Rear Differential leak/seep

2019 Tundra 5.7l SR5 TRD 4WD DC

So I took my truck in a few weeks ago because I had some seep coming from the rear differential. It was coming from the seal around the pumpkin and the breather.




I installed the ARB Breather Kit since then. Toyota told me that the Breather may have been clogged or water got in which didn't allow air to escape. Besides that nothing was wrong with seal. Found everyone talking about this kit or their own DIY version.



Before I attached the hose, I blew through it to make sure air was getting to the filter and that the hose wasn't bent or blocked somehow.

Yesterday I saw this seeping coming from the rear axle seal on the passenger side. Driver's side was clean.



Should I have tested out the Breather to make sure that wasn't clogged? I'm looking online and people are saying that this new seep could be caused by a blocked Breather.

Also I'm taking it to Toyota next week. Should I install the factory Breather so this could be covered under warranty? Don't want them saying the ARB caused this.

Thanks!

 

Appears classic for clogged breather. Pressure buildup in the rear axle will create seeping from all these areas. The ARB kit would solve that and shouldn't interfere with the function, it should improve it.

 

I would most definitely put the stock breather back on for the dealer visit.

Also, I have done the DIY breather extension but didn't put a breather on. I have a brand new OEM one in the package but never installed - guess I'm waiting to see if I might even feel it's necessary.

 

Yeah I thought so too. I've had the breather kit ok for a couple of weeks. Guess I may need to take it off and test the breather and hose again. Make sure it's not clogged

 

Yeah. Not sure why it would weep at the axle seal and not the pumpkin or breather like it did before. I figured if the ARB breather kit wasn't working, it would weep there and the axle seal.

I actually called a few dealerships and explained my scenario to see if they'd cover the issue under warranty with the ARB kit on and they told me to take it off before I go back in. LOL.

Did you buy your truck new? Seemed like 11k is kind of early to replace the rear differential.

I just hope it's not brake fluid. When I got my lift put on they left my two rear center brake lines hanging without bolting it down. So no telling if the lines are coming loose... I'm looking for a resolution for that now. Longer brake lines....

 

isn't the rear axle bearing leak/seep a totally separate issue than the rear diff (pumpkin) seep? They (bearing & pumpkin) are not connected or share the same fluid as far as I know. No?

Also the rear diff seep happened with many new cars with less than 600 miles ... You would think for those cases, it shouldn't have anything to do with a clogged breather valve and it's just a gasket seeping and it never develops a leak. Just an initial seep or wet looking spots and it never expands even years later.

The rear axle bearing is another story. Don't they use grease for those and isn't it a sealed unit?

 

I think you're right. The dealer said the weeping I had around the pumpkin wasn't related to the axle leak. I have 41k miles. They said it just wears down. Just thought it was a coincidence the axle seal went out right after spending 400 on them checking the pumpkin.

Not sure if it's grease or fluid around the axle. I thought the same fluids in the pumpkin was the same weeping out the rear axle. I thought the dealer said it was but I could be wrong.

I put in the ARB breather kit so I'll see if it does it again.

 

Same thing happened with mine. I noticed it around 15k miles, however, there is no telling how long it was happening before that. It never dripped a drop but rather just saturated the area much like yours. The dealer (grain of salt) said it wasn't normal and that I should get the pumpkin and gaskets serviced. That job entails too much disassembly of components for me to feel comfortable having it done at so low miles.

I cleaned the area with Dawn dish soap and kept eye on it since then. I have another 4k miles on it and towed in the interim. No issues or seeping have developed. I think the weeping is a non-issue. I previously had a Tacoma that also exhibited similar weeping areas around the pumpkin and trans bell housing. It ran 115k trouble-free miles for the time I owned it.

Link to my post with pictures.

https://www.tundras.com/threads/weeping-rear-diff.106465/

 

Was changing my oil last night and noticed some weeping around the differential, opposite side of the breather. Maybe next time it is at the dealer I will have them look at it. Certainly not enough leakage to even have a drop come off onto the floor.