me. Also a heads up, @bmf4069 has an entire thread dedicated to his problems with his rear axle somewhere on the forum if I am not mistaken. Good luck!

 

I've done a couple Tacoma and tundra bearing and seal jobs. I've never come across someone stacking seals like that.

I don't think you have to worry about that odd wearing you highlighted. A new setup won't contact that area at all.

I always pop out the axles and take them down to my machine shop/auto shop. They press in the new bearings and seals. It's not worth my time to even own a bearing press.

 

Good advice here.

I got my 05' for a deal and had to do 1 front and the rear bearings and they're a super PIA, even with a press. I also did my T100 and ended up having to pile drive the axle down onto some hardwood laid atop my concrete garage floor to get it to pop. Not fun. Take it apart and bring to shop - they'll square you away. Get quality seals (Timken).

 

Looks like it's not pushed down enough. It needs 5mm of shiny axle exposed.



Left is 5mm, right is bottomed out.