Axle Breathers

Whilst under the vehicle inserting the wading plugs, cast your eyes about. Firstly, if the axles are fitted with remote breathers are they both there? Or hanging off? These remote breather tubes should be securely installed with cable ties to both the axles and up into the bodywork.

Their function is simply to allow the axle casings to breath. If you knew no differently and you took the vehicle into deep water with either broken or missing breathers, water would soon be sucked into the axles! Within a few hours of the offending water mixing with the axle oil, the differentials and bearings would be destroyed.

On earlier Series I, II and III vehicles there is a brass valve fitted to the top of each axle. Inside the unit is a ball bearing which stops water from entering down into the casing, but still allows breathing to take place. The problem is, if the ball gets gunged up and sticks closed, the only way the casing is going to breathe through the pressure built up from the revolving differential, is out through either the pinion seal or hub seals. Not good!

If the ball sticks open, then water will be drawn in. In fact it makes a lot of sense to change these old-type breathers for later remote ones if you are going to use your Series I, II or III off-road seriously. Better still, fit a set of raised remote axle breathers along with remote gearbox and transfer case breathers to roof level for serious off-roading. These are available from Mantec Services (tel: 01203-395368)

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