What does a rear differential breather do?

What does a rear differential breather do?

What does a diff breather do? From factory, your differentials are fitted with breather valves that vent the pressure build up from inside the diff when they get hot. An aftermarket breather kit’s main job is to raise your breather above the factory levels (usually up much higher somewhere on your firewall).

Can you drive with a messed up rear differential?

You can still drive your vehicle with a bad rear differential, but it can cause severe damages. The problem may increase to the point of stopping you in the middle of nowhere. And, if you are asking about driving with a total broken differential, no, don’t do it unless you want to damage the entire drivetrain system.

Why does a differential need a vent?

As the axle increases in temperature, the air pressure inside the axle likewise increases. To accommodate the increase in air pressure resulting from this heat, manufacturers add a vent tube to the top of the axle as means of releasing this pressurized air to the atmosphere.

What is the purpose of a differential vent?

A differential / axle breather serves the important purpose on a 4WD vehicle of venting the air pressure in your drivetrain assemblies such as differentials, gearbox and transfer case.

What does the differential vent tube do?

Do I need diff breathers?

Why are Diff Breathers important? Extended diff breathers are extremely important insurance for your 4WD if you drive through water. In essence, when you go through a puddle that is near or above diff height, you are dunking a hot differential into cold water.

Does a rear axle need a vent?

Axle vents are something few people ever think about, but they play an important role in keeping the axle in operating condition. Axles generate a lot of heat running down the road. As the axle increases in temperature, the air pressure inside the axle likewise increases.

What do breathers do?

Your vehicle’s intake has a number of rubber lines and hoses attached to it that are open to the atmosphere. Air breather filters for cars and trucks prevent contaminants from making their way into your engine’s intake and crankcase.

What is a differential breather tube?

An axel / differential breather vent serves the important purpose on a 4WD vehicle of venting the air pressure in drivetrain assemblies such as the differentials, transmission and transfer case. Many drivetrain assemblies are fitted with a breather from the factory.

How do you check rear differential?

Check the fluid level with your finger. The gear oil in the rear differential should reach the bottom of the service port hole. Insert one finger into the open service port. Bend your finger downward slightly to see if it comes into contact with gear oil. If your finger touches gear oil, there is enough fluid inside.

How much does it cost to fix rear differential?

The average replacement cost for a whole rear differential is between $1000 and $4000. Luckily, you can just repair it or replace it with a used differential, which will decrease the costs a lot. Most differential repairs will cost between $200 and $400 to repair.

How much does a differential rebuild cost?

If new gears are needed the price can be at least $1,500. Going to the worst-case scenario, if the differential is beyond repair, you’ll need the component to be replaced altogether. You can expect a rear differential replacement to cost up to $4,000.

What happens if transmission vent is clogged?

When the transmission fluid isn’t clean or is blocked by a clogged filter, the internal components won’t have the lubrication they require to function properly. This could lead to shifting issues, grinding gears, slipping transmission or other common symptoms of transmission problems.