Front diff pinion seal... - 24hourcampfire

Kind of a generic rant/question.

I have a Lexus IS250 AWD. I noticed some oil drips and it smelled like gear oil. Real hard to see a lot under there since its so low to the ground. I couldn't tell where the oil was coming from because of course it smeared all over. I suspected pinion seal. I took it to Lexus thinking it would be no big deal to diagnose. They quoted me $2300 and said they had to pull the motor and tranny to get to it! I have never heard of such a cluster F in my life.

I contacted another shop that only deals with Toyota and Lexus. They quoted me $785 and said you don't have to pull the motor and tranny.

I am going to jack it up this weekend and try to see if it is doable myself. I have done similar seals before on my Tacoma and it wasn't a big deal. You literally unbolt drive shaft, pull flange, hook the gasket and replace.

Assuming you don't have to pull the motor, why in the F would Lexus say that? I can see a private garage trying to screw some dumbass, but seems like the dealer would not play that game. What am I missing here?

Originally Posted by dogcatcher223

Kind of a generic rant/question.

I have a Lexus IS250 AWD. I noticed some oil drips and it smelled like gear oil. Real hard to see a lot under there since its so low to the ground. I couldn't tell where the oil was coming from because of course it smeared all over. I suspected pinion seal. I took it to Lexus thinking it would be no big deal to diagnose. They quoted me $2300 and said they had to pull the motor and tranny to get to it! I have never heard of such a cluster F in my life.

I contacted another shop that only deals with Toyota and Lexus. They quoted me $785 and said you don't have to pull the motor and tranny.

I am going to jack it up this weekend and try to see if it is doable myself. I have done similar seals before on my Tacoma and it wasn't a big deal. You literally unbolt drive shaft, pull flange, hook the gasket and replace.

Assuming you don't have to pull the motor, why in the F would Lexus say that? I can see a private garage trying to screw some dumbass, but seems like the dealer would not play that game. What am I missing here?

Dealer will usually screw you. pinion seal if you can get to is easy to replace, at least the ones I've done.

Thanks, did you have to worry about preload on the nut when tightening back up?

They’re not called stealerships for nothing.

Originally Posted by dogcatcher223

Thanks, did you have to worry about preload on the nut when tightening back up?

Most of them you do, otherwise you will be replacing a differential soon. Get the specs and see what it takes, I would not guess.

If its for myself, i mark the nut position with a punch or chisel and re use the old nut, tighten to mark. Yeah, you're supposed to use a new but and set proper preload and all that but who's got time for that..

Yes, this should help, you don't want to get it too tight and burn up the pinion bearing.

do yourself a favor and buy, or borrow (autizone?)the tool to hold the yoke while you turn the nut.
band steel is not rigid enough.

looks like you should be able to get to it without pulling the motor.

I'd change the U-joint while I had it apart .

I subscribed to Rain City Wrench ---> thx Roger !

Originally Posted by stxhunter

looks like you should be able to get to it without pulling the motor.

Thanks for the link!