rav4 mk2 d4d front left axle seal & diff bearing replacement

[toby123]

Hi All!

I'm looking for some info regarding the front driveshaft seals and bearings (inside the front diff housing). Specifically, my rav4 seems to have developed a bad leak from front left driveshaft seal, and while I found and purchased a replacement seal and am sure there shouldn't be any serious problems replacing that, I'm also concerned that the bearing (likely the 41311f in the attached pictures) is also bad, because compared to the front right axle (which doesn't leak), the left axle seems to have about 2-3mm vertical play when trying to move it near the differential housing.

I can't seem to find any definitive info about this online, does anybody know if the 41311f bearing ( BEARING, TAPERED ROLLER (FOR FR DIFFERENTIAL CASE REAR)) is possible to remove and replace without disassembling the gearbox/differential assembly?

[toby123]

Bump! Anyone?

 

[APS]

I don't have experience of the RAV4 in particular but from what you describe, there seems to be excessive radial play in the bearing, which is probably why you have a leak. A bit of axial (in/out) play is normal, but radial (up/down) should be nil.  The seal comes out outwards and can be replaced with gearbox in situ. Bearings sit on the inside and you need to split open the diff to remove it. 

It can all be done a made as good as new. But unless you have experience I'd leave it to a gearbox specialist as the diff needs to be shimmed and bearings preloaded correctly (if of that type). Again, this is generally speaking. 

Alternatively get a good used gearbox and install new seals in that.