Diff Breathers

[stevensr34 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close stevensr34]

Re: Diff Breathers

1. The issue isn't the sudden expelling of gasses but the sudden intake. You'd want to be sure that there was sufficient air and flex in the hose at ALL times so that when you hit the first water crossing and it rapidly cools and tries to SUCK air in it doesn't act as a seal causing the gaskets to be sucked in in an attempt to get a sufficent supply of air.

I agree completely - I am not sure what type of hose has sufficient flex for this.

2. The hose will be lucky to flex at all bexause again we all know that cold things DON'T flex or give as hot things do.

I agree again - it could be more difficult than first thought!

[stevensr34 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close stevensr34]

Re: Diff Breathers

Question, do you have or intend to have a ARB air locker fitted?

Good point. No locker (yet) - maybe one if I can justify the (very) occasional usage.
Does the locker air pipe vent the air in the diff, or just control some air-operated switch within the diff?

[nika Member Find all posts View Profile Close nika]

Re: Diff Breathers

The control pressure vents at the soloniod, you have to be careful, if there is a failure inside the diff with the supply line to the locker as I did, there will 100psi supplied to the inside of the diff. Therefore if you go down the road of sealing the breather as you mentioned, BOOM. That will possibly cost alot of coin.

[8608 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close 8608]

Re: Diff Breathers

one way to find an air leak with an ARB air locker is to follow the line from the solenoid to the diff housing, or to listen at the end of the extended diff breather.

i know the main reason why i fitted extended and larger diameter diff breathers was to stop water/mud from entering the diff when used off road in wet/muddy conditions.

i did one trip out in my prado before i extended the breathers, and resulted in the rear diff oil being contaminated with water/mud. oil changed, and extended breathers, and it has never happened again. now when i change my diff oil, its been the same clean un-contaminated colour and texture as the new replacement oil. so, extended diff breathers, if fitted correctly, do allow for pressure changes between hot and cold, but prevent contaminants from being sucked in, kepping your diff oil clean, and hopefully, extending the lift of your diffs and bearings in general.

[404pug Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 404pug]

Re: Diff Breathers

Does anyone know what the thread is on the rear diff housing? Is it the same as 80 and 100 series cruisers, hiluxes etc, making a trip to the wreckers attractive to get the bit to screw in.Also, given that the front diff breather is close to the top of the battery, is there any need to extend it like the rear diff and transmission breathers? Neil,

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Re: Diff Breathers

The thread for the rear diff breather is 1/8 BSP, Pirtek or enzed or the likes would be the best place to get a threaded tail. My extended breathers only sit about 50mm higher than the original spot for the front breather, so i have left it standard. The theory is that the cold water cools the diff rapidly and causes the air to shrink and then suck in water, the front breather is so far above the diff it will be well and truly cool when and if the water gets to the breather.

Cheers Andrew

[tommy_volter Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close tommy_volter]

Re: Diff Breathers

I have done a search but couldn't find it (on iPhone so search format is painful)

What is the diff oil spec that I need to use? I want to change it before I fit the breathers

[hdtdamo5 Member Find all posts View Profile Close hdtdamo5]

Re: Diff Breathers

One question, and this may have been covered, but i read through the topice and i couldnt find the answer.

What type of hose are people using? Its 1/4", but does it have to be fuel hose?

[Schaffer Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Schaffer]

Re: Diff Breathers

One question, and this may have been covered, but i read through the topice and i couldnt find the answer.

What type of hose are people using? Its 1/4", but does it have to be fuel hose?

Ideally you want something that will be resistive to the acids in the oils. With the diffs getting hot air is expelled from the diff housing through the hose. When the oil gets hot it will let out fumes/vapors which if you use the wrong hose would eventrually reult in the hose breaking down. Not sure where you live Damo but if you can get to Marrion Road in Marrion to a place called Adelaide Pnumatic Sales. One of the guys there called John used to do the breather fit outs for the CFS trucks. The prices there are really good and they may have some hose you can have.

Not that you are but I wouldn't go with the Billet gear as it is nothing more than overpriced bling.

[hdtdamo5 Member Find all posts View Profile Close hdtdamo5]

Re: Diff Breathers

Ideally you want something that will be resistive to the acids in the oils. With the diffs getting hot air is expelled from the diff housing through the hose. When the oil gets hot it will let out fumes/vapors which if you use the wrong hose would eventrually reult in the hose breaking down.

Thanks mate. Good points there, i hadnt thought about that. Sounds like fuel hose is the best to go with.

Not sure where you live Damo but if you can get to Marrion Road in Marrion to a place called Adelaide Pnumatic Sales.

Thats great, I'll try them. Marion road is really close to me, and they are between work and my place.

Not that you are but I wouldn't go with the Billet gear as it is nothing more than overpriced bling.

I saw the billet gear, it looked nice, but I figure I can get it all cheaper without the bling. Plus with Matt's report that the kit isnt complete and still need the connections, I'll try Adelaide Pnumatic Sales. Thanks.

[Schaffer Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Schaffer]

Re: Diff Breathers

Not sure where you live Damo but if you can get to Marrion Road in Marrion to a place called Adelaide Pnumatic Sales.

Thats great, I'll try them. Marion road is really close to me, and they are between work and my place.

make sure you give them a ring first and tell them what you are after. It's only a smallish business and their sales guys get out to their bigger customers so ring them to find a suitable time to call in otherwise you could rock up there (as I did) and find the shopfront closed and unattended.

[hdtdamo5 Member Find all posts View Profile Close hdtdamo5]

Re: Diff Breathers

Cheers mate. Good advise!

[OldGreyGuy Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close OldGreyGuy]

Re: Diff Breathers

Adelaide Pnumatic Sales. One of the guys there called John used to do the breather fit outs for the CFS trucks. The prices there are really good and they may have some hose you can have.

Not that you are but I wouldn't go with the Billet gear as it is nothing more than overpriced bling.

All fine and good for you Adelaide Blokes. Hi Schaffer

Heading away at Easter, my guide to the local area has just told me that there is a longish but not deep crossing after a long drive, sounds like everything is going to be hot and then suddenly cold & wet, so I should probably do something about the breathers.

Does anyone in Brisbane know if there is a place like Adelaide Pneumatic Sales up here that sells kit for a set of breathers? Preferably open Sat morning as I work from a location that keeps me away from most businesses during the work week.

Cheers
OldGreyGuy

[Matty80 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Matty80]

Re: Diff Breathers

Does anyone in Brisbane know if there is a place like Adelaide Pneumatic Sales up here that sells kit for a set of breathers?

Not sure if you'll find one that specifically sells a 'kit', but if you call up and give them an idea of what you need they should be able to help you out regardless. As a tip - remove the existing bits and joiners from under the car before you go in - so you can show them what you have and what it needs to go into - makes the process much quicker.

try the Whitepages and search for Pneumatic in the Brisbane region. I got 13 results....

[Rusty62 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Rusty62]

Re: Diff Breathers

Try SMC Pneumatics in Shannon Place Virginia.
You will need the following:
Rear Diff.
1 x KQBL06-01
20 x TE0604 Black 20 m roll
1 x KQ2E06-02
1 x AN203-02

You can then join the gearbox and transfer case using the 6 mm tube and use a KQ2E06-02 and AN203-02.
Same for the front diff.

They do have a minimum spend of $40 and you will need a credit card as they don't take cash.