My Differential Breather Mod Photos

Yes, still alive and still reading Tacoma World... Covid has sure cut back on Baja trips, however!
My last trip was with Cameron Steele for the Trail of Missions Recon (May 2019). The TV crew was along and they produced 5 episodes of 7 to 10 minutes each as the historian and interpreter for the group. Dakar hero Ricky Brabec was with us, too!
All 5 are linked on my website www.vivabaja.com and here is the first one (I think the other 4 follow it):
https://youtu.be/FGbWpNvP-kI

 

Do not use the "stock breather" as it is not a true breather... It is a one-way vent. A breather prevents a vacuum condition which draws in the muddy water. The breather is CHEAP! A differential repair is NOT!

 

Copy that.
I'll get a threaded barb.

 

Go to page one of this thread, and the first post has photos of the parts from Toyota (in 2010). The treaded barb part goes into the diff where the stock 'check valve' comes out. The new breather goes on the end of the tube, up high. Everything you need to know is on page 1.

 

I'm good brother.
It's not rocket science

 

Play this song when you do any mods!
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=V_m6JxlxIug&list=RDAMVMV_m6JxlxIug

 

The breather is a few millimeter too small for the 3/8” hose. However, the union fits snugly on the hose. Gotta improvise.

 

They both have the same barb (insert) hose fitting. What is going on????

 

I’m not sure if parts changed, but the breather is 2mm smaller in diameter than the union. I used the exact Toyota parts mentioned on page one, but makes me think they gave me the wrong part? Anyway, just need to wrap electrical tape around the breather barb and it should fit snugly.

 

They gave you the wrong one.

What I used (from the first post in this thread):

 

Thanks for the info on this mod OP, ordered the parts, have 3/8 hose and clamps already. Looking forward to getting this done.

 

Please let us know how it turns out on your Third Gen Taco.

 

The 5/16” hose was a better fit for mine. Let us know how yours fit with the 3/8”.

 

The silver-colored union was what I used with the 3/8" tube. The black one pictured below is probably for the 5/16" tube?

 

I bought the black one with the number 51026 and it’s waaaay too small for the 3/8, let alone the 5/16”. I ended up using the parts you listed but with a 5/16” hose. The silver union fits real snug and the breather slips right in, with a little resistance. I didn’t mentioned this in the previous post but I took the breather back to the dealership to confirm it’s the right one and sure enough it is. I think our definitions of fit might be different here. 3/8” fits fine on the breather end but there was definitely some play space which was enough to bug me and source a tiny tad smaller hose. Got mine hooked up and ready to swim! Cheers.

 

On page 1, first post of this 2010 thread, I photographed the parts in their Toyota package with part number label. Both the union and the breather are made for 3/8" tube (same insert/ barb fitting).

 

Hey David

I'm about to embark on this mod (finally) and will be using your method/write up over all the others on TW.

Question about the comment above. I have a 1st gen, so no cubby in the bed, and was planning on running it to behind my fuel door. Is this the spot you reference above with "fuel bay?"

If so, any recommendations on where else I could run it to on a 1st gen?

Thank you.

 

Inside the fuel door can work, but another good and I think a better alternative is behind the rear taillight assembly. My fuel door has been tweaked a bit and sometimes doesn't like to close all the way. I pulled the light out and ran mine as high up behind the light as I could get it. I would almost have to submerge the whole bed to get the valve wet.

 

Awesome. I saw someone, along the many posts I’ve read about this mod, put it there. I always liked that idea but I thought I read at one point that it’s obviously impossible to monitor the breather/etc to see if anything has gone wrong.

I guess it could just become regular maintenance check.

 

I put mine behind the tail light. This makes the most sense as it is placed in a location where contact is unlikely and it is a mod that does not change the appearance of the vehicle in any way.