OEM 2001 Toyota 4Runner Axle Shaft

2001 Toyota 4Runner Parts Questions & Experts Answers

• Q: How to service and repair the axle shaft on 2001 Toyota 4Runner?

  A: Start axle shaft repairs by removing the rear wheel with brake drum at 110 Nm (1,150 kgf.cm, 83 ft. lbs.) torque. Time to use a dial indicator to verify bearing backlash and axle shaft deviation; the specifications state maximum backlash at 0.7 mm (0.027 inch) and maximum deviation at 0.1 mm (0.0039 inch). A component replacement is needed if one of the measurements increases beyond the established limits. To access the ABS speed sensor from the rear axle housing replace the rear brake assembly and axle shaft assembly by untightening the four backing plate mounting nuts to 66 Nm (670 kgf.cm, 48 ft. lbs.) while carefully pulling out the assembly to prevent oil seal damage. The O-ring removal should happen before bearing retainer and ABS speed sensor rotor service. Hammer out the serration bolts but do not reuse the previous nuts when detaching the components. The procedure starts with surface grinding and chiseling of the retainer together with the sensor rotor followed by reattachment of washers and nuts to serration bolts and applying torque before removing the nuts. A snap ring expander will allow you to extract the snap ring before placing Special Service Tool: 09521-25011 onto the backing plate to remove the rear axle shaft along with the bearing retainer using the 4 nuts. Check the axle shaft for 2.0 mm (0.079 inch) maximum runout on its shaft and 0.1 mm (0.004 inch) maximum runout on its flange while inspecting for replacement if damage exists or runout measurements exceed allowable limits. The outer oil seal removal requires Special Service Tool: 09308-00010 which must be followed by rear axle bearing installation using Special Service Tools: 09223-56010 and 09950-60010 (09951-00560) for removal and 09515-30010 and 09950-60020 (09951-00890) for installment. Replace the outer oil seal through the use of Special Service Tool: 09950-60010 (09951-00610), 09950-70010 (09951-07150) and a hammer. The bearing case replacement procedure demands the removal of the outer oil seal and bearing followed by attaching 4 nuts to serration bolts before using a hammer to remove the 4 serration bolts and bearing case. Apply the backing plate to a new bearing case before inserting the 4 serration bolts using 2 socket wrenches and finally installing a new bearing together with a new outer oil seal. You need the 09308-00010 tool to remove the inner oil seal while the oil seal installation requires 09950-60020 (09951-00710) and 09950-70010 (09951-07150) together with a hammer for application of MP grease to the lip. Put the rear axle shaft into the backing plate while applying MP grease to the oil seal lip then place on the backing plate and bearing retainer. Special Service Tool: 09316-60010 (09316-00050) combined with a press enables the installation of the rear axle shaft. The process should be followed by fitting a new snap ring using snap ring pliers. Vehicles with ABS require installation of the ABS speed sensor rotor and bearing retainer by using Special Service Tool: 09316-60010 (09316-00050) and a press with a set length of 122.2 plus or minus 1.0 mm (4.811 plus or minus 0.039 inch). The installation procedure begins with removal processes completed in the reverse order before braking system bleeding and checking of ABS speed signal followed by leak inspection.