Front axle breather/Blown front seal

[dsasteel]

I have noticed gear oil coming from my front differential housing where the left axle goes into the housing. I have replaced this seal before VERY carefully to make sure there was zero dirt in there that would wear the seal again.

Is there a breather on the front I should be checking? I saw what looked like a breather with a long hose going up into the engine compartment. Is that it?

I just want to make sure that if I replace this seal again, I dont blow it out because of a diff breather issue.


Thanks!

[fourwd1]

Yes, the fitting on the top of the axle housing would be for the breather.
And yes, if it's clogged the pressure can blow out a seal.

[TURNER]

while yer in there ext. that breather too. it doesnt run up into the engine bay like it seems, it actually stops just above the oil pan if i remember right. get the correct tubing to fit on the hard line and run that breather all the way up to the top of the engine bay. on my junk the front breather doesnt have a spring loaded valve like the rear does so theres much more chance that one will get clogged

[dsasteel]

Thanks for the replies. Turner, the front diff breather tube, in mine, runs up beside the drivers side of the engine so I don't think i need to increase the length of it. I think my problem is the tubing is clogged. I checked the breather cap and it's loose and spins freely like it should. So next I'm going to take the whole line off and check it.

I made a mod on the rear breather with a same-thread fitting that allowed me to take 1/4 tubing with an air filter to right underneath my bed, so that covers my rear.

I did notice when I took my front diff fill plug out after it had been sitting over night, the gear oil didn't flow out, but after I run it for a while and take the fill plug loose, gear oil comes pouring out. So i think it's definitely a clogged breather. I'll keep you updated.