The 5.29 Mega Thread!!

I have to agree with the weights in colder climates. Depending on the winter we get here in Michigan we can see -0 for weeks at a time.

 

Good to know, Ryan. I’ll check and see if oils seeping down the breather.

 

yes, I’ve separated the breathers so I can see which one is the offender. I’ll try for a week or so w/o running the locker then activate it and see if it leaks then.

good to know about ARB, that’s a sign of a reputable company trying to make it right.

No, gave up last summer due to calls not being returned. I had heard from employees that they were very busy with new orders

 

Busy and moving. Good luck. They have been so great to me. It does strike me as odd, they seem so.........proud, not a good word, but forthright maybe, about doing everything correctly. This was December 2019. Maybe they had just done a lot of leaker battles.

BTW the battery thing seem rather elementary, frankly.

 

This whole breather thing is a bit wierd. Would it be possible to put the OEM breathers back on?

 

Unfortunately no, the builder tossed them.

 

The tough part is done, just get a couple of the OEM (Amazon) or heck AM breathers (One way "valve", like a PCV valve) plug em in. Done.

 

If the front diff leaks in that area, it can be a few things.

1. Diff is overfill with oil and traveling up the diff breather tube and back down to leak on top of the diff.
A. Open fill plug when diff is cold and let excess fluid drain out.

2. Diff breather tube is disconnected from the diff.
A. Reconnect it.

3. Seal between the ADD tube and diff is leaking.
A. Re seal ADD tube to diff connection. This isn't very hard at all. If you need guidance, I can give you a break down.


4. Diff lid seal is leaking.
A. Remove diff, open it up, and reseal. This isn't hard either, again, I can give guidance.

 

Another thing you can use is ARB's back pressure purge valve. Did that on my rear diff and now it is behaving much better.

 

THANK YOU Chris for this!! You have inspired me to work on this tomorrow. I’ll let everyone on my progress

 

Gear dummy here, I'm about to buy a Nitro 5.29 package.... here's the dummy part: what's the difference between the 5.29 package and the 5.29 - 8.75?

 

5.29 is the gear ratio. 8.75 is the diff size. Here's a chart to help you tell which rear diff you have.

 

DUDE. This chart is perfect! This is my first time dabbling with gearing in any vehicle. I've watched enough episodes of Roadkill and Hot Rod Garage to bite the bullet, but they don't feature Tacos, obviously. Last thing I want is to gut everything to realize I ordered the wrong part.

 

Chris,

1) I checked the front Diff fluid and it was just below the top of the filler plug, although it was warm, not cold. I think that means when cold the fluid level would be a bit lower. I also noticed that only the lower area of the diff was damp with oil, it’s dry everywhere else

2) I followed the breather tube down from the top until it enters the top of the diff. Seemed to all be connected.

3) what is the ADD tube?

Thought I’d include a pic showing the filler and drain plugs both of which are dry



Here’s a pic of the backside,notice weeping around the two bolts

 

Ok, looks like either the drain plug is leaking. Maybe needs a new crush washer and torqued to 30ft#'s. Or the housing isn't sealed good in the area it's leaking at. Since the back side is wet, I'd lean more toward the housing. That temp sensor doesn't appear wet, but sometimes that isn't sealed all the way.

The ADD tube is the extension that goes from the main body of the diff to the passenger side CV axle. You'll see 4 external torx bolts (e14) connecting it to the diff with the ADD actuator attached to it.

 

I'd spray all the fluid down with brake clean and wipe thoroughly to pinpoint where the leak is coming from.

 

Great idea!

 

Updates?

 

Sure thing! I separated the diff breathers. With @Texoma suggestions I used brake cleaner to clean up the diff and the breather area and then waited few days and saw that there had been no fluid leaking anywhere - so far so good.

I then ran it in 4wd with both lockers engaged climbing a minor hill and checked again - again no leaks.

a week later I checked and the diff is dry


Here’s the same view from the drivers side:

All dry around the diff!

now for the bad news:

The front diff is now leaking a bit...

 

That "leak" on the breather could just be vapor/mist. Those lines are so small ID that a bubble of oil can get trapped and push its way up too.