Front differential vent

[mwood65]

Hey guys,


Just checked the differential fluid levels in my 74' Cherokee and when I removed the front plug vanilla milk shake poured out. I noticed the vent tube was missing and obviously got a lot of water in there.



It's a Dana 44 and the hole is in the top driver side of the diff housing and I am trying to figure out if it is a press in or a threaded hole. I raked a pick inside the hole and couldn't feel any threads so I think maybe a pressed in fitting??


If anyone knows what I need I would appreciate any advice.


Gotta get a new gasket, lube and whatever I need to install the vent line...


Gonna be fun to clean it out....or not.

[tgreese]

Originally Posted by mwood65

Hey guys,


Just checked the differential fluid levels in my 74' Cherokee and when I removed the front plug vanilla milk shake poured out. I noticed the vent tube was missing and obviously got a lot of water in there.



It's a Dana 44 and the hole is in the top driver side of the diff housing and I am trying to figure out if it is a press in or a threaded hole. I raked a pick inside the hole and couldn't feel any threads so I think maybe a pressed in fitting??


If anyone knows what I need I would appreciate any advice.


Gotta get a new gasket, lube and whatever I need to install the vent line...


Gonna be fun to clean it out....or not.

As I recall, it's a pressed-in tube (and lame). They come loose easily. Anything you can figure out has to be better than the orginal.

[babywag]

Any I have seen are just pressed in tube.
easiest solution is tap the hole and screw in a barbed fitting.

[mwood65]

Originally Posted by babywag

Any I have seen are just pressed in tube.
easiest solution is tap the hole and screw in a barbed fitting.

Yeah, That's what I figured doing, Looks like about a 3/8" hole...


Thanks for the input!

[mwood65]

Originally Posted by tgreese

As I recall, it's a pressed-in tube (and lame). They come loose easily. Anything you can figure out has to be better than the orginal.

Careful what ya say there fella! I can "figure out" some crazy stuff.


Just gonna tap the hole and use a screw in barbed fitting (with lock tight) and then run the vent hose up to the inner fender somewhere...

[tgreese]

Originally Posted by mwood65

... then run the vent hose up to the inner fender somewhere...

From the factory, they run it up to a loop clamp on one of the radiator bolts. The end of the hose has a vent cap that should seal out large amounts of water. Like this, but $10 each seems outrageous.

www.summitracing.com/parts/rnb-924-284

[babywag]

autozone $5.99

[mwood65]

Well....


The diff was cleaned out thoroughly and a Fel-Pro gasket installed, then filled with new gear oil.


No leaks so I guess it was a win!


All the gears look great inside so it should be all good now.


Trans drained and re-filled with new gear oil and the transfer case also.


Everything is good now and after I change the rear gear oil it will all be 100%.



Don't know yet if the rear diff got water in it yet but either way it needs to be changed but I need to get more gear oil, a gasket and more brake kleen. That's a job for tomorrow....

[inkedmonkey]

When I changed the diff fluid in the front of mine, I found a foamy mess. No idea what caused it so I just cleaned it out and put some new fluid in it.

[rang-a-stang]

When I changed the muck in the front diff in mine, it all dribbled out through the gap where the axle tube meets the pumpkin. Guess my axle is probably bent.

[tgreese]

Originally Posted by rang-a-stang

When I changed the muck in the front diff in mine, it all dribbled out through the gap where the axle tube meets the pumpkin. Guess my axle is probably bent.

I would look for cracks in the housing casting. You could also use an electronic level and see if the left and right tubes are out of level with each other.

[J20 project]

Find an old skool welder and have him/her weld around it. Pretty common that the press fit/seal/glue could fail on them.