bufbooth Posted November 12, 2016 Share Posted November 12, 2016 Hello All, Two questions I need help on (thanks in advance): 1) My rear semi-metallic brakes shoes (driver side) got axle oil on them from a leaking axle seal, can I just clean them up with brake cleaner, or do they need to be replaced (they only have about 1,000 miles on them)? 2) Regarding the inter axle seal (might be called the outer seal), does the Spring end go in first? If so, does it go all the way in to the tapered part, or just in far enough in to be flush with the outer housing? Thank you, Dennis... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WME Posted November 12, 2016 Share Posted November 12, 2016 (edited) Spring first. Look at your axle and see where the seal was riding, put the new seal somewhere else. Seat it deeper or shallower. How much were the brake shoes and what is your time worth. I have cleaned oiled brake shoes before with chlorinated cleaner, but its getting hard to find. Forget about the new safety cleaner. I had really bad set that would not clean, so after 2 tries they were replaced. Time vs money. Edited November 12, 2016 by WME Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linda s Posted November 12, 2016 Share Posted November 12, 2016 The Toyota sites are telling me that brake shoes absorb axle grease like crazy. No matter how much you clean it out when they heat up more will ooze out and cause problems. That said I didn't replace my Nissan shoes and they had been soaked in axle grease for I don't know how long. Cleaned them really well and never had a problem since. Ditto to WME on the direction Linda S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanAatTheCape Posted November 13, 2016 Share Posted November 13, 2016 here is a pic from my last brake job,,,,, Also note that the correct inner seal (the larger of the two) is two sided. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bufbooth Posted November 14, 2016 Author Share Posted November 14, 2016 On the inner seal, does it need to be flush with the hub, or stick out a little. Looks like yours is sticking out a little. I installed my flush, and the Toyota brand seal (vs the Advanced Auto brand I used in the past) went on a lot tighter/harder. Also, I just realized that I did not grease up the Hub cylinder (or whatever it is called), but did grease up the bearings, is that going to be an issue? Thanks, Dennis... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WME Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 For max seal life the seal OR the axle surface need to have oil on it before install. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanAatTheCape Posted November 27, 2016 Share Posted November 27, 2016 If I was "in there" I would do a full brake job - new wheel cylinders, brake shoes and both seals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bufbooth Posted December 31, 2016 Author Share Posted December 31, 2016 I actually did replace both seals, the brake shoes had about 1,000 miles on them. The wheel cylinder looked good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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