E-Locker and Differential Breather install, Trail Edition

[1engineer]

Nice write up. I will link it up in the mods sticky when you tell me to.

 

[MTN4RNR]

The ARB is probably better than the Toyota OEM breather but it won't fit behind the gas cap so you need to find somewhere else to mount it. I think the gas cap area stays as clean as the engine bay firewall. Neither place is going to be submerged without much more serious consequences occurring.

Whether you use the grommet shown in other threads or follow my plan, a bigger question here, in my mind, is can the breather be run somewhere else up high in the back end, like behind a tail light or under the tailgate to avoid the hole in the wheel well area. The tailgate area outside the door seals gets much dirtier than the gas cap area on a dusty road because the back side and spoiler act like a draw for fine dust.

Mine ended up in the jack stand compartment tucked behind some of the metal bracketing.

For the record, here's my install

 

[Cymon]

[MENTION=120701]Cymon[/MENTION] & [MENTION=129593]MTN4RNR[/MENTION]


This may be a better plan. I looked at running it forward but it's a lot farther and you need to feed it up above everything where it's out of the way from road debris and scraping. If you do it this way the breather will be upright and you'll be able to service or check it more easily.

I saw that part on Amazon two weeks ago. It's more expensive and I can't tell what the tube size is. I imagine it fits the ARB air locking differential. The tube shown is small. You need 1/4" fuel line to fit the Toyota Union. You could then transition to the ARB line with a universal coupler like the one I used.

The ARB is probably better than the Toyota OEM breather but it won't fit behind the gas cap so you need to find somewhere else to mount it. I think the gas cap area stays as clean as the engine bay firewall. Neither place is going to be submerged without much more serious consequences occurring.

Whether you use the grommet shown in other threads or follow my plan, a bigger question here, in my mind, is can the breather be run somewhere else up high in the back end, like behind a tail light or under the tailgate to avoid the hole in the wheel well area. The tailgate area outside the door seals gets much dirtier than the gas cap area on a dusty road because the back side and spoiler act like a draw for fine dust.

Yeah, I'm going to look into those places as well. I liked how @Okki positioned his in his breather mod, so I think I will try mounting it there in the engine but as you said there might be easier and closer alternatives, although the engine bay would be easier to check/adjust later.

Thanks of the advice!

 

[DesertCanyons]

Save this mod thread for everyone who owns a Trail Edition

Nice write up. I will link it up in the mods sticky when you tell me to.

Hi Greg,

Thanks. Any time you want to add this to the mod sticky threads is fine with me. You decide when.

Everyone who replied asked good questions about the "plug, breather" part and how to install them. I think the question remains about what kind of breather is mounted on the diff and E-Locker. Is it one-way or two-way?

 

[96r50]

Whether you use the grommet shown in other threads or follow my plan, a bigger question here, in my mind, is can the breather be run somewhere else up high in the back end, like behind a tail light or under the tailgate to avoid the hole in the wheel well area.

It can. I ran mine along the fuel filler tube up to the very top of the filler neck without drilling any holes. The end of the hose is actually a bit higher than the fuel filler cap, but it's not inside the truck or inside the gas tank fill cap. It's well protected and higher than the breathers under the hood so it's the last one to worry about.

I ran hose from both the diff/axle and the E-Locker into one Toyota breather cap. There is no pressure on the system as it is always open at the top (if it's a 2-way breather). The E-Locker breather connection was held in place by a simple slip connection into the tube - that is, no hose clamp. My use of hose clamps is just to keep it from coming apart. They're way overkill for the pressure that's exerted. I think the air flow as the two units cool is slow and one line will be sufficient. That's just me thinking out loud though.

I'm sure one line is sufficient for the minimal air volume that passes through the hoses, but I ran two separate hoses in order to prevent any gear oil vapours, foam, or oil from puking up the breather line and filling up the e-locker motor. There isn't a huge chance of it happening but I've seen breather lines full of gear oil/foam before and I don't want to chance it for the cost of a few feet of rubber hose.

 

[DesertCanyons]

dual breather lines

Mine ended up in the jack stand compartment tucked behind some of the metal bracketing.

For the record, here's my install

Thanks for the link to your solution. Wow, you went to a lot of work. I would have stopped if it came to removing the bumper and rear quarter panel.

I think your tubes enter the jack tool compartment near the bottom, behind the wheel well. That's much lower than what I did. If your grommet goes underwater in a stream crossing it's going to leak.

As I said above, without knowing for sure I felt that one tube and breather was enough. Running it forward to the engine compartment is the best idea I've seen here today. If you can find a good path where it can be anchored and not ride over the exhaust or cats it will end up placed where you can see them. Then the filter manifold part would work well, outside of the passenger compartment.

 

[BLACK-FL4RUNNER]

I ran mine along the fuel filler tube up to the very top of the filler neck without drilling any holes. The end of the hose is actually a bit higher than the fuel filler cap, but it's not inside the truck or inside the gas tank fill cap. It's well protected and higher than the breathers under the hood so it's the last one to worry about

This is exactly how I did mine, and it's worked fine.

 

[Cymon]

It can. I ran mine along the fuel filler tube up to the very top of the filler neck without drilling any holes. The end of the hose is actually a bit higher than the fuel filler cap, but it's not inside the truck or inside the gas tank fill cap. It's well protected and higher than the breathers under the hood so it's the last one to worry about.

Do you have any pics? This could be another option to look into.

Thanks!

 

[codyHTX]

FYI: went home for lunch, grabbed the breather part #90930-03136 i've had sitting on the shelf for a few months, put the tip in my mouth and gave it a good suck'n'blow :eyebrows:

it's a 2-way

 

[MTN4RNR]

Thanks for the link to your solution. Wow, you went to a lot of work. I would have stopped if it came to removing the bumper and rear quarter panel.

I think your tubes enter the jack tool compartment near the bottom, behind the wheel well. That's much lower than what I did. If your grommet goes underwater in a stream crossing it's going to leak.

As I said above, without knowing for sure I felt that one tube and breather was enough. Running it forward to the engine compartment is the best idea I've seen here today. If you can find a good path where it can be anchored and not ride over the exhaust or cats it will end up placed where you can see them. Then the filter manifold part would work well, outside of the passenger compartment.

Agreed, engine compartment is the BEST solution for location. Clean, simple, easy access. Just more $ than I wanted to spend on lines. And you are likely just as good as I am with 2 lines, I don't know enough about the way that the two systems (e-locker and differential) interact to say that they're compatible, so I ran two as an extra (probably overkill) precaution.

Yeah, it might be prone to leaking if I ford deep into water. Looking at it however, I would likely have water making it's way into the cabin via other gaps at that depth. It's about 2-3" below the body line on the bumper.

 

[96r50]

Do you have any pics? This could be another option to look into.

Thanks!

No pics, but you can get under the truck and trace the fuel filler pipe up inside the rear quarter panel I ziptied my breather lines to the filler pipe in a number of places. I found it was easier to start at the top and work my way back down to the axle and e-locker.

 

[05Rrunner]

The breather caps are one way valves, but only work properly when mounted vertically. When your diff cools it draws air in through the axle seals. That's fine in a parking lot, but not so good in a creek crossing. You can by special tiny filters made exactly for this.

No air is drawn through the axle seals.

 

[05Rrunner]

wow , are you guys going fishing or boating in the 4Runner. Is this that big of a problem . Toyota has been doing this a long time in many country's with this basic one way design . I think it works very well as is. You do the rear but what about the trans and t case plus the front diff and the motor also. You can bring all the breathers up to the shark fin but at some point it's just overkill.

 

[Saker]

Just a FYI, I've had my http://www.toyota-4runner.org/1721720-post13.html done for 30000+ miles. Some trips driving for 12+ hrs with only fuel and food stops, removed the cover at the tool compartment to see if any odor was emitted.... none emitted.
! One would have to lay the T4R on its side for any diff fluid to come into the cabin!

 

[Saker]

No air is drawn through the axle seals.

[MENTION=20381]05Rrunner[/MENTION],

It's not the air we are discussing here for this mod.
Read this, it will shed a little light on the said subject.
Diff Mod ~ post 7
A lot cheaper to pay for this mod then a rear diff!
If you are just mall crawling and never water cross, then of course, it's not needed.

 

[05Rrunner]

[MENTION=20381]05Rrunner[/MENTION],

It's not the air we are discussing here for this mod.
Read this, it will shed a little light on the said subject.
Diff Mod ~ post 7
A lot cheaper to pay for this mod then a rear diff!
If you are just mall crawling and never water cross, then of course, it's not needed.

Pay attention and read the post. I did not bring up the air point see below . You guys always think you know more than toyota. You all love the landcruiser and you think if toyota diffs were blowing up because of water damage we might hear about it In the last 40 years Toyota has been using this design. You don't think Toyota would have fixed this if it was a real issue. The factory breathers are fine.

Originally Posted by T5RUNNER View Post
"When your diff cools it draws air in through the axle seals"

 

[DesertCanyons]

Toyota Parts & reliability

... You guys always think you know more than toyota. You all love the landcruiser and you think if toyota diffs were blowing up because of water damage we might hear about it In the last 40 years Toyota has been using this design. You don't think Toyota would have fixed this if it was a real issue. The factory breathers are fine.

Originally Posted by T5RUNNER:
"When your diff cools it draws air in through the axle seals"

Hey, you live in So Cal. It never rains in Sunny California. Except for last night.

You're right. It's not air we're worried about. It's water we need to keep out when the axle is submerged in a deep stream. I've driven my Jeep in streams that deep in the So Cal Desert. Water can easily rise to the underside of the cab and above. I've had water half way up my door panels, kept going and not had a cab leak.

Yes, I love my new T4R but some of the things Toyota installs on the 4Runner are not the best products. Their job is to provide a substantial 4 wheel drive vehicle at a competitive price. Sometimes that involves using lesser products. Jeep's Wrangler is no different or better. That's why we modify them and add accessories. Like WeatherTech floor mats, Gobi or Baja roof racks, seat covers, LED interior lights, light bars, recovery points, winch mounts, gas tank skids and so on. The OEM diff and E-Locker breathers may be adequate for most uses, but it's not the best that can be installed. After seeing these breathers I would not want to trust them to keep water out when they get submerged. And I sure don't want anything being drawn in through the axle seals.

This mod is a cheap easy fix to prevent something that can happen. It's been installed by hundreds of Toyota Tacoma, FJ and 4Runner owners. If you play hard and ford streams you need this upgrade.

 

[MTN4RNR]

wow , are you guys going fishing or boating in the 4Runner. Is this that big of a problem . Toyota has been doing this a long time in many country's with this basic one way design . I think it works very well as is. You do the rear but what about the trans and t case plus the front diff and the motor also. You can bring all the breathers up to the shark fin but at some point it's just overkill.

The transmission, transfer case and front axle are all mounted in the engine bay on the passenger side firewall, remotely. Plenty high to not worry about water intrusion. The rear axle breather is on the axle, and the e-locker is about 10" above that. Much lower than the other 3 breathers on the vehicle.

 

[Saker]

Pay attention and read the post. I did not bring up the air point see below . You guys always think you know more than toyota. You all love the landcruiser and you think if toyota diffs were blowing up because of water damage we might hear about it In the last 40 years Toyota has been using this design. You don't think Toyota would have fixed this if it was a real issue. The factory breathers are fine.

Originally Posted by T5RUNNER View Post
"When your diff cools it draws air in through the axle seals"

Ok!
Thanks.....

 

[T5RUNNER]

No air is drawn through the axle seals.

Well then enlighten us on how the air gets back in.

Pay attention and read the post. I did not bring up the air point see below . You guys always think you know more than toyota. You all love the landcruiser and you think if toyota diffs were blowing up because of water damage we might hear about it In the last 40 years Toyota has been using this design. You don't think Toyota would have fixed this if it was a real issue. The factory breathers are fine.

Toyota only builds to a certain standard and price point. Are snorkels pointless for the few people that actually need them? How about winches, i mean if it didn't come from the factory apparently we don't need it? Maybe I should just stick with the stock highway tires that came on my trail when I take it out in the back Country.