Symptoms
Gear oil on the inside of the rear wheel or brakes, a low diff level, or a clunk in reverse after the diff has run low.
The fix, step by step
- Drain the diff, remove the wheel and rear brake, unbolt the axle-shaft retainer and pull the shaft.
- Replace the inner seal in the housing.
- Once a seal has leaked, the bearing's grease has usually washed out, so IH8MUD members replace the bearing too, which means pressing it and its retainer collar off and on.
- If the seal is the same superseded part as on a 3rd-gen 4Runner, look up the 'retainer flip' method: the new seal sits further inboard.
- Refit with new gaskets and O-rings and refill the diff.
Tools & part numbers
- Slide hammer or axle puller
- 20-ton press
- seal driver
- torque wrench
- gear oil
Where to buy the parts
Rear axle overhaul kit, major, 1990–2002 KZJ/RZJ/VZJ9x semi-float (RAKLJ7X9X)CruiserTeq ↗Amazon ↗
Hunting a used or discontinued part? Search eBay Motors for Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 90 parts →
Rated for a competent home mechanic with a decent tool kit. Confirm torque figures, fluids and procedures against the factory service manual for your VIN, support the truck on stands rather than a jack, and work at your own risk (disclaimer). Some parts links are affiliate links, which pay us a small commission at no cost to you.