So, for the first time in four years, someone else touched one of our cars (other than tires), and now it ain't right!
Our 2002 Lexus ES300 needed a new axle on one side. This is the U150e 5 speed Aisin as on 4.2 quadzilion Toy/Lex between 2002 and 2011. I was going to do it in a month or so when I had time; I order all the parts and lower control arms, ball joints, sway bar end links, etc. to do a thorough job on both sides (shocks, bearings, etc. are all very recent). She (it's her daily driver) misunderstood the urgency and knowing I did not have immediate time, booked it into her old mechanic from years ago. He replaced both axles. And it's not right. She thought she was spending a few dollars (he was not pricey about it - $300 to replace both axles - (my parts) - pretty good deal in my book) and doing me a favor. But it's not right - the left side axle is puking ATF out the joint between the axle and the transmission now a week later.
On the driver's side, it is puking ATF out of the seal at the ATF. From what I can gather, this means a torn seal. Underneath the car, cleaning everything up, the 6 o'clock on the inboard axle joint drips a HUGE drop of ATF every 5 to 10 seconds. It appears the solution is pulling the axle and replacing with a new seal. It drips enough that it leaves a big puddle anywhere it sits for long.
I lost a transmission, and had to rebuild it, in my SUV a few years ago from an undetected leak, so I'm paranoid.
I never saw the parts I ordered (moog 1/2 axles for each side); she took them to him (again, thinking she was doing me a big favor). It appears a new seal was not included and the existing seal was damaged in removal (she said he commented he used quite a lot of force and had a lot of trouble to get the axles out). Frankly I was shocked the job was done in a day since I know it is typical on these to need to soak them overnight with Kroil and then heat and a slide hammer to get a clean break. I suspect the seal was damaged in removal but not being careful. I don't want to create a stink and think the simplest thing is to buy a new seal and put it in myself.
It is leaking enough I showed her how to check the ATF properly/running and then top it up 2x daily and think it will manage a few days until I can tear apart the axle on that side. I still need to change the lower control arm on that side, so it's a decent enough of work overlap I can tackle both in an annoying partial-day job.
Thoughts?
Our 2002 Lexus ES300 needed a new axle on one side. This is the U150e 5 speed Aisin as on 4.2 quadzilion Toy/Lex between 2002 and 2011. I was going to do it in a month or so when I had time; I order all the parts and lower control arms, ball joints, sway bar end links, etc. to do a thorough job on both sides (shocks, bearings, etc. are all very recent). She (it's her daily driver) misunderstood the urgency and knowing I did not have immediate time, booked it into her old mechanic from years ago. He replaced both axles. And it's not right. She thought she was spending a few dollars (he was not pricey about it - $300 to replace both axles - (my parts) - pretty good deal in my book) and doing me a favor. But it's not right - the left side axle is puking ATF out the joint between the axle and the transmission now a week later.
On the driver's side, it is puking ATF out of the seal at the ATF. From what I can gather, this means a torn seal. Underneath the car, cleaning everything up, the 6 o'clock on the inboard axle joint drips a HUGE drop of ATF every 5 to 10 seconds. It appears the solution is pulling the axle and replacing with a new seal. It drips enough that it leaves a big puddle anywhere it sits for long.
I lost a transmission, and had to rebuild it, in my SUV a few years ago from an undetected leak, so I'm paranoid.
I never saw the parts I ordered (moog 1/2 axles for each side); she took them to him (again, thinking she was doing me a big favor). It appears a new seal was not included and the existing seal was damaged in removal (she said he commented he used quite a lot of force and had a lot of trouble to get the axles out). Frankly I was shocked the job was done in a day since I know it is typical on these to need to soak them overnight with Kroil and then heat and a slide hammer to get a clean break. I suspect the seal was damaged in removal but not being careful. I don't want to create a stink and think the simplest thing is to buy a new seal and put it in myself.
It is leaking enough I showed her how to check the ATF properly/running and then top it up 2x daily and think it will manage a few days until I can tear apart the axle on that side. I still need to change the lower control arm on that side, so it's a decent enough of work overlap I can tackle both in an annoying partial-day job.
Thoughts?