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wading kit / installing axle breathers


puiwit

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How do I install new axle breathers for a lr defender 90 td5.

I have to drill ø8,8mm and cut the G1/8" thread in the existing hole in the axle.

1) Is the wall thickness enought for the thread in the axle?

2) Do you recommend to open the axle for this job to clean the emerging swarf?

3) Please give me your advice to protect the new plug-connector.

Thank you for your effort and kind regards.

Carsten

G500757.JPG

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My understanding is that a hot axle meets cold water, air inside contracts and if sealed it will suck water in through the seals.

TD5 axles should have the tubes already. you just need to extend them to under the bonnet or up the snorkle.

Should not need to drill any holes.

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I drilled and tapped my axles using great care and a well greased tap to catch the swarf.

A spiral flute tap eliminates 99% of swarf removal problems.

IIRC all Land Rover axles have been fitted with breathers, even the early ones, remove the bell type breather and fit the 6mm push fits (1/8" gas)

TD5's do have push fit breathers, a section of tube with a hole in the side would make the ideal protection.

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As said above, TD5's just extend or replace the existing 6mm OD tubing that goes into axle push fits. I ran two new tubes and use 'Y' connector to take axle and transmission breathers up snorkel.

Ian, username Porny, can supply some small profile stainless steel 90 degree push fits if you are concerned about knocking them off. I didn't bother with a 90 bend and I've had mine for about 2 years now with no issues with knocking tubes off..

snorkel012Medium.jpg

Cheers

Steve

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  • 4 weeks later...
My understanding is that a hot axle meets cold water, air inside contracts and if sealed it will suck water in through the seals.

TD5 axles should have the tubes already. you just need to extend them to under the bonnet or up the snorkle.

Should not need to drill any holes.

Word of advice: Make sure that the breather hoses do not end near (with "near" i mean "next to") the snorkle air intake. Apparently the snorkle can cause a vacuum in the hoses, sucking out fluids that are really more useful in the gearbox or axles than the air filter.

Got this from a mechanic when buying a wader kit... he'd apparently had a client coming in with perfectly aligned breather hoses / snorkle and an air filter soaked in gearbox oil. :blink:

Haven't fitted my kit yet, btw... guess I'll start a "Can someone please help me out of the mess i have made?" or a "Where is this supposed to go?" thread soon. :(

Gus

(Sweden)

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what a load of rubbish!!

Given the relative cross sections of the snorkle and the breather pipes, the pressure drop you'd see at the breather pipe would be negligable. ok, if you block the snorkel you might have a viable situation, but then it'll stall the engine, or leak from somewhere else.

I've had my axle breathers in the top of my snorkle for about 3 years, no problems what so ever.

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what a load of rubbish!!

Given the relative cross sections of the snorkle and the breather pipes, the pressure drop you'd see at the breather pipe would be negligable. ok, if you block the snorkel you might have a viable situation, but then it'll stall the engine, or leak from somewhere else.

I've had my axle breathers in the top of my snorkle for about 3 years, no problems what so ever.

I've heard similar stories from several people, so I would not discard it as rubbish but consider it good advice!

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I've heard similar stories from several people, so I would not discard it as rubbish but consider it good advice!

Given that the axle end of the breather is in air, not oil, it'd have a hard time sucking oil, unless of course the truck was on its roof :D

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One of those 'mate of a mate heard down the pub about someone else's brother's mechanic' stories?

By all means, take the advice, it won't do any harm. like wise, i'm not running outside to re-route my breathers to prevent impending doom.

No, not one of those stories, a mate who found his air filter quite oily when doing a service. He decided to move the breathers to the outside of his snorkel instead of having them on the inside, and never had the problem again.

On the other hand, I do understand what you guys are saying about the effect being unlikely, and I have to agree theoretically, but still, better safe than sorry. ;)

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