If Sean and I can make a new video of what you want done, we will do the work for lunch and beers. If you are looking for something done we've already made a video of, that's a different story. We're not really mechanics for hire but I have helped one guy so far with the rear axle seal job and he gave me some money for my time. So, it's more of a case by case basis for me in regards to working on people's rigs for money.
Makes sense man. Are you still doing the BBQ thing on the 28th? I saw you posted in the Tacoma World forums about it. Would be cool to meet you and Sean in person.
Hey Timmy. Thanks so much for this. I think you also taught me how to do the valve cover replacement. I did this diff vent mod on the weekend and it was a quick job once I did the prep work. So, here's my 2 cents worth: It's not hard to get the plastic plugs out of the filler cover if you get a screw driver under the flange and just pry gently until enough clearance to get needle nose in. Then rock back and forth and they come out and can be reused. I couldn't figure out where to route the line. I was going to try under the rear seat, but then I thought about spilled drinks in the back seat and realized it was not very high. I'm sure I'd never get it deep enough in water to come in the vehicle, but you never know. So your routing was an easier alternative to drilling and creating a potential rust point. I put the vent in exactly the same place as it was natural position following the gas vent pipe. I used 5/16 gas line and covered both the steel vent pipe and the rubber line with heater hose. This gave some crush resistance with the tightened ties and held the rubber vent line away from the steel line to reduce the chances of abrasion. Once I left the wheel well, I went over the gas filler tube at the support clip between the floor and filler pipe. I had 6 ft 2 inches of gas line and had about 1ft 6 inches left. So 5 ft should do the job. It's probably a good idea for any 3rd gen owner to take that plastic filler cover in the wheel well off. My filler pipe has quite a bit of rust on it which I wire wheeled, rust morted and repainted before running the line. One thing worth noting. I was able to blow air out of breather no problem. However when I sucked, the cover seated so tightly that no air could be sucked through. Since there is a possibility of sudden negative pressure occurring when going through cold water, that concerned me. So I took the breather cap off and put 4 small notches at the bottom of the aluminum breather cover so that air could pass in a negative pressure situation. Worked perfectly when I tested it before putting it on the diff nipple. The tip of the plastic is a ball and there is no way that water could go against gravity and go into the end of that ball. It might be worth doing so that the cover doesn't make and air-tight seal under negative pressure. Thanks so much for the part numbers. I'm hoping that I never have to replace the axle seals again. I've blown them twice. I really appreciate your guidance with these jobs to keep my 96 running!
Glad you found the video helpful. Good to know you can get those plastic clips out without breaking them. As for the negative pressure situation, I don't know if that's really an issue you have to worry about. From what I remember, the OEM breather on the top of the differential doesn't allow for negative pressure either. The OEM breather has a spring that keeps the valve shut until enough positive pressure overcomes the spring pressure and allows the excessive pressure to escape. When there is rapid cooling like you said going through a water crossing, you wouldn't want the breather to have the ability to suck back in because then you'd be sucking in water into the differential which isn't good. I'm pretty sure these breathers, especially the OEM breather, is only meant to allow positive pressure to escape so you don't blow out your rear axle seals.
Just got around to doing This mod today on my 1st gen Tacoma. Ended up using 3/8 fuel line instead of 5/16 [ local hardware store didn’t have 5/16 in stock]. Should’ve done it years ago. Wanted to add that my truck didn’t have the protective plastic cover going over the gas fill tube not sure if Tacoma‘s have this or not. It made it a little easier routing the line up basically going up along the frame and then following the gas fill tube to the opening. My truck has a hard plastic cover going over the gas fill tube opening I just found a drillbit that matched The circumference of the new diff breather and made a hole for it to slide up through. Pretty easy and straightforward hopefully it works out well. Tim thanks again for the instructions and making these videos🍻
Really great video demonstration of the mod, really great accuracy to all the details and included all the parts and info, worked like a charm, thanks for making such informative and helpful videos!
Hey Tim - quick question. So with the breather mod for the rear diff complete, the front having one stock extended, where does that leave the Tcase and autotrans breathers? Do they need extending as well? Thanks in advance!
@@caelanmacdonald3265 Good question. The breather tube for the transfer case leads to a void between the transmission and transfer case and there's a breather over that void. Then the transmission has it's own breather. They are fairly high up so you'd have to be in some pretty deep water before you'd submerge them. In order to extend these breathers, you'd have to pry off the top cap of the breathers so you could connect some type of tubing to it. It would be nice if you could just unscrew the breather and replace it with a fitting like we can do with the rear differential breather but these breathers for the transmission and transfer case are pressed in. I haven't bothered to do it on my rig because I'm a little hesitant to start prying on those breathers and possibly destroy them making matters worse. I don't know if you can buy those breathers if you did destroy one and how to go about removing and reinstalling one.
@@TimmyTheToolman Ahhh this makes sense.. good information, again - I really appreciate it! I'm going to do some digging on that, this points me where to look. I'll let you know if I find anything! Keep up the great work!
Another well made, helpful video! I just installed my RSG sliders w/ your help. Gonna tackle the rear diff breather today... THANKS! BTW, noticed the IAFF helmet sticker on the window, “Stay safe, Brother”!!! 👨🏾🚒🔧👍🏾🪓
great video ! i did the same thing and decided to run the hose down the gas tank plastic protection that comes from the gas cap instead of taking that ptotection off from under the fender that way i didnt have to buy new gromets ... so running it down and then doing everything you did worked great !!!.. thanks again
Thanks for taking the time to make all these vids! I have two questions... Does the breather actually breathe to keep neg pressure from building in the diff? Or is it more like a one way valve that releases positive pressure? I have seen people use brass breathers (or filter) that look like a semi conical cylinder. Second question, why not run it up to the engine bay where the other two breathers are located?
The OEM breather releases positive pressure. You could run the line wherever you like. Running it to the engine bay would just require more hose and time to secure it along it's route.
Partner, I want to thank you and your friends for the wealth of info you’ve supplied me for my 2002 “pretty much stock” 240,000 mile Limited. It still turns heads at the stop lights. So now I have a question. Was about to do the rear breaks and saw grease around the drum. I checked the differential vent and as I removed it a burst of pressure was released. I cleaned it and your tech advice on checking to make sure it worked. Does that release of pressure show that my vent was plugged? I will after any repairs done here will relocate the vent cap as you did at the gas cap area. Oh yeah and one more thing too. You answer all the subscribers questions, thanks man.
Well Partner, you're very welcome. I've unscrewed several breathers and I've never experienced a burst of pressure escape so I think that could very well mean your breather wasn't working that well. But, did you remove the breather immediately after a drive? Maybe the breather was working but the amount of pressure in the rear end wasn't enough to actuate the spring mechanism in the breather. I do think it is a good idea to do the extended breather mod. You should pull the ABS sensors on both sides of the axle housing and see how much gear oil has accumulated in those spaces. With that many miles, you are probably do for a rear axle seal job. I've now seen axles seals fail on both my 3rd Gens with way less miles than you have. I really appreciate the fact that you are the first person to recognize that Sean and I answer pretty much every question and acknowledge every comment that comes in on our channel. Some questions and comments squeak by us but that's an exception to the rule. Our channel isn't so big that we can't keep up with the questions and comments that come in on a daily basis. I realize the big boys in the UA-cam Automotive Channel World don't have the ability to answer every question that comes in and some of those channels don't seem to answer any questions which I find a little strange. It seems logical to me that If you're willing to make videos, you should be willing to answer people's questions and try to answer them in a timely manner because somebody might be in the middle of a repair and looking for help asap, and not a week later. Sometimes Sean and I are both tied up and we don't get to a question right away and that's just the way it goes sometimes. We could be busy with other things or we might not have an internet connection like when I go camping or I'm out fighting a wildland fire somewhere in California. Thanks a lot for taking the time to comment. Happy Wrenching!
The 4Runner Tim had not been driven and was up on stands. I did check the ABS sensors and they we’re awash in gear oil. So yes I plane to do the seals and then rear brakes. I was yeah cool time to do my rears and then saw gear oil.But getting back to the pressure on the release valve that’s what I heard and the valve was hard to blow through.So yes I’m ordering the kit you installed on your Runner. Thank you guys!
Thanks for all your videos! They are very helpful. Do you think I can use some leftover 3/8" ID hose from a trans cooler install or would it be too loose?
The 3/8" might work. It's a little bigger than 5/16" so I don't know how well it will fit onto the fittings. I'd buy the fitting first and then see if the hose fits ok. If it doesn't, just shoot over to the local auto parts store and buy some 5/16" hose.
Thank you, Tim! Any issues with your diff or the breather years after doing this? After going through some fairly deep water on the trails recently, I figured I'd better do this mod ASAP to avoid future issues. Appreciate you taking the time to walk through the setup after losing your video (still awesome content and helped me to see where/how to route the fuel line on mine). In the middle of this mod, I looked down and realized I had my old school Vans on with the fat shoelaces - guess I was channeling Seannie Sean.
Everything is good. I've done this mod on both my 3rd Gens with no issues. There's really not much that could go wrong with it provided the install was done right. One area I think could cause an issue is not giving enough slack in the hose to allow for axle droop while 4wheeling and the hose gets ripped off the differential fitting. The breather is a simple breather that really can't fail.
@@TimmyTheToolman yes, the slack was a great tip, and I left a little bit on mine just like you showed (and trimmed the excess hose to use for abrasion protection in spots - another great tip). And I have to say, I feel a little better pulling the new breather through the rubber grommet in the gas cap area. When I pulled that plastic fill tube protector off, there was all kinds of salt and dirt built up back there. Thanks, again!
@@eljefeslash Yeah, the breather stays nice and clean in the gas cap area. Not much dirt and debris can get in there. You're very welcome. Glad our video helped you out.
Thanks, this video was really helpful! I was a little paranoid about putting the Teflon tape on and couldn’t tell if I was putting it on right. I’m pretty sure I wrapped it in the right direction...out of curiosity is it bad if it is wrapped in the wrong direction.
If it's wrapped in the wrong direction, the turning off the nipple has the tendency to unravel the tape off the threads. If you didn't see that happening, you're good to go.
Great channel! Do you know if this could be done similarly for a GX470? I know the vehicles are considered “cousins” in many ways, but I am not sure how their rear diffs match up. Keep up the great work!
We're glad you like our channel. I'm sure you could extend your breather like this. The only question is will the same breather nipple that screws into the differential work. I bet it's probably is the same thread size and pitch. Then you just have to figure out where the best play to run the tube and breather to. Maybe you could also do the same and run it up the gas fill pipe and have the breather sit behind the gas fill hatch door. If you do it, let us know how it works out for you.
I don't think my IQ test would reflect a genius level, but I appreciate the compliment nonetheless. People actually consider me funny too but in a very politically incorrect way that I sometimes show snippets of in our videos. But, for the most part, I keep our videos PG. Thanks for the comment.
Another great video. Thank you! Getting ready to do this, but I have a question: The breather/check valve makes perfect sense mounted down low where it might be exposed to water, but mounted up high the way you've done it, is there any reason for the valve? Why not just use a small filter or even a fine mesh covering over the end of the hose? It's seems to me this would accommodate both positive and negative pressure in the diff.
The breather style used in the mod is basically a straight pipe with a lid on it. When you blow through it, you don't first have to overcome resistance of a valve. So, you could use some other type of topper like a small filter.
Tim. Great video! Very informative. Just curious why you didn't reuse the old breather? Was it bad or did you need to buy a different breather? On a different note, do you think the transmission need a mod like this too? Thanks.
It wasn't bad. Just decided to replace it. The transmission breather sits quite a bit higher than the rear diff breather. It's basically right under the floor. If you plan on going through water as deep as the bottom of your doors, it might be a good idea to raise it to a higher spot, most likely in the engine compartment. But, the breather for the trans and transfer case are a press fit breather. You can't unscrew them. So, you'd have to twist and break off the breather top so you could connect a hose to the breather piping.
@@TimmyTheToolman Got it..makes sense. I wasn't sure where they are. I'm thinking about doing the diff for sure. Why didn't you just extend it up higher and mount the breather to some dry and secure location ( i can see a few clean and dry area on my 4runner) instead of the gas fill? Thanks for the quick reply by the way!
@@genxiong2695 Behind the gas fill door is a pretty safe bet the breather will never get corroded or clogged. Under the vehicle, especially when you're driving through mud and water, there doesn't seem to be a place under the rig that wouldn't be affected. But, if you've got a location that you think would work well, you can run the breather to wherever you like. Good luck with the job.
Timmy Great vid as usual, so I'm an fzj80 guy can those parts fit on my truck? Did you get them at Toyota? Can I use a regular pcv valve, which comes standard on my truck for this application? Your replacement breather looks like the pcv valve for my truck but my valve has that ball in it, which acts as a check valve.
Glad you like the video. Check the video description by clicking on "Show More" to expand the video description. They are Toyota parts and they are linked there. The breather is not a PCV valve. It's just a simple breather with no check valve. I suppose you could use a PCV valve but this is something I have never tried.
I ran mine all the way up the frame rail to the front of the firewall teed off at the transfer case and then the transmission and again at the front diff and all runs up to the highest point on the firewall thanks for the idea and I just finished my 167 snorkel install so I plan to run it to my airbox
Gotcha. When we did Sean's transmission swap, I was thinking about something like you did to get the breathers higher but I was wondering if I'd screw it up and break the breather fittings and then literally be screwed. I'm guessing they pried off pretty easily? Thanks for sharing this Adam. Maybe we'll make a video of it.
Everything has been fine with this breather mod. The only thing that maybe someone could do differently is possibly route the breather to another location like the engine compartment. The route to the gas fill hatch is close, so I think it's a nice option rather than running line further to the front of the vehicle.
I’m planing to do the same work on my RAV4. But I’m modifying the fill in plug to be the breather as well since it’s above the oil liquid level but the main reason is the vent breather can’t be reached without lowering the differential. The union you used has 10Mx1.0 threads, and I need M18x 1.5 threaded union. Any hints on how to find the Toyota part # for my application if any. Thanks
Another great video Timmy. One question though, apologies if I missed this. So as far as I can understand it, when the diff heats up, the fluid and air expand so Toyota vented the diff to release the positive pressure, otherwise it could blow out the axle seals. Got it. However, when we dunk a hot diff in cold water, the pressure rapidly drops and creates a vacuum. With the stock breather (really an exhaler not a breather right?) that is used in this sick mod, it doesn't seem to allow any air in to replace the vacuum. So since a vent was added to keep the seals from blowing out under positive pressure, couldn't they also let in air (or water if the diff/axle is submerged) under vacuum if the vent isn't allowing any air in? I just got the breather and it seems to only let air out. I realize Toyota designed it this way from the factory, but eventually something will have to fill the vacuum to bring the diff back to the barometric pressure of wherever the truck is, and it will have to come from somewhere.
I'm pretty sure that breather will allow air in both directions. I at first thought that breather was a one-way valve but somebody told me they took one apart and there's no check valve.
@@TimmyTheToolman Finally did the mod. The breather I got in the kit from yotashop was definitely a one way but I popped the cover off and removed the rubber disc that seats on the valve to seal it (acts as a sort of check valve). I don’t know if that’s the same one that is linked but it looks similar. Thanks as always for the help Timmy!
Hey Tim, Do you know anyone that can point me in the direction of the forms more on this? I’m interested in knowing what other vehicles this kit fits. Sick mods!!
I bet it would work on any Toyota because the thread size and pitch on the differential is probably the same on all of them. Where you route the breather might be different depending on the areas available you can access to run the hose and breather too.
@@TimmyTheToolman really? I had no idea, I'll have to hit up a couple friends. I've been thinking about putting these kits together and offering them for sale since I rolled over my rig earlier this year. I plan on rolling them out for sale later today. I want to save up for another 4runner
Hi Tim, thanks for yet another great video. I have ordered the parts and will extend the rear diff as soon as everything arrives. That said, do you happen to know anything about the set up for the breather on the front diff of a 99. I believe it's already extended into the engine bay, but I have a hard time finding it.. Any thoughts? Thanks again!
Hey Tim, Mine was rusted shut, I did this a while ago before you uploaded your video. I just swapped it without running extending it like you did. Good thing Forum members posted this or else i would have had to do real axle seals. I'm surprised 2 mechanics didn't pick up on this, and call me out on it. I feel it should be changed every few years if you aren't doing a breather mod. Like the PCV valve. question for you, was your tighten all the way from the factory? It seems mine was not snug so I didn't run my replacement all the way down.
Hey Tim. Any reason you can think of to not use 5/16" vacuum line instead of fuel line? It is far cheaper, more flexible, and would have no problem handling the very low pressure we are trying to accommodate. The heat at the diff should also be minimal. I'm just curious to hear your thoughts on this. Thanks again!
Hey Michael, the only downside I could see with vacuum hose is it will collapse easier than a stiffer type of hose like the fuel line. If you wanted to securely fasten the hose along it's route with zipties, would you be able to get the zipties tight without collapsing the inner diameter of the hose? If 5/16" vacuum hose is pretty sturdy and you can ziptie it in place tight enough so the hose isn't moving around causing a potential friction spot that could wear a hole in it, I don't see why you couldn't use it instead.
The transfer case and auto trans could be extended also but it would take a little alteration to the breathers. The breathers on the trans and transfer case are a press fit and not screwed in. This means you can't simply unscrew the breather and insert a nipple like we do for the rear differential. You would have to pry off the cap of the breather and then attach a hose to it and run it up wherever you want the breather to be, most likely the engine compartment.
By any chance, do you know if these parts will work on a 5th gen, 2020 4Runner TRD off-road? I'm assuming since it does not appear they change much over the lifespan of this vehicle they will?
@@mladetto7453 I'm not sure. The union that screws into the diff isn't that expensive. Just buy it and see if it's the same size thread and pitch of your OEM breather. If it is, you're golden. Now, running it to your gas fill hatch might be a different operation, but it may be similar too. The breather that attaches to the end of the hose will obviously work for you.
Went underneath my rig today & noticed fluid on driver rear tire is it possible if my breather is clogged I could change it & relocate it & possibly stop the leaking ? Or is it too late now I need to do a axle job ?
if you have gear oil coming out on the rear tire, your wheel bearing has been compromised because the gear oil washed out some or most of the grease from the bearing. Currently, your bearing could be relying on the gear oil getting past the seal to keep the bearing lubricated. If it was a clogged breather and replacing the breather stops the leak, now you no longer have gear oil getting to the bearing to keep it properly lubricated. If you drive far enough and fast enough with an improperly lubricated bearing, bad things happen. Further, your rear brakes shoes have been probably compromised and are coated in gear oil so a rear brake job is in order. My recommendation is do the full axle seal and bearing job on both sides. I'm guessing you know we have a couple videos on the subject you can use to get it done. I recommend watching both videos and reading the comments we pinned (1st comment you see) for updates on the repair. We also have a video on how to renew the rear brake shoes. Good luck!
Not absolutely necessary but I added some to avoid a possible seepage of gear oil from the connection. If you put the plug in without tape and it ends up leaking a bit, simply unscrew the plug and add some tape. Problem solved
Can I do this with a ARB diff breather or is this diy kit better or both the same? What about the front diff and transfer case do they need diff breathers?
What you connect the hose up to is your choice. You could use the ARB breather manifold if you want. The front diff already has a breather that is extended and mounted onto the driver side fender well in the engine compartment. Could it benefit being routed higher? Yeah, it could if you plan on crossing deep water crossings. The transfer case and transmission do have breathers as well. On an automatic transmission, the breather nipple is pressed into the transmission body so you can't just simply unscrew it. You would need to pry off (basically break it) the breather off the nipple and then attach a hose to it to be routed to a breather manifold like the ARB or just a single breather. The transfer case breather is a small u-shaped hose that goes from a nipple on the side of the transfer case shifter plate and attaches to another nipple at the end of the transmission. The pressure is escaped into a void space between the transfer case and transmission and there is a breather above that void. You would again have to pry off the breather cap so you could attach a hose and route it to a breather location of your choosing. I hope this helped.
i just extended a T100 rear axle like this. previously i did front, and rear axles on an 80series landcruiser. i found that above and beside the rear light cluster on the T100 theres lots of space. it's higher than the fuel filler and you dont have to drill any holes in the metal. i even had room in there to put a filer on the end of the fuel now ( now air lines) . Anyway one question i had was does the transfer case have a breather on a t100? i've not looked yet but i'm sure i did extend a breather on the lc 80 but that was about 5 years ago am i cannot remember now ( it's also currently in a different country to me so i can't go check, just have the t 100 here in canada.
The transfer case will have a breather. On a 3rd Gen 4runner, there's a fitting on the right side of the transfer case right next to the shifter plate. A hose connects to it and it goes to another fitting which leads to the void space between the transmission and transfer case. Over the void area, there's a breather. The transmission also has a breather. These breather nipples are a press fit into the housing. You can't simply unscrew the breather and put on a different fitting with a nipple. You would have to twist off the breather cap (basically break it off) so you could attach a hose to the nipple and then run the line to wherever you want.
I bought me a breather kit for my titan and was wondering, do I need the peice with the cap on it with the rubber and spring on it? The kit just has a fuel filter and fuel line
You don't need cap with the spring. As long as you put that filter in an area that's high and protected, you don't need a one-way valve type of breather.
Yeah, I could have but from experience knew the amount of slack I afforded myself in the breather line was more than enough with the axle at full droop.
I took my breather off of my Tacoma and when it came out it went poof letting some trapped air out. I replaced out with a new one. But I did put wd40 in the old one and loosened it up and kept it for a spair.
i recently had tires rotated and was told there were signs of axle leak. i previously had the axl seal replaced on the left side. im wondering if the mechanic probly didnt replace the breather. the part is under warrant but cant get it in the shop for a few weeks would you say its safe to drive with the leak?
i live in colorado and dont have access to a work area or tools would it be acceptable to just replace the factory breather more frequent until i can do the mod
@@cameronburson1473 There's more to this than just the possibility that the breather is clogged. Just replacing the axle seal quite often doesn't fix the problem because the mechanics don't have all the information regarding this repair. You should watch this video and then you'll know more than what 90% of the mechanics out there know about the rear axle seal problem with these rigs. ua-cam.com/video/AVhSDnw2ugo/v-deo.html
@@TimmyTheToolman awesome! Thanks for the quick reply! 99% of my at home maintenance work are based off your library of videos aside from purchasing my own repair book volumes as well
I just cut the top of the breather off and shoved a screwdriver down it to make sure ot was open, shoved a hose over it and clamped it down, put a little cone filter on the other end and zip tied it to the underside of the cab.. done.. an extra 2 feet of clearance..
The stock breather can become corroded and not work, especially in areas where they salt the roadways due to icy conditions. It's not a bad idea to pull it off every so often and blow through it just to make sure it's working. All it takes is a deep 14mm socket and ratchet to get off. If you find it's totally blocked and not working, replace it. Easy Peasy.
Would this possibly solve my rear Diff leak? It's not leaking from the axle seals as far as I can tell. I replaced the fill and drain plug seals but that didn't seem to stop it. I live in Ohio so rust is a huge issue..
@@TimmyTheToolman it's honestly hard to tell.. The whole diff is coated in some sort of rubberized liner/rustproofing. It looks like it may be coming from the top but also some other areas. Still kind of looks like some is coming from the drain plug but that could be because it all runs down to that point before it drips on the ground.
@@DerfLrak Well, it might be corrosion ate a whole in your axle housing. I would clean it up really well with degreaser and then keep a close eye on it. You should be able to tell where the oil is originating from.
@@TimmyTheToolman I hope this isn't the case.. What should I do if it is going through the housing? Sorry, I'm not very mechanically inclined and this vehicle is my daily driver so I'm just worried. I love this 4runner, it's just causing me alot of anxiety with it leaking like that
@@DerfLrak Like I said clean it up really good everywhere. When diagnosing the source of a leak, first see where it's accumulating under the rig. Start looking up and see where you find trails of oil. You keep looking up until you don't see anymore oil. The oil is going to travel towards the ground due to gravity. The highest point you see oil originating from is most likely your leak source. Now, you could have multiple leaks but this is how you do it.
The front diff breather is already extended up on the inside of the driver side fender in the engine compartment. You could raise it higher by replacing the hose with one that's longer and then mounting wherever you see fit.
I’ve wheeled for 30 years in Australia and trust me water can get in. If you do water crossings definitely do this mod. In Australia water crossings are common place out on the tracks.
The list of parts, including the suggested amount of hose, is in the video description. Click on "Show More" and the video description will expand out to a whole lot more information for you.
I'm at work and don't have access to my factory service manual. This breather isn't a part that needs super accurate torquing. Put some teflon tape on the threads and snug it up. If anything, I'd err on the side of being too loose. You will have threads showing when it's properly tightened.
You're saying there isn't a breather? It was my understanding every differential needs a breather because the pressure that builds up as the differential gets hot needs to go somewhere. If it doesn't go out a breather, it will push past the axle seals which is not good. What the dealer told you doesn't make any sense.
@@albertcampos959 Maybe they were talking about the trans being a sealed unit. Auto manufacturers started making auto transmissions without a dipstick for some stupid reason. But, even if it was a sealed unit, it would still have a breather.
What’s the need to know info in this video you would like to keep and the “nice to know” info you think we could have omitted? Are you experienced with auto mechanics or a beginner? There might be some obvious info that we include but we never know what type of experience our viewers have and always assume they have never picked up a wrench. Appreciate the feedback and we will try to be as concise as possible (when possible). - Sean
This channel is like This Old House - 3rd Gen 4Runner edition. Love it.
We're glad you like it and there will be lots more videos coming. Sean and I don't plan on slowing down anytime soon.
Awesome! What would it take to get you to work on my rig? :)
If Sean and I can make a new video of what you want done, we will do the work for lunch and beers. If you are looking for something done we've already made a video of, that's a different story. We're not really mechanics for hire but I have helped one guy so far with the rear axle seal job and he gave me some money for my time. So, it's more of a case by case basis for me in regards to working on people's rigs for money.
Makes sense man. Are you still doing the BBQ thing on the 28th? I saw you posted in the Tacoma World forums about it. Would be cool to meet you and Sean in person.
Yeah Dude, you're welcome to attend. Send me a message on Tacoma World and I'll give you my address.
This channel is video gold. So glad Timmy is a 3rd gen kind of guy!
Thanks Frank. We appreciate the nice compliment. Happy Wrenching!
Hey Timmy. Thanks so much for this. I think you also taught me how to do the valve cover replacement. I did this diff vent mod on the weekend and it was a quick job once I did the prep work. So, here's my 2 cents worth: It's not hard to get the plastic plugs out of the filler cover if you get a screw driver under the flange and just pry gently until enough clearance to get needle nose in. Then rock back and forth and they come out and can be reused. I couldn't figure out where to route the line. I was going to try under the rear seat, but then I thought about spilled drinks in the back seat and realized it was not very high. I'm sure I'd never get it deep enough in water to come in the vehicle, but you never know. So your routing was an easier alternative to drilling and creating a potential rust point. I put the vent in exactly the same place as it was natural position following the gas vent pipe. I used 5/16 gas line and covered both the steel vent pipe and the rubber line with heater hose. This gave some crush resistance with the tightened ties and held the rubber vent line away from the steel line to reduce the chances of abrasion. Once I left the wheel well, I went over the gas filler tube at the support clip between the floor and filler pipe. I had 6 ft 2 inches of gas line and had about 1ft 6 inches left. So 5 ft should do the job. It's probably a good idea for any 3rd gen owner to take that plastic filler cover in the wheel well off. My filler pipe has quite a bit of rust on it which I wire wheeled, rust morted and repainted before running the line. One thing worth noting. I was able to blow air out of breather no problem. However when I sucked, the cover seated so tightly that no air could be sucked through. Since there is a possibility of sudden negative pressure occurring when going through cold water, that concerned me. So I took the breather cap off and put 4 small notches at the bottom of the aluminum breather cover so that air could pass in a negative pressure situation. Worked perfectly when I tested it before putting it on the diff nipple. The tip of the plastic is a ball and there is no way that water could go against gravity and go into the end of that ball. It might be worth doing so that the cover doesn't make and air-tight seal under negative pressure. Thanks so much for the part numbers. I'm hoping that I never have to replace the axle seals again. I've blown them twice. I really appreciate your guidance with these jobs to keep my 96 running!
Glad you found the video helpful. Good to know you can get those plastic clips out without breaking them. As for the negative pressure situation, I don't know if that's really an issue you have to worry about. From what I remember, the OEM breather on the top of the differential doesn't allow for negative pressure either. The OEM breather has a spring that keeps the valve shut until enough positive pressure overcomes the spring pressure and allows the excessive pressure to escape. When there is rapid cooling like you said going through a water crossing, you wouldn't want the breather to have the ability to suck back in because then you'd be sucking in water into the differential which isn't good. I'm pretty sure these breathers, especially the OEM breather, is only meant to allow positive pressure to escape so you don't blow out your rear axle seals.
Just got around to doing This mod today on my 1st gen Tacoma. Ended up using 3/8 fuel line instead of 5/16 [ local hardware store didn’t have 5/16 in stock]. Should’ve done it years ago. Wanted to add that my truck didn’t have the protective plastic cover going over the gas fill tube not sure if Tacoma‘s have this or not. It made it a little easier routing the line up basically going up along the frame and then following the gas fill tube to the opening. My truck has a hard plastic cover going over the gas fill tube opening I just found a drillbit that matched The circumference of the new diff breather and made a hole for it to slide up through. Pretty easy and straightforward hopefully it works out well. Tim thanks again for the instructions and making these videos🍻
Good job getting it done. I'm glad our video helped you out. You're very welcome. Happy Wrenching!
Really great video demonstration of the mod, really great accuracy to all the details and included all the parts and info, worked like a charm, thanks for making such informative and helpful videos!
Glad you found the video helpful Caelan. Happy Wrenching and Sic Mods!
Hey Tim - quick question. So with the breather mod for the rear diff complete, the front having one stock extended, where does that leave the Tcase and autotrans breathers? Do they need extending as well?
Thanks in advance!
@@caelanmacdonald3265 Good question. The breather tube for the transfer case leads to a void between the transmission and transfer case and there's a breather over that void. Then the transmission has it's own breather. They are fairly high up so you'd have to be in some pretty deep water before you'd submerge them. In order to extend these breathers, you'd have to pry off the top cap of the breathers so you could connect some type of tubing to it. It would be nice if you could just unscrew the breather and replace it with a fitting like we can do with the rear differential breather but these breathers for the transmission and transfer case are pressed in. I haven't bothered to do it on my rig because I'm a little hesitant to start prying on those breathers and possibly destroy them making matters worse. I don't know if you can buy those breathers if you did destroy one and how to go about removing and reinstalling one.
@@TimmyTheToolman Ahhh this makes sense.. good information, again - I really appreciate it! I'm going to do some digging on that, this points me where to look. I'll let you know if I find anything!
Keep up the great work!
@@caelanmacdonald3265 You're welcome and let me know what you find out.
Another well made, helpful video! I just installed my RSG sliders w/ your help. Gonna tackle the rear diff breather today... THANKS! BTW, noticed the IAFF helmet sticker on the window, “Stay safe, Brother”!!! 👨🏾🚒🔧👍🏾🪓
We're glad you like the video. Good luck with the differential breather mod and you stay safe as well. Happy Wrenching!
great video ! i did the same thing and decided to run the hose down the gas tank plastic protection that comes from the gas cap instead of taking that ptotection off from under the fender that way i didnt have to buy new gromets ... so running it down and then doing everything you did worked great !!!.. thanks again
Thanks Jorge. Glad you like the video. Good job getting it done and thanks for sharing the way you did it. Happy Wrenching.
You have a FANTASTIC channel.
Thanks Robert, we're glad you think so. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Thanks for taking the time to make all these vids! I have two questions... Does the breather actually breathe to keep neg pressure from building in the diff? Or is it more like a one way valve that releases positive pressure? I have seen people use brass breathers (or filter) that look like a semi conical cylinder.
Second question, why not run it up to the engine bay where the other two breathers are located?
The OEM breather releases positive pressure. You could run the line wherever you like. Running it to the engine bay would just require more hose and time to secure it along it's route.
Partner, I want to thank you and your friends for the wealth of info you’ve supplied me for my 2002 “pretty much stock” 240,000 mile Limited. It still turns heads at the stop lights. So now I have a question. Was about to do the rear breaks and saw grease around the drum. I checked the differential vent and as I removed it a burst of pressure was released. I cleaned it and your tech advice on checking to make sure it worked. Does that release of pressure show that my vent was plugged? I will after any repairs done here will relocate the vent cap as you did at the gas cap area. Oh yeah and one more thing too. You answer all the subscribers questions, thanks man.
Well Partner, you're very welcome. I've unscrewed several breathers and I've never experienced a burst of pressure escape so I think that could very well mean your breather wasn't working that well. But, did you remove the breather immediately after a drive? Maybe the breather was working but the amount of pressure in the rear end wasn't enough to actuate the spring mechanism in the breather. I do think it is a good idea to do the extended breather mod. You should pull the ABS sensors on both sides of the axle housing and see how much gear oil has accumulated in those spaces. With that many miles, you are probably do for a rear axle seal job. I've now seen axles seals fail on both my 3rd Gens with way less miles than you have.
I really appreciate the fact that you are the first person to recognize that Sean and I answer pretty much every question and acknowledge every comment that comes in on our channel. Some questions and comments squeak by us but that's an exception to the rule. Our channel isn't so big that we can't keep up with the questions and comments that come in on a daily basis. I realize the big boys in the UA-cam Automotive Channel World don't have the ability to answer every question that comes in and some of those channels don't seem to answer any questions which I find a little strange. It seems logical to me that If you're willing to make videos, you should be willing to answer people's questions and try to answer them in a timely manner because somebody might be in the middle of a repair and looking for help asap, and not a week later. Sometimes Sean and I are both tied up and we don't get to a question right away and that's just the way it goes sometimes. We could be busy with other things or we might not have an internet connection like when I go camping or I'm out fighting a wildland fire somewhere in California.
Thanks a lot for taking the time to comment. Happy Wrenching!
The 4Runner Tim had not been driven and was up on stands. I did check the ABS sensors and they we’re awash in gear oil. So yes I plane to do the seals and then rear brakes. I was yeah cool time to do my rears and then saw gear oil.But getting back to the pressure on the release valve that’s what I heard and the valve was hard to blow through.So yes I’m ordering the kit you installed on your Runner. Thank you guys!
You're welcome and good luck with the job.
Todo tus vídeos son de gran ayuda Sería bueno que también lo hicieras en español saludos
Thanks for all your videos! They are very helpful. Do you think I can use some leftover 3/8" ID hose from a trans cooler install or would it be too loose?
The 3/8" might work. It's a little bigger than 5/16" so I don't know how well it will fit onto the fittings. I'd buy the fitting first and then see if the hose fits ok. If it doesn't, just shoot over to the local auto parts store and buy some 5/16" hose.
Thank you, Tim! Any issues with your diff or the breather years after doing this? After going through some fairly deep water on the trails recently, I figured I'd better do this mod ASAP to avoid future issues. Appreciate you taking the time to walk through the setup after losing your video (still awesome content and helped me to see where/how to route the fuel line on mine). In the middle of this mod, I looked down and realized I had my old school Vans on with the fat shoelaces - guess I was channeling Seannie Sean.
Everything is good. I've done this mod on both my 3rd Gens with no issues. There's really not much that could go wrong with it provided the install was done right. One area I think could cause an issue is not giving enough slack in the hose to allow for axle droop while 4wheeling and the hose gets ripped off the differential fitting. The breather is a simple breather that really can't fail.
@@TimmyTheToolman yes, the slack was a great tip, and I left a little bit on mine just like you showed (and trimmed the excess hose to use for abrasion protection in spots - another great tip). And I have to say, I feel a little better pulling the new breather through the rubber grommet in the gas cap area. When I pulled that plastic fill tube protector off, there was all kinds of salt and dirt built up back there. Thanks, again!
@@eljefeslash Yeah, the breather stays nice and clean in the gas cap area. Not much dirt and debris can get in there. You're very welcome. Glad our video helped you out.
Thanks, this video was really helpful! I was a little paranoid about putting the Teflon tape on and couldn’t tell if I was putting it on right. I’m pretty sure I wrapped it in the right direction...out of curiosity is it bad if it is wrapped in the wrong direction.
If it's wrapped in the wrong direction, the turning off the nipple has the tendency to unravel the tape off the threads. If you didn't see that happening, you're good to go.
Great channel! Do you know if this could be done similarly for a GX470? I know the vehicles are considered “cousins” in many ways, but I am not sure how their rear diffs match up. Keep up the great work!
We're glad you like our channel. I'm sure you could extend your breather like this. The only question is will the same breather nipple that screws into the differential work. I bet it's probably is the same thread size and pitch. Then you just have to figure out where the best play to run the tube and breather to. Maybe you could also do the same and run it up the gas fill pipe and have the breather sit behind the gas fill hatch door. If you do it, let us know how it works out for you.
Tim Allen may be funny, but Timmy is a genius.
I don't think my IQ test would reflect a genius level, but I appreciate the compliment nonetheless. People actually consider me funny too but in a very politically incorrect way that I sometimes show snippets of in our videos. But, for the most part, I keep our videos PG. Thanks for the comment.
Another great video. Thank you! Getting ready to do this, but I have a question: The breather/check valve makes perfect sense mounted down low where it might be exposed to water, but mounted up high the way you've done it, is there any reason for the valve? Why not just use a small filter or even a fine mesh covering over the end of the hose? It's seems to me this would accommodate both positive and negative pressure in the diff.
The breather style used in the mod is basically a straight pipe with a lid on it. When you blow through it, you don't first have to overcome resistance of a valve. So, you could use some other type of topper like a small filter.
Tim. Great video! Very informative. Just curious why you didn't reuse the old breather? Was it bad or did you need to buy a different breather? On a different note, do you think the transmission need a mod like this too? Thanks.
It wasn't bad. Just decided to replace it. The transmission breather sits quite a bit higher than the rear diff breather. It's basically right under the floor. If you plan on going through water as deep as the bottom of your doors, it might be a good idea to raise it to a higher spot, most likely in the engine compartment. But, the breather for the trans and transfer case are a press fit breather. You can't unscrew them. So, you'd have to twist and break off the breather top so you could connect a hose to the breather piping.
@@TimmyTheToolman Got it..makes sense. I wasn't sure where they are. I'm thinking about doing the diff for sure. Why didn't you just extend it up higher and mount the breather to some dry and secure location ( i can see a few clean and dry area on my 4runner) instead of the gas fill? Thanks for the quick reply by the way!
@@genxiong2695 Behind the gas fill door is a pretty safe bet the breather will never get corroded or clogged. Under the vehicle, especially when you're driving through mud and water, there doesn't seem to be a place under the rig that wouldn't be affected. But, if you've got a location that you think would work well, you can run the breather to wherever you like. Good luck with the job.
Timmy
Great vid as usual, so I'm an fzj80 guy can those parts fit on my truck? Did you get them at Toyota? Can I use a regular pcv valve, which comes standard on my truck for this application? Your replacement breather looks like the pcv valve for my truck but my valve has that ball in it, which acts as a check valve.
Glad you like the video. Check the video description by clicking on "Show More" to expand the video description. They are Toyota parts and they are linked there. The breather is not a PCV valve. It's just a simple breather with no check valve. I suppose you could use a PCV valve but this is something I have never tried.
I ran mine all the way up the frame rail to the front of the firewall teed off at the transfer case and then the transmission and again at the front diff and all runs up to the highest point on the firewall thanks for the idea and I just finished my 167 snorkel install so I plan to run it to my airbox
How did you connect into those breathers on the tops of the transfer case and transmission? Those are fixed fittings.
I just Pride off the caps and used a little bit thicker 3/8 line.
Gotcha. When we did Sean's transmission swap, I was thinking about something like you did to get the breathers higher but I was wondering if I'd screw it up and break the breather fittings and then literally be screwed. I'm guessing they pried off pretty easily?
Thanks for sharing this Adam. Maybe we'll make a video of it.
Do you have a feedback after 3 years from installation? anything that you would do differently. Thanks for great video
Everything has been fine with this breather mod. The only thing that maybe someone could do differently is possibly route the breather to another location like the engine compartment. The route to the gas fill hatch is close, so I think it's a nice option rather than running line further to the front of the vehicle.
Timmy The Toolman Thanks for the comments.
@@tothepointvids5192 You're welcome.
I’m planing to do the same work on my RAV4. But I’m modifying the fill in plug to be the breather as well since it’s above the oil liquid level but the main reason is the vent breather can’t be reached without lowering the differential. The union you used has 10Mx1.0 threads, and I need M18x 1.5 threaded union. Any hints on how to find the Toyota part # for my application if any. Thanks
Another great video Timmy. One question though, apologies if I missed this. So as far as I can understand it, when the diff heats up, the fluid and air expand so Toyota vented the diff to release the positive pressure, otherwise it could blow out the axle seals. Got it. However, when we dunk a hot diff in cold water, the pressure rapidly drops and creates a vacuum. With the stock breather (really an exhaler not a breather right?) that is used in this sick mod, it doesn't seem to allow any air in to replace the vacuum. So since a vent was added to keep the seals from blowing out under positive pressure, couldn't they also let in air (or water if the diff/axle is submerged) under vacuum if the vent isn't allowing any air in? I just got the breather and it seems to only let air out. I realize Toyota designed it this way from the factory, but eventually something will have to fill the vacuum to bring the diff back to the barometric pressure of wherever the truck is, and it will have to come from somewhere.
I'm pretty sure that breather will allow air in both directions. I at first thought that breather was a one-way valve but somebody told me they took one apart and there's no check valve.
@@TimmyTheToolman
Finally did the mod. The breather I got in the kit from yotashop was definitely a one way but I popped the cover off and removed the rubber disc that seats on the valve to seal it (acts as a sort of check valve). I don’t know if that’s the same one that is linked but it looks similar. Thanks as always for the help Timmy!
@@benriewer7817 That's good to know Ben. Thanks for sharing.
Hey Tim, Do you know anyone that can point me in the direction of the forms more on this? I’m interested in knowing what other vehicles this kit fits. Sick mods!!
I bet it would work on any Toyota because the thread size and pitch on the differential is probably the same on all of them. Where you route the breather might be different depending on the areas available you can access to run the hose and breather too.
@@TimmyTheToolman really? I had no idea, I'll have to hit up a couple friends. I've been thinking about putting these kits together and offering them for sale since I rolled over my rig earlier this year. I plan on rolling them out for sale later today. I want to save up for another 4runner
Hi Tim, thanks for yet another great video. I have ordered the parts and will extend the rear diff as soon as everything arrives. That said, do you happen to know anything about the set up for the breather on the front diff of a 99. I believe it's already extended into the engine bay, but I have a hard time finding it.. Any thoughts? Thanks again!
The front diff breather extends up and plugs into a clip on the driver side fender well inside the engine compartment
@@TimmyTheToolman Thanks!
@@it4dps You're welcome.
Hey Tim, Mine was rusted shut, I did this a while ago before you uploaded your video. I just swapped it without running extending it like you did. Good thing Forum members posted this or else i would have had to do real axle seals. I'm surprised 2 mechanics didn't pick up on this, and call me out on it. I feel it should be changed every few years if you aren't doing a breather mod. Like the PCV valve.
question for you, was your tighten all the way from the factory? It seems mine was not snug so I didn't run my replacement all the way down.
With mine tightened fairly snug, there was still 2-3 thread showing.
Thanks :D
Hey Tim. Any reason you can think of to not use 5/16" vacuum line instead of fuel line? It is far cheaper, more flexible, and would have no problem handling the very low pressure we are trying to accommodate. The heat at the diff should also be minimal. I'm just curious to hear your thoughts on this. Thanks again!
Hey Michael, the only downside I could see with vacuum hose is it will collapse easier than a stiffer type of hose like the fuel line. If you wanted to securely fasten the hose along it's route with zipties, would you be able to get the zipties tight without collapsing the inner diameter of the hose? If 5/16" vacuum hose is pretty sturdy and you can ziptie it in place tight enough so the hose isn't moving around causing a potential friction spot that could wear a hole in it, I don't see why you couldn't use it instead.
Good lockdown mod, is there a reason havnt bothered to the transfer case and auto trans? Cheers
The transfer case and auto trans could be extended also but it would take a little alteration to the breathers. The breathers on the trans and transfer case are a press fit and not screwed in. This means you can't simply unscrew the breather and insert a nipple like we do for the rear differential. You would have to pry off the cap of the breather and then attach a hose to it and run it up wherever you want the breather to be, most likely the engine compartment.
By any chance, do you know if these parts will work on a 5th gen, 2020 4Runner TRD off-road? I'm assuming since it does not appear they change much over the lifespan of this vehicle they will?
@@mladetto7453 I'm not sure. The union that screws into the diff isn't that expensive. Just buy it and see if it's the same size thread and pitch of your OEM breather. If it is, you're golden. Now, running it to your gas fill hatch might be a different operation, but it may be similar too. The breather that attaches to the end of the hose will obviously work for you.
Really great vid. Thanks bro
You're very welcome.
Went underneath my rig today & noticed fluid on driver rear tire is it possible if my breather is clogged I could change it & relocate it & possibly stop the leaking ? Or is it too late now I need to do a axle job ?
if you have gear oil coming out on the rear tire, your wheel bearing has been compromised because the gear oil washed out some or most of the grease from the bearing. Currently, your bearing could be relying on the gear oil getting past the seal to keep the bearing lubricated. If it was a clogged breather and replacing the breather stops the leak, now you no longer have gear oil getting to the bearing to keep it properly lubricated. If you drive far enough and fast enough with an improperly lubricated bearing, bad things happen. Further, your rear brakes shoes have been probably compromised and are coated in gear oil so a rear brake job is in order. My recommendation is do the full axle seal and bearing job on both sides. I'm guessing you know we have a couple videos on the subject you can use to get it done. I recommend watching both videos and reading the comments we pinned (1st comment you see) for updates on the repair. We also have a video on how to renew the rear brake shoes. Good luck!
Hey Timmy, I forgot to use Teflon tape. Should it be ok, or should I do it over again?
If it's not leaking, don't worry about it.
Do you think Teflon tape would be necessary for the union fitting thread? Thanks
Not absolutely necessary but I added some to avoid a possible seepage of gear oil from the connection. If you put the plug in without tape and it ends up leaking a bit, simply unscrew the plug and add some tape. Problem solved
Does the front diff need one too?
The front diff already has an extended breather. Look on the driver side fender well in your engine compartment and you'll spot the breather.
Can I do this with a ARB diff breather or is this diy kit better or both the same? What about the front diff and transfer case do they need diff breathers?
What you connect the hose up to is your choice. You could use the ARB breather manifold if you want.
The front diff already has a breather that is extended and mounted onto the driver side fender well in the engine compartment. Could it benefit being routed higher? Yeah, it could if you plan on crossing deep water crossings.
The transfer case and transmission do have breathers as well. On an automatic transmission, the breather nipple is pressed into the transmission body so you can't just simply unscrew it. You would need to pry off (basically break it) the breather off the nipple and then attach a hose to it to be routed to a breather manifold like the ARB or just a single breather. The transfer case breather is a small u-shaped hose that goes from a nipple on the side of the transfer case shifter plate and attaches to another nipple at the end of the transmission. The pressure is escaped into a void space between the transfer case and transmission and there is a breather above that void. You would again have to pry off the breather cap so you could attach a hose and route it to a breather location of your choosing.
I hope this helped.
Was it teflon tape you put on the threads for the piece that plugs into the differential? Or a spray?
Teflon tape.
i just extended a T100 rear axle like this. previously i did front, and rear axles on an 80series landcruiser. i found that above and beside the rear light cluster on the T100 theres lots of space. it's higher than the fuel filler and you dont have to drill any holes in the metal. i even had room in there to put a filer on the end of the fuel now ( now air lines) . Anyway one question i had was does the transfer case have a breather on a t100? i've not looked yet but i'm sure i did extend a breather on the lc 80 but that was about 5 years ago am i cannot remember now ( it's also currently in a different country to me so i can't go check, just have the t 100 here in canada.
The transfer case will have a breather. On a 3rd Gen 4runner, there's a fitting on the right side of the transfer case right next to the shifter plate. A hose connects to it and it goes to another fitting which leads to the void space between the transmission and transfer case. Over the void area, there's a breather. The transmission also has a breather. These breather nipples are a press fit into the housing. You can't simply unscrew the breather and put on a different fitting with a nipple. You would have to twist off the breather cap (basically break it off) so you could attach a hose to the nipple and then run the line to wherever you want.
Great videos I will watch more of them . I own a Toyota Tacoma or some people call a 🌮.
David Woodbury Hey David, welcome to our channel. I'm sure you'll find a lot videos we've made helpful for your 1st Gen Taco. Happy Wrenching!
Is this the same on the Limited with locking diff? Not sure if or when you might see this with the fire situation. Thanks
Yes, this would be the same. The diff breather is in the same spot on the top of the axle housing.
I bought me a breather kit for my titan and was wondering, do I need the peice with the cap on it with the rubber and spring on it? The kit just has a fuel filter and fuel line
You don't need cap with the spring. As long as you put that filter in an area that's high and protected, you don't need a one-way valve type of breather.
Could of placed the jack stands on the frame for max droop of rear axle. Still good info.
Yeah, I could have but from experience knew the amount of slack I afforded myself in the breather line was more than enough with the axle at full droop.
Can you make a video of the transfer case/ transmission breather mods?
Maybe one day. Not any time soon though.
I took my breather off of my Tacoma and when it came out it went poof letting some trapped air out. I replaced out with a new one.
But I did put wd40 in the old one and loosened it up and kept it for a spair.
Good job.
While on the topic of diffs. Is there any backlash adjustment on the rear differential ring gear?
Yes, you can adjust it but I've never done it myself.
i recently had tires rotated and was told there were signs of axle leak. i previously had the axl seal replaced on the left side. im wondering if the mechanic probly didnt replace the breather. the part is under warrant but cant get it in the shop for a few weeks would you say its safe to drive with the leak?
i live in colorado and dont have access to a work area or tools would it be acceptable to just replace the factory breather more frequent until i can do the mod
@@cameronburson1473 There's more to this than just the possibility that the breather is clogged. Just replacing the axle seal quite often doesn't fix the problem because the mechanics don't have all the information regarding this repair. You should watch this video and then you'll know more than what 90% of the mechanics out there know about the rear axle seal problem with these rigs. ua-cam.com/video/AVhSDnw2ugo/v-deo.html
@@TimmyTheToolman right im just realizing ive noticed my ujoints going out so that could be the source
@@cameronburson1473 A bad u-joint has nothing to do with your axle seal leaking again.
I didn't catch the final length of the hose. Is it 6 ft as listed under the video description including enough slack for some suspension flex?
Yes, 6 feet is enough hose to allow for articulation of the rear axle.
@@TimmyTheToolman awesome! Thanks for the quick reply! 99% of my at home maintenance work are based off your library of videos aside from purchasing my own repair book volumes as well
@@at_offthegrid You're welcome. Great to hear our videos are helping you with your rig. Happy Wrenching!
I just cut the top of the breather off and shoved a screwdriver down it to make sure ot was open, shoved a hose over it and clamped it down, put a little cone filter on the other end and zip tied it to the underside of the cab.. done.. an extra 2 feet of clearance..
Replacing the breather with an nipple is a better option, but hopefully you got a good seal with the hose and clamp.
Do we ever need to change the stock one like part of maintenance?
The stock breather can become corroded and not work, especially in areas where they salt the roadways due to icy conditions. It's not a bad idea to pull it off every so often and blow through it just to make sure it's working. All it takes is a deep 14mm socket and ratchet to get off. If you find it's totally blocked and not working, replace it. Easy Peasy.
@@TimmyTheToolman ok yeah I live in Cali n just street truck never off roading but yeah I’ll replace it since not hard n it’s cheap .thanks
@@Emperor_1971 You're welcome.
Would this possibly solve my rear Diff leak? It's not leaking from the axle seals as far as I can tell. I replaced the fill and drain plug seals but that didn't seem to stop it. I live in Ohio so rust is a huge issue..
Where is it leaking from?
@@TimmyTheToolman it's honestly hard to tell.. The whole diff is coated in some sort of rubberized liner/rustproofing. It looks like it may be coming from the top but also some other areas. Still kind of looks like some is coming from the drain plug but that could be because it all runs down to that point before it drips on the ground.
@@DerfLrak Well, it might be corrosion ate a whole in your axle housing. I would clean it up really well with degreaser and then keep a close eye on it. You should be able to tell where the oil is originating from.
@@TimmyTheToolman I hope this isn't the case.. What should I do if it is going through the housing? Sorry, I'm not very mechanically inclined and this vehicle is my daily driver so I'm just worried. I love this 4runner, it's just causing me alot of anxiety with it leaking like that
@@DerfLrak Like I said clean it up really good everywhere. When diagnosing the source of a leak, first see where it's accumulating under the rig. Start looking up and see where you find trails of oil. You keep looking up until you don't see anymore oil. The oil is going to travel towards the ground due to gravity. The highest point you see oil originating from is most likely your leak source. Now, you could have multiple leaks but this is how you do it.
What was the thread size of the fitting you used on the axle??
Check the video description. We provide a link to the fitting.
Will the same fittings work on a gen 1 Tacoma?
Yes, the differential fitting will work for your 1st Gen Tacoma.
@@TimmyTheToolman Thanks for the reply and the helpful video!
Is there anything for the front diff needed?
The front diff breather is already extended up on the inside of the driver side fender in the engine compartment. You could raise it higher by replacing the hose with one that's longer and then mounting wherever you see fit.
Idk where people get the image that water will come in there because its a 1 way check valve, only air can go out but water cant come in.
If the valve gets stuck open due to corrosion then water can get in.
I’ve wheeled for 30 years in Australia and trust me water can get in. If you do water crossings definitely do this mod. In Australia water crossings are common place out on the tracks.
Is it possible when under negative pressure and the valve closes that there’s enough vacuum to draw water in through the axle seals?
Did I miss where how much hose was needed?
The list of parts, including the suggested amount of hose, is in the video description. Click on "Show More" and the video description will expand out to a whole lot more information for you.
Do you know the torque spec on the breather by chance
I'm at work and don't have access to my factory service manual. This breather isn't a part that needs super accurate torquing. Put some teflon tape on the threads and snug it up. If anything, I'd err on the side of being too loose. You will have threads showing when it's properly tightened.
Crap, thought this was the Seanny the Sean Man channel...
It is Seanny's channel.
Called my lexus dealership gx470 diff's are sealed.
You're saying there isn't a breather? It was my understanding every differential needs a breather because the pressure that builds up as the differential gets hot needs to go somewhere. If it doesn't go out a breather, it will push past the axle seals which is not good. What the dealer told you doesn't make any sense.
@@TimmyTheToolman hmmm....maybe the dealer was full of shite...will look into it further
@@albertcampos959 Maybe they were talking about the trans being a sealed unit. Auto manufacturers started making auto transmissions without a dipstick for some stupid reason. But, even if it was a sealed unit, it would still have a breather.
@@TimmyTheToolman yep, I think you are correct! Damn dealers, who do they hire!? Ghaaaa!!
Timmy love your vids but they are way too long and go into unnecessary detail.
What’s the need to know info in this video you would like to keep and the “nice to know” info you think we could have omitted? Are you experienced with auto mechanics or a beginner? There might be some obvious info that we include but we never know what type of experience our viewers have and always assume they have never picked up a wrench. Appreciate the feedback and we will try to be as concise as possible (when possible).
- Sean