Thread: Diff Breathers

As I understand it, due to the heat build up inside the diff they have a breather hole/pipe to allow air to flow back and forward as it heats up and cools down. If you are out driving and the diff is hot so to speak and you then dip it is the water, it will have a tendancy to suck air into it or water if your breather hose is below the water. You can easily extend these hoses and if you do a search there are various different ways to do it - very easy and probable worth it is you plan on doing lots of water/mud crossings.

Aye, Mick

And if you've got a disco don't forget the wading plugs for your timing cover, and bell housing!

If you have a S1 Disco the rear breather tube is not very high ( extends to just above the chassis ) so it probably needs to be extended.

If you have been on water crossings and suspect some water may have entered the diff, remove the filler plug and take a look. If the oil is milky there is water in it and needs to be changed. This also indicates our breathers are either too low or not fitted properly.

Originally Posted by waynep

If you have been on water crossings and suspect some water may have entered the diff, remove the filler plug and take a look. If the oil is milky there is water in it and needs to be changed.

I've experienced this (check my avatar). Don't count on just 1 oil change getting rid of the milky oil. I've done 3, although the 2nd one didn't look too bad. But next service, I'm doing both axles again just to be on the safe side.

Must fit proper breathers Saw a kit advertised on ebay the other day http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Diff-Breather...QQcmdZViewItem
No doubt, you could do it cheaper by sourcing the parts somewhere, but this looks convenient. Not sure what you get for your money though.

Ian

We have a D1a....all I did was got some of the small garden watering tube....$4 a roll for 20m (I think)....same size as factory...got some inline joiners and run them to the firewall up high next to the window washer bottle with small inline air filters used in Bank ATM's on the ends....works great and very very easy ! took about 15min .

Oh to be sure I put plastic tie's on the joiner's....just in case

Originally Posted by amshaw

We have a D1a....all I did was got some of the small garden watering tube....$4 a roll for 20m (I think)....same size as factory...got some inline joiners and run them to the firewall up high next to the window washer bottle with small inline air filters used in Bank ATM's on the ends....works great and very very easy ! took about 15min .

I did the same thing ..although when they fitted the Maxi Drive I noticed they fitted a new breather too, much better than OEM.

I have a D2 and extended the rear breather myself using 6mm clear tubing, a few zip ties and a Z16 (I think) fuel filter from Repco to filter dust as I extended it up into the cavity behind the rear brake lights and that area tends to trap dust. Also added a filter to the front one which is up in the engine bay.

I only did it because I was doing a lot of high country work and water crossings and was worried about the diff oil getting milky...had it checked recently and it its fine...guess the seals and factory breathers were working anyway!

It a fun little job to do...only took abotu half hour.

Angus

What about older Rangies? They just have a breather on the axle housing, which has a spring loaded ball valve inside.

I have been wondering for a while how I should go about getting a fitting that screws into that hole which I can put a hose on.

Are these available anywere?