Differential Oil Leak

My 2014 4Runner at 62K miles has recently developed a leak on the front differential. It appears I need to replace the side gear shaft oil seal on the passenger side. A couple questions:

(1) Is this type of leak unusual or par for the course for the 5th Gen at this mileage? As background, I do offroad trips 3 or 4 times per year. I have a moderate lift (Toytech 3" front/2" rear) that changes the axle angle a little bit, so perhaps that contributes to this?

(2) In the process of replacing this seal, what other maintenance does it make sense to do since the CV axle will have to be removed?

Thanks, all.

 

It'll take about 1 hour DIY if all tools available. Super easy, follow this link for info:

https://trail4runner.com/2020/08/03/replace-front-cv-axle-seal-5th-gen-4runner/

 

@tmabey
To answer your questions, quite unusual for a leak to show at only 62k, however it is indeed possible the angle of your CV is too excessive for the surrounding parts to accommodate, thus the leak. Or you just whacked it real good some time. Possible remedies: aftermarket UCA, diff drop (though real pros v. cons are hotly debated), maybe other can chime in with more.
While you're in there, and you're replacing the diff side seal, might as well do the knuckle side seal. Hands down best place I found all the parts was O'Reillys. Also, check your sway bar links, tie rod end boots, lower ball joint boot, upper ball joint boot, and everything in between for proper wear. Nothing specific, but it should be obvious if anything is really out of whack. Also if you really want, may as well do a diff oil drain and replace since some will come out anyway when your CV it out.

However, to the above posted response, a few caveats to the how-to write up since I did this exact work a few weeks ago...

1. While down there, in order to get the axle nut off, you'll at least dent and probably break through the dust cap (black thing in the middle of your hub when you take off your front wheel). Probably a good idea simply to replace it (maybe $6 from Toyota I think) when putting it all back together, and to put some RTV on the lip just in case.
2. You do not need the special C4RS CV pulling tool. Matter of fact I could not get my CV out with it. A crowbar and a deadblow hammer work perfectly. Just align the wedge end of the crow bar into one of the flat grooves on the CV (you'll see when you're down there, also in the pictures in the link), aiming away from the diff, and give it a few good whacks. You wont hit it hard enough to damage it before it comes out, so dont worry about the crow bar missing sometimes.
3. ABSOLUTELY use a depth gauge/micrometer/few good angled pics to measure how deep the seal is set into the diff. It is a specific depth that the seal is supposed to be set in, if it is closer or farther from the proper location you risk a still-leaking diff seal or damage to the diff/axle. If you do not, and you push it too far initially and then have to pull the seal out again to reset it, you'll almost assuredly break the new one and have to replace that too (ask me how I know).
4. You do not need a ball joint separator for your tie rod end. Remove the cotter pin and castle nut, then flip the castle nut upside down (the splines are facing down), spin it back onto the screws so the end of the screw and nut are flush, then give that a few whacks with the deadblow. It'll dislodge enough to pull out, but not pop out, and you won't damage the threads.

Youtube is your friend. The above write up, plus videos from EricTheCarGuy and 1A Auto are how I rebuilt my entire front end (1A Auto has a 40min video on a 4th gen going through every single step in detail, search for "1A Auto How to replace front CV axle seal", the 4th gen/FJ video should be almost identical for you). Also, T4R.org has Factory Service Manuals stickied on their threads if you dont already have them saved.

Good luck and post pics!