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DIY: Differential Breather Extension

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by Toy4Life, Sep 25, 2008.

  1. Jun 8, 2015 at 7:29 AM
    #161
    chowwwww

    chowwwww Well-Known Member

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    Last time this question was asked, someone made a very good and valid argument for using a free flowing breather instead of the factory check valve. For the fitting, just go ahead and buy the toyota one. It doesnt cost too much and you'll know that its the right size. I use hose clamps just so that I know its tight on there and will help keeping the water out when it gets submerged.
     
  2. Jun 8, 2015 at 7:41 AM
    #162
    keakar

    keakar Well-Known Member

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    I was planning to buy the Toyota fitting just because im particular about things like that but I was very curious to know if they were indeed selling kits telling people to cross thread the wrong connection on it and that's why I was asking if anyone knew for sure if this was the case.

    since I already bought the check valve version breather, I think i'll pop the cap off and disable or remove the check valve in it. if I ruin it I would have needed to buy another one anyway and it might be easy to disable the check valve in it.

    I have learned that screw hose clamps don't secure with even pressure all the way around and spring clamps are much better for small fittings so that why I like them better but I do use screw clamps for lots of things once they get over 5/8" OD in size

    well I wondered this as well but perhaps its something to do with where the breather connection is? what I am thinking is that maybe the rear needs the check valve because it is mounted too close to the spinning gears so its going to be in an oil film to allow oil to flow out if it was free breathing? not sure if the front is positioned the same location or not but that would be a "possible" reason they are different if anyone can say if its in a different location on the front dif
     
    Last edited: Jun 8, 2015
  3. Jun 8, 2015 at 7:55 AM
    #163
    keakar

    keakar Well-Known Member

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    does anyone have the part number for the non check valve front breather?
     
  4. Jun 8, 2015 at 9:54 AM
    #164
    David K

    David K Well-Known Member

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    Differential Breather Mod Light Bar: 4 Cree LED lamps Bilstein 5100s Ride Rite Air Bags
    Why not just do what works... for EVERYONE here that performs the mod?
    Or try it your way and let us know how that worked for you!
     
  5. Jun 8, 2015 at 10:11 AM
    #165
    keakar

    keakar Well-Known Member

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    because there are 20 wrong ways to do something that still "works" even though its done wrong, yet its better to do things the "right" way and I think that most people would prefer to know the "right" way to do it and not just "any way that works".

    that is what I think we were discussing here.

    as simple as a differential breather sounds, its not a mod to be taken lightly and it can be very costly to repair the damage from something that "worked" but let moisture in the dif and now its caused damage
     
    lynyrd3 likes this.
  6. Jun 8, 2015 at 10:15 AM
    #166
    Madjik_Man

    Madjik_Man The Rembrandt of Rattle Can

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    I've read David K's write up on the breather mod here: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/my-differential-breather-mod-photos.111954/

    I am definitely using the free breathing valve when I get around to this mod.
     
  7. Jun 8, 2015 at 10:25 AM
    #167
    keakar

    keakar Well-Known Member

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    didn't realize he did the write up

    david, I mean nothing towards you or anything you wrote if you took offense to something I said, I just ask 20 more questions then the average person before I do something because I want to "know" im doing something the best way it can be done because I don't believe in doing things just to do them and then having to go back later to change it or have seals start leaking because of brass thread shavings that could fall in and be circulating in the diff. I know they are harmless to the gears but they could cause the seals to leak eventually if they fall in there if someone were to use one of those kits with the 1/4" npt brass nipples.


    --------------------------------

    I popped the cap off of my check valve breather and cut a cross pattern in the end then replaced the cap so now its free breathing both ways. to be honest it wasn't really much of a check valve, it was just the flat part of the cap sitting on the flat end of the plastic nipple so I think it was more of a suction restrictor then a check valve.
     
    Last edited: Jun 8, 2015
  8. Jun 8, 2015 at 11:31 AM
    #168
    David K

    David K Well-Known Member

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    Differential Breather Mod Light Bar: 4 Cree LED lamps Bilstein 5100s Ride Rite Air Bags
    No worries, no offense, and I wasn't trying to be sarcastic earlier.

    This thread is not mine, just one of several on the mod.

    My thread is in my signature, so have a look.

    The front diff gets no moisture from the breather, so why would the rear using that model breather?

    The truth is Toyota failed by not having a remote/ 2 way breather (at least on the 4WD and Off Road trucks).

    What they use is a one-way vent instead of a breather on the rear differential, which does nothing to relieve any vacuum inside the differential, the condition that causes water to get into the differential in the first place.

    Vacuum is created when a hot differential (like when driving for some time) is suddenly dipped into a cool stream, mud hole, bog, etc. The wheels and axle are also dipped and it is through them that the muddy water is pulled into the differential. This is not my research, but from others... It just made sense, because that is exactly what happened to my new (6 months old) Tacoma... and the differential oil was milky upon examination (water contaminated).
     
    Dcsleeper408 likes this.
  9. Jun 8, 2015 at 3:10 PM
    #169
    chowwwww

    chowwwww Well-Known Member

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    You're write up is what I used for my relocation. But Since I have a 1st gen I relocated it to behind my trail light. Hopefully its safe there.
     
  10. Jun 8, 2015 at 4:52 PM
    #170
    David K

    David K Well-Known Member

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    Safe as long as it is above the water line, the hose isn't rubbing on any sharp edges, and you left slack for axle articulation.
     
    Dcsleeper408 likes this.
  11. Dec 11, 2015 at 11:37 AM
    #171
    CStoy

    CStoy mountain-top maniac.

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    improved toyota goodness.
    did mine today. transfercase and rear diff to engine bay right beside the ones for the front diff-ADD breather hoses.
     
  12. Dec 11, 2015 at 2:00 PM
    #172
    gray223

    gray223 Well-Known Member

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    I thought this was suppose to be an easy mod! No I'm so confused. Is the original post correct or not?
     
  13. Dec 11, 2015 at 8:30 PM
    #173
    Fernando

    Fernando Hammerdown

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    Super easy man, what's the issue?
     
  14. Dec 11, 2015 at 9:55 PM
    #174
    gray223

    gray223 Well-Known Member

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    What breather are you suppose to use? A free flow or the one way? Do people just buy the same ones thats used on the front diff?
     
  15. Dec 11, 2015 at 10:41 PM
    #175
    David K

    David K Well-Known Member

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    What is on the FRONT is what the MOD has for the BACK. That being the FREE FLOW (true) breather.
    I wish there wasn't such a language barrier here!

    The "thing" on the rear diff that is a one-way check valve is the PROBLEM. So, putting the SAME check valve at the end of a tube does NOTHING.
     
  16. Dec 12, 2015 at 12:34 AM
    #176
    gray223

    gray223 Well-Known Member

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    Thank you! That clears everything up!
     
  17. Dec 12, 2015 at 7:47 AM
    #177
    David K

    David K Well-Known Member

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    Sometimes it's not what you say, but how many times you say it!?? LOL
    Merry Christmas!
     
  18. Dec 13, 2015 at 8:39 AM
    #178
    Fernando

    Fernando Hammerdown

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    Check the first few pages of my build, I used a mini spectre air filter. Free flowing I guess you could say
     
  19. Dec 26, 2015 at 10:43 PM
    #179
    liveaxle

    liveaxle Member

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    Here's another option for the differential breather modification...

    I don't like that the breather #90930-03136 is plastic. Also, the barb appears a to be a little bigger than necessary. Small things but I thought there might be a better OEM option.
    web_breather_cap_zpsyf1eiteu_d6bbad0a935ac5fa305fd7eadf1b339827a47879.jpg
    Searching around a bit I found 90930-03097, an OEM all metal breather that has a 1/4" shaft. This breather does not have a check valve in it, for what it's worth.
    2_zpszzfqo1wu_de9c133c4518a26c97a3ebd7b88daab6813bb5c9.jpg
    I coupled the diff breather above (90930-03097) with a "union" on the same parts diagram, #90404-51052. Both are from the same Land Cruiser parts diagram so I knew they would have the same shaft diameter. Most importantly, the aforementioned union screws into our Tacoma axles perfectly.
    1_zpsb8ycusot_587cf8a977dec7f135c63fe2fa0e83e14c68800a.jpg
    Union 90404-51026 (not pictured) should also work well with the 90930-03097 breather as (I believe) it also has a 1/4" barb.


    Chad
     
    tacopyro and Dcsleeper408 like this.
  20. Jun 18, 2016 at 6:42 PM
    #180
    zacharypaul89

    zacharypaul89 Eat right, be fit, die anyway

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    Did this today. Super easy. Thanks for the writeup
     

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