Rear diff vent relocation

I haven't done mine yet, but you don't reuse the stock check valve vent. You use a 2-way breather. It allows air to enter instead of just releasing gasses.

 

You can change airspace by being a little/under over on fluid. 5 cubic inches is less than 3 ounces. Vacuum doesn't care about a tube.
The fronts are a true breather type.

 

i got a little crazy on mine and switched from a breather to a tiny fuel filter so it wont create a vacuum when axle is submerged. checked it twice and appeared clean inside and out. plus its in a very safe spot behind the taillight

 

are these dealer parts or what

 

Yes, you can buy them online also on ebay or Amazon. The are only like $10-12 at the dealership for both!

 

On the note of breathers, they're pretty much universal for vehicles right? aside from possibly where they attach to whatever they are breathing for

but something like this http://www.ebay.ca/itm/DIFF-BREATHE...ash=item2caf7ba164:g:4EAAAOSwNSxVEocb&vxp=mtr
can be used for a tacoma as well

 

It doesn't. DON'T USE the stock rear diff check/vent... Use the (front diff type) breather shown in the photos, the same breather that is used for the front diff, up high, on the end of a hose. Why is this so hard???

 

David made it pretty simple, but the main point of this is to CONVERT the vent to a two-way breather so vacuum doesn't exist. I think too many of us are getting hung up on the hose portion although that helps to eliminate water from coming in as well.

Coot

 

For clarification: There is an extended dif breather on the front dif but the rear only has a one way valve? Is this correct?

I've never actually worried about the axles before sloshing through mud and water, I was always more worried about the distributors.

Doesn't seem like a very expensive mod though so I may give it shot.

 

I was unaware that the new breather is a two way vent, it look pretty much the same as the stock one way. Sorry for the confusion.

 

CORRECT

 

I deleted all my posts about my diff breather when I had my rear end replaced but it was just like someone who posted in here.

When I took the stock breather off last time after my 20 minute drive home, it went WOOOOOOSSSHHHH and expelled a bunch of air and it smelled like oil. That stock breather doesn't do anything in or out.

 

Sub'd

 

Sub

 

Did you go back to the breather mod or leave it stock now? I'm not going to mess with mine especially after already having one rear diff replaced by Toyota.

 

Dearest Toyota,
this is Eric.

my truck is stock

warmest wishes,
EK

 

Did you have to torque it down pretty hard the first time? If the threads are a plumbing thread, they are tapered and are supposed to seal up as it gets tight. If you torqued it down (should've felt almost like a cross-thread) all the way, you effectively made the thread in the rear-dif a "standard" thread. Now, I don't think you've ruined anything but that hole might not seal up quite as well. Honestly, I think you're fine generally speaking. If you were submerging your rear end for a long period of time, multiple times a week, I'd be more concerned. For the occasional stream/high water crossing, you're going to be fine.

@smitty99, I'm interested in what type of failure you had in your rear end. Did you have the extended breather installed on your previous rear axle?

I ran this same mod on my first gen rear end for 10+ years and never had an issue. Just wondering if you're worried about this mod vs. having an actual issue where this mod may have been the culprit.

And for everyone else, since this mod is 100% reversible (keep the stock 1-way vent), if you ever have to take in your truck in for a rear end issue, simply remove the hose from the barb on the diff (tuck it away somewhere high) and reinstall the stock 1-way vent. Regardless of the issue with your rear end, at least there won't be any brow-raising with this extended breather mod. Honestly, any good mechanic would know this breather mod didn't cause whatever issue has happened however, it does give them an excuse to put it on the owner.

 

The mod makes the truck more reliable, and it should be done by the factory in the first place, especially for Off Road and all 4WD models! They put the true breather on the front diff, up high. So why are they cheaping-out on the back diff with a vent on the diff instead of a breather... up high?

I did the mod on my 2010 when it was about 6-7 months old, AFTER its first time in deep water, which CONTAMINATED the new diff oil! I have never had contamination since, nor has Toyota dealer mechanics ever commented about my mod at any of the dozens of services they have done in the 7 years since.

 

I never got a specific root cause for my rear differential replacement but it was replaced under warranty because it was making a howling noise. my replacement rear end is now also making the same howling noise Toyota Regional FTS have met with me to discuss future Solutions and supposedly they are working on a field fix or TSB to resolve this problem as it affects many 3rd gen owners

 

I had tighten fairly snug about 2/3 of the way through to the bottom. I'm wondering if trying a new union with a little more plumbers tape might help snug it up before it bottoms out. It is currently a full turn or two from the bottom and fairly snug. I do understand what u are saying about the tapered threads.[/Quote][/QUOTE]