CV axle leak, need help!

Hello all, just changed my driver side CV axle this past weekend and noticed a slight drip. It appears that with the vehicle jacked up (nothing removed or anything) I can slide the CV slightly in and out, and when it is out the seal appears broken and it leaks.

Also, when I was removing the original CV axle, I found this small metal ring on the floor, not sure if this is apart of the front diff or not?

See pictures below for the described issue.

EDIT: SOLVED, THE CV AXLE SEAL RETENTION SPRING POPPED OUT DURING THE OEM CV AXLE REMOVAL.

Metal Ring:

 

It’s normal for it to slide in and out.
You can’t see the seal with the CV in.
What you are seeing is basically just a dust shield. (The metal part)

The seal is inside the the differential.

 

It’s normal for it to slide in and out.
You can’t see the seal with the CV in.
What you are seeing is basically just a dust shield. (The metal part)

The seal is inside the the differential.


Here is my “free play” before ECGS bushing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MMt-AB0fvE

 

Okay thank you. So do you think its just the front diff seal needs to be replaced? Do you think that metal circle ring came out of my front diff? I'm not sure if it came out of my front diff or if it was already on my garage floor.

 

I completely missed the metal “ring” the first time.
That looks like the retention spring for the CV seal.
With out the spring to help keep the seal tight to the CV shaft, it will leak.
How big is the ring?

The seal isn’t too hard to change. But you have to pull the CV “again”.

 

About the perfect size to fit into the front diff. So basically I fucked up.

 

You are lucky it fell outside the differential.
You definitely don’t want it inside the differential.

The spring faces towards the inside of the differential.
You got lucky.

 

The metal ring just sits in the groove of your cv axle.

When you remove a cv axle, you want to make sure the ring comes out with it as a new cv axle will have its own.

As for any leaks, that would be attributed to your cv axle seal.

Pull cv axle, pull seal, replace seal, reinstall cv axle, then top off diff.

 

So do I need to pull the cv axle seal and install a new one with that metal ring on it?

 

I think the metal spring ring that came out is apart of the CV axle seal. My new CV axle didn't come with a metal circle spring.

 

Read my post; the metal ring has nothing to do with the seal.

The ring sits on the shaft when being inserted into the diff.

You will know it's inserted with the ring if you tug lightly on your cv axle; if it doesn't come out that means it's in place with the ring around the shaft.

Your cv axle seal is separate from that.

 

It's crappy picture of a dirty part and I'm on my phone. I do recall a sort of ring in the cv axle seal itself, but you'd have to mess with and pull apart your cv axle seal to get that ring out.

The "metal" side of the cv axle seal faces in towards the vehicle with the black outer part facing towards your wheel.

 

Are you talking about the metal circle spring ring that looks like this?

 

Are you talking about the c-clip on the CV?
The ring in the first pic OP posted definitely looks like a seal spring.

 

Yeah that's in your cv axle seal; you pulled your cv axle seal out? You shouldn't do that unless you were replacing it as it specifies a seating depth.

For 1st Gen Tacomas and 3rd Gen 4Runners it was 5.5mm; not sure what it is for a 2nd Gen Tacoma.

 

Read above, dirty part and viewing on my phone.

The new picture he posted is definitely a part of his cv axle seal.

 

I didn't pull it out, i guess it just popped out while i was prying out the OEM CV Axle. Didn't have that issue when doing the passenger side one.

 

Thank you both for identifying this as the issue.

 

Fortunately it's cheap!

I always stock up on cv axle seals, or used to.

Buy a few.

Previous gens had different sized cv axle seals per side so ensure you get the right one if that's the case.

 

Just so disheartening to pull everything apart and put it back together only for it to leak and have to tear down again.