Differential Breather Mod for Dummies (Pics)

Gear oil is always smelly

 

I know this thread is old but would it be okay if I just put a filter over the breather fitting?

 

You have a filter the lets air flow, but blocks out water?

 

Where was the breather end of it. Mine is mounted where it is inside the gas door above the cap in the top right corner. Hope it doesn't do that. Damn, do you want pressured up seals or free breathing but dirty oil sooner? Not a choice I want to have to make. Axle/pinion leaks or change fluid much sooner? Crap, hope it was a fluke or something. Never checked on it after doing it on the 05 but not thinkin I put much if any more than 16k more miles after doing mod on that one before trading it for the 08.

 

I do...

 

Is the chance of ay water getting into the rear diff a factor? Reason why I ask is that I live in CA, do not off road; more of a street rider, most water I have seen is on rainy seasons but I stay away from dips/etc. If just the smallest bit of water getting into the rear diff being a factor I won't do it.

this is what I ha in mind (also part of my future plans for my tacoma).

 

Dirt/water enters the differential via the axle seals when you drive a truck into a water crossing IF the rear diff. is hot and the water is cold... (A vacuum or low pressure is created inside the diff.)The stock diff. breather is a one way check valve/ vent... only lets hot gasses out of the diff. It does not allow air or water into the diff. (unless the check valve is damaged).The extended front diff. breather (that we are using on the back, in this mod) is not a check valve, but a two way breather (a small opening at the end of the tube).Now, when we drive into deep water, air from the breather and through the extention tube will rush to the diff. and break the vacuum created, instead of muddy creek water sucking in past the axle seals.Case in point: My 5 month old Tacoma went into a 3 foot deep, muddy creek... and upon inspection after I got back from Baja, the diff. oil was contaminated.

 

lol well not going to be doing that. I don't go into 3 ft. deep water ... only water I get near the axle would be when I'm washing it, but breaking that vacuum is what I am worried about (plus the contamination of the oil). good lookin on the explanation

 

It doesn't need to be 3 feet deep to contaminate the diff.... ~18" is the top of the differential and ~9" is the bottom...

 

sub'd

 

FWIW, I decided to pull the fitting from the diff today.

There was a lot of release of pressure once the fitting was removed.

Gave a quick check to the special vent fitting, no release either direction. Stuffed a small screwdriver down the center hole and felt it free up. Quick check again had it work as described here.

While out, and this was the main reason I removed it, I checked the thread pitch. Pretty basic 1/8 NPT. Not going to bother with the Toyota fitting as I have several hose barb fittings on hand.

The fitting I chose needed a turn on a die to reduce the end diameter. Threaded in by hand.

Plan to pick up the hose and a 1/4' filter tomorrow.

PK

 

hey will these parts & #s work on a 1st gen?????

 

cant find such all post are 2gen.... this sucks....

 

I just noticed it on my truck the other day and was wondering what the black tip thing is that is shown in Step 5?

M

 

the shity part is out here it has to be order and

I wont have it for the meet at gorman tomorrow I hate when shit dont work out......

 

do you mean the little thing by the drill bit?

 

It's the catch thingy for the 2 prong deally on the inside of the door that keeps it closed.

 

nice job, bit of overkill, but nice job

 

Love the technical terms

 

I think I spent about $.00

found a 3' piece of irrigation tubing that was exactly the same size as the lock nut holding in the diff breather, carefully slid it over the breather on the diff, clamped it, shoved the hose up & over top of gas tank, done 5 mins. zero cost.....