Rear Diff Breather

Vise grips?

 

At this point, vice grips or rounded nut extractor. You'll destroy taking it out anyway so vice grips are probably cheapest option. The whole thing is aluminum so you'll chowder it up. Just curious, was yours showing threads before you started taking it off or was it all the way down to the case? Mine was all the way down and it was tight as hell to break loose.

 

It is still there and the nut is thin. I had to pack up because I was very tired and so soaked. I will resume the work next weekend and hopefully the weather would be nicer. The extractor has to be deep socket, not regular that fits the top breather through the deep socket. I will check hardware stores this week.

 

Yes i picked up vise grip and tried it but the breather nut is worse. See the latest pic. I will resume next weekend.

 

You might want to pay someone to remove it

 

At this point put the OEM hose on and regroup lol

 

[moved from different thread] Someone brought up the idea (not to start drama) that perhaps Toyota engineers know what they're doing and made the rear diff have a one-way breather for a reason and that putting a long breather tube on means that the air in the tube will cool and condense and run back down into the diff thus creating the very problem we are trying to avoid. Again, not trying to start a b*tchfest but would love to have a thoughtful conversation about this since there are lots of newbies that may jump on every mod that looks easy to do without thinking it through (like me lol.) At a minimum I would say that the rear breather tube should be no longer than the front one...thoughts anyone?

 

You're trolling! And I don't like it one bit!


Just kidding, if that's true, I wonder how much condensation you'd realistically be looking at? And if keeping up w maintenance is enough to mitigate that.

 

I had to do this on my 1st gen. The breather rusted closed and was building pressure up in rear diff. I noticed cause oil was bypassing the pinion seal. Truck also 217k when the problem showed up. Easy and useful mod

 

this is the only way I was able to removed mine once the same thing happened to me

 

Subscribed

 

Perhaps a rear diff breather catch can is needed now? Lol

 

Fire up the thread! It's Friday!

 

I'm already looking for mounting locations.

 

Not only condensation, if the tube cracks or pulls out, you could have yourself a nice straw if you have taken the one way valve off the axle and moved it to a higher point.

I’m not saying water intrusion isn’t possible, it’s just that the more hose you have the greater the risk of it getting caught on something.

 

now im just over here reading, wondering if this mod is even worth it. now (in addition to condensation) im wondering if you had this mod and the fuel line gets somehow yanked (like driving over some dead branches) off and you proceed into a water crossing there'd be a nice hole for water to rush into.

also, i drove thru and dunked ina puddle when truck had like 700 mi on it halfway up the wheels with stock breather, should i be worried?

 

Thank you for everyone inputs on the rear diff breather…
My brakes were locking up…maybe rusted drum brakes…took it to the Toyota dearler…
Turn out WATER in the rear end….they say because I lifted the truck (2.5) was the cause of water leaking into the rear end? Because you are suppose to extend the diff breather up higher? UM?

I may need a completely new rear end? They are trying to drain the water out first….we will see what happens tomorrow? Truck is still at the Toyota dealer…

Question do we need to extend the Diff breather in the rear ..and maybe front too?

not sure how water leak into my rear diff…because it suppose to be a one way valve?
Aloha

 

It's only a one way valve until it gets stuck open with mud.

The reason toyota doesn't extend the breather is because they're trying to save money and reduce complexity anywhere they can even if it's not the best solution.

One of the ways water gets in is if your axle seals are old and weak when the one way valve shuts if the temperature shock from dunkin your hot axle in cold water is great enough the vacuum can pull water in through the axle seals.

I wouldn't be worried about condensation in the rear axle the same way I would be about condensation in the engine as the temperatures aren't different enough nor does the rear axle constantly pass atmospheric air through it.

I have my rear breather extended up into the drivers side storage pocket, I have done several water crossings, no water in my diff. I change fluids about every 30k.


@young
With the stuck breather nipple, get yourself a Ridgid 6" pipe wrench vise grips can only grab so hard before the jaws and lock bars deform, a pipe wrench bites tighter the harder you put pressure on it you will get it out even if you have to use a cheater bar on it.

I used my 6" pipe wrench with a 2' cheater and a hydraulic jack to remove a drain plug on a jeep once no issues.

$30 RIDGID 31000 Model 6 Heavy-Duty Plumbing Straight 6" Pipe Wrench, Red, Made in the USA

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0009GF3YS?ie=UTF8

That has pretty much replaced all my vice grips, own 3 now one lives in the truck permanently.

Saved my ass many a time especially good on little rusted crap.

 

Thank you for sharing…and I do drive thru mud…I live on a coffee farm..nothing but a dirt/ rocky roads…and the last couple of months ..heavy rains..lots of mud puddles…it is a 4x4 road…
Yes … I alway carry two different sizes of vise grips…one is like a long nose…plus a full set of wrenches & sockets..
Aloha

 

Ive driven thru decent amount of water with the stock breather and sent my rear diff fluid in to a lab to see if any water got in the fluid after 10k miles. Lab reported no water. but i haven't done anything like dunk my rear end in the water for minutes at a time launching a boat or crossing a large river.