I was doing the trans filter and all and I was inspecting my front end parts and found a rubber hose that has been rubbing against the front DS and now has a large worn hole in it. Its positioned directly above the front diff. Anyone know what this is for? I'm going to replace it asap but I'd like to know what it is and what may or may not have been working correctly due to it.

 

axle breather tube?

 

Yup its the breather tube fro the front axle, the rear has one aswell.

 

yea i wouldnt fret too much about that, just dont take it through deep enough water to let water get in your diff. if you're replaceing it you mine as well get a longer one for the diffs that re-routes the breathers to inside the frame so you can go through h2o and not have to change your diff fluid every time.

 

My front one runs up to my firewall. The back one loops around and then goes up to the frame/unibody rail, because I couldn't find a way to get it any higher back there.

 

If the hole is at driveshaft height, I would replace it immediately. You don't want any kind of contaminents getting into the diff, onroad or off.

This is what could happen. I was on the Highway and had no idea there was water in my diff, until it was too late!
(AMC 20 from CJ7)

 

I just had the one on my TJ come off the radiator(where it was mounted) and drag on teh highway... looked kinda funny when i saw it.

 

Yeah, this isn't good news for me or my front axle. I sunk it well onto the axles a few weeks back in some nice sloshy mud...

I'm servicing all that stuff tomorrow anyway, so hopefully I haven't ****ed anything up yet.

 

Don't worry until you have something to worry about. Open it up and see what you have to deal with. Then worry if need be, but don't lose any sleep over it yet!

 

Just get it done asap and Im sure you will be fine.

 

the vent on my rear 35 just slips in and out of the axel tube. Anone know of a way to keep it water tight besides siliconing the sh@# out of it? How are you guys doing it?

 

JB weld the fitting back into the housing. Let that set up and get a good piece of hose. Use a clamp and that should do it.

 

ive never used jb weld on a plastic fitting. Will it still hold?

 

Yeah, use some sandpaper on the end that goes into the housing and some M.E.K. or another solvent to clean it off. It should hold like crazy if properly prepped. Hope this helps, PEACE OUT!!