Rear axle/diff problems - pressure building up in diff
 

Hi,

I am the owner of a 1999 Cherokee Sport 2.5TD. The vehicle have 55000 miles / 90000km on the clock with a full service history.

Recently the rear diff pushed oil through the breather pipe. It seems that some pressure is building up in the diff.No bearing noise is evident, the oil has been replaced and it is still doing the same.

It is the 1st time ever this happened - I'd really appreciate your advice regarding the matter

Riaan

The only thing I can think of at the moment since this has never happened to me either is Over filled diff

do you drive through water a Lot
you could have sucked up some water and now its over full

Hi,

Thank so much, but I did drain the oil left in the diff and refill to the acceptable level.

I really appreciate your feedback.

Riaan
riaan@propertypicker.co.za
Rustenburg
South Africa

Hi Mike,

No I am not doing serious 4-wheel routes, and I do stay away from water features.

But thank so much for your suggestion, I really appreciate.

Riaan
riaan@propertypicker.co.za
Rustenburg
South Africa

Is this the Dana35?

I recently bought an XJ with the D35 & the previous owner installed Alloy 30 spline axles and an ARB locker. It is doing the same thing, blowing gear oil out of the vent tube.

So I was reading through the literature for the ARB & they claim some D35 have poor drainage from the axle tubes back into the pumpkin and recommend using a dremel tool on the bearing race for each side.

Hello Riaan, welcome.

This is a common occurance. What it sounds like happened is the pressure release on the end of your breather line got stuck (caked with mud/dirt etc till it built enough pressure to pop it open and threw some gear lubericant with it.

Had it been working properly it would have released pressure without throwing lube with it.

Along the unirail you'll see where that breather terminates to a plastic release valve. Clean that good and make sure it can open with slight pressure. Hopefully that will fix your problem.

Hi,

Thank you for your reply.

How do I find out what kind of diff it is?

Nothing has been changed on the diff since it was bought new in 1999, it was going well for 50000 miles and it is the first time that I do experience problems.

Riaan

Hello,

Once again thank you for the advice.

I cleaned the plastic release valve and the diff was still pushing oil through.

I then fitted a bottle, with enough vents in the cork, on the same level than the release valve to find out how much oil it is actually pushing through.

Over a distance of more or less 30 miles it pushed out about a desert spoon full of oil.

If comparing the "temperature" of the diff, after driving the distance mentioned with my other SUV, a Isuzu , it seems to be the same.

If you perhaps come across something else I'd appreciate if you will let me know.

Regards

Riaan du Plessis
riaan@propertypicker.co.za
Rustenburg
South Africa