Rear diff vent relocation

I remember seeing a post about relocating the rear diff vent but for the life of me, I can't find it.

I'd like to do that this weekend but I'd like to look at what others did and parts they used.

 

Here are the parts you need! Plus about 6 feet of 3/8" ID hose!


Here are some pictures of my truck also!

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/cheap-free-mods.4838/page-3#post-45989

I myself used the ARB Diff breather kit. But that's a bit more expensive for same functionality

 

Sub'd so I can find later

 

You only need 6 ft of hose?! I just went out and bought 10 ft going off of another write up. lol

 

6ft. is more than enough!

 

Here is another thread with a link to yet another thread for more info

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/rear-diff-breather.431400/

 

Depends on where you re locate the breather. Most people just go up to behind the tail light or next to the fuel filler cap. I went to the engine bay next to the breathers for the front diff and transfer case so I used a lot more

 

Hell yea I have been wanting to do this to mine as well! Glad I found this!

Coot

 

Driven through water up past my axles dozens and dozens of times in a handful of different trucks and SUVs. Have never had any issues and have never once done this mod. Will let you know if and when a rear diff fails for me due to this being an issue.

 

Supposedly i've heard even with a diff breather, water can still get in through the axles as water seeps through the seals. But it's a cheap mod for a sense of added security.

 

Is the front diff breather mounted on the housing as well or is it run up into the engine bay?

 

True but not near as much water as the breather can suck in when its submerged!

 

Ran up to the engine bay!

 

Yea, you've said that in the other thread as well. It may not be necessary in a new truck with new seals, but it is possible to blow out your axle seals from the pressure caused by submersion. That happened to my buddy with an 06.

 

Water isn't entering through the breather/vent. It's coming in from the axle when the wheels are submerged and when a hot diff dips into water, creating a vacuum in the diff.

A true breather, mounted high, lets air in to break the vacuum. That is what is on the 4x4 front diff. The back one is only a vent and doesn't let air or water in. We put the same breather used on the front diff on the back, but remote, higher than a water crossing. See my link on my mod in my signatures here below.

Because your diff hasn't failed yet, you're not going to do this easy mod? Insane! Do you check your diff oil ever? If it is milky, water is in there!!!


HERE is my post from 2010, when my truck was still new and water had contaminated my rear diff on its first water hole baptism:

After getting muddy water sucked into my 2010 Tacoma differential, on the trail to/ from Mision Santa Maria in Baja California... and being instructed by HB Murphy to do the mod described here on TW... I ordered the parts from my dealer (Union & Breather for $12) and bought 6 feet of 3/8 x 5/8 yellow pressure tube from Lowes plus a couple of hose clamps.





The breather is on top/ left side of the pumpkin (rear differential) 18 inches above ground level. It is a there to allow hot gear vapors to vent. The problem is that if we cross any streams or mud pits deeper than the breather (18"), contamination can occur... and did in mine, per the tech at my dealer.








I dropped the spare tire to permit easier access (and to turn the spare over, so we can get to the air fill valve stem in the future).

I removed the stock breather with a 14 mm or 9/16 open end wrench.

I installed the union (#

$16 90404-51319 Toyota Genuine Parts - Union (90404-51319)

90404-51319) with teflon tape wrapped on the threads.



I added my 6 foot piece of 3/8 x 5/8 pressure tube (later trimming about 1 foot of excess)... having the excess made working the tube through the frame and openings easier.



I drilled a 5/8" hole in the side of the storage box on the left side of the bed.

I pulled the tube through the hole, cinch tied the run to the differential in a couple of places with extra along the route to allow for axle movement.





I cut the excess amount of tube, added the hose clamp, the breather (#

$6 90930-03136 Toyota Breather Plug - 90930-03136

90930-03136) and tightened the clamp.





DONE... High water beware!

PS, for those who are wondering... the front differntial has an extended breather, in the engine compartment... who knows why Toyota didn't do the same on the rear?

 

Beyond sparse anecdotal internet forum experience, I've just never seen it to be an issue. I'd be curious to see toyota shop paperwork actually diagnosing that water entering a diff breather valve was the cause of failure. If it was indeed such a problem, you'd think Toyota might actually already include the mod in their design of say a TRD Off Road or PRO application?

On the other hand if the truck has some type of rear diff issue and you take it in for warranty service, will the diff breather mod raise some questions over the stock configuration? My guess is, it would.

 

There is a good point there, but on a side note...would they make you pay if there was water found in the diff? That would likely indicate you were mud bogging or whatever which may not be covered under their warranty?

Coot

 

I mean it's going to come down to finger pointing, right? So if they allege you took it into a pond or river and it sucked water into the diff, but you claim the opposite and say you just drove down the highway in a rainstorm maybe their seals are faulty and it entered through the axles or wherever else. Your word against theirs right? Of course they hold the advantage because you're going to them for a provided service and they essentially hold right of first refusal at that point. Next you're talking getting corporate involved, third party expert analysis/opinions and possibly Lawyers. All in all, if the mod helps you sleep better and/or you just enjoy doing it to your truck go for it. I'm just walking through my considerations .... analyzing the pros and cons.

Another forum member contacted me privately about his rear differential giving him issues. He told me he was concerned that they'd notice his rear diff breather mod when bringing it into the dealer to get serviced. I told him it would probably be playing it safe to revert back to the OEM configuration prior to taking it in for service so I believe he did.