N/s Drive Shaft ?

[Deano43]

Hi peeps I just noticed that there is about 3 mm play on the drive shaft n/s g/box end is this norm ? Wen I say 3 mm I mean it ain't solid like the other side any advise ppl cheers

[anchorman]

If it doesn't leak ignore it. The other side has about a foot buried inside the gearbox and is supported differently.

[IanXT4]

I have just removed this drive shaft to change a leaking oil seal, I also noticed a fair amount of play at the gearbox interface.

While I was battling with a 8cm diameter (5cm inner diameter) oil seal I wondered why Toyota had chosen to make it so large (and difficult to fit). With hindsight I wonder if the larger diameters are a design feature to cope with the movement/play, as the seal diameters on the other side are much smaller.