Where are the vents on my rear axle assembly?

[Paisano]

92' Ranger XLT with 2.9 V6 and push button 4WD. I just replaced a leaky rear axle wheel seal today.
I heard that clogged axle tube vents can cause the rear bearing seal to leak gear oil. I know of one pin hole vent on top of the axle tube.
I checked it today. Are there any more of these vents I need to check on my rear axle?

 

[scotts90ranger]

The only vent is on the drivers side axle tube, it's just a fitting that points up and is "supposed" to go to a hose that goes up and is clipped to the frame rail, that's it. On my F350 the 10.25 the fitting is the bolt deal that holds the brake line tee to the axle tube, turns out it was plugged and didn't have a hose (knew it didn't have a hose, but hadn't looked too deep until it lubricated the brakes...), fixed that and it's been fine, on the Ranger I put a piece of nylon hose on it and have it somewhere safe...

 

[Paisano]

Yep. That's the one I checked Scott. Thanks Man!

You're right. Mine is on the driver side axle tube and there is a hose trailing to the frame rail. I just wanted to make sure there weren't other vent locations.

 

[James Morse]

Shouldn't there be like 3 vents total the diff's have them right?

 

[Paisano]

I'm not sure now James. Scott says there is only 1 for my make/model.
But I'll email the manufacturer of my rebuilt axle assembly. They will know for sure.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Only one on the rear diff... one on the front diff.

 

[pjtoledo]

and a stubby on the transfer case, at least on some transfer cases (disclaimer)

 

[Uncle Gump]

Transmission too...

 

[scotts90ranger]

Yep, what they said, each axle only has one vent, it's a fixed volume that doesn't change temperature too much, it doesn't need flow and as long as the vehicle isn't upside down the vents should be out of the fluid level...

 

[James Morse]

one on rear diff, one on front diff, one on transmission, maybe one on xfr case
it sounds like 4 vents to me
guess I'll have to take a good look under mine and see
I seem to go through a lot of water so it's a concern for me that they all be high enough to not suck in water

 

[Paisano]

I already got a reply from the manufacturer of my rebuilt axle assembly.
I have the 8.8 with the 4.10 gear ratio. They said it only has the one vent on top of the driver side axle tube.

By the way, what is the standard procedure for filling a rear axle with gear oil? I know when you first drive it, some of the oil will get diverted to the axle tubes down to the wheel bearings. So then the level inside the pumpkin will go down some. After the initial fill, do you top it off maybe 2 more times?

 

[James Morse]

Was that a stock 4.10? I don't think you see tons of them?

 

[Paisano]

It's remanufactured. So I'm sure it was rebuilt from stock.

( Hey James, I grew up in Richmond, Virginia)

 

[Paisano]

The manufacturer said they would reimburse me for new brake shoes (contaminated from leaking gear oil), misc supplies, and the new seal under warranty. But he wasn't really open to compensating me for a new brake drum. He said it can be cleaned up and doesn't need to be replaced.

Is this correct?

 

[Uncle Gump]

I'm sure you can just clean it up. Then clean it a little more.

Did you look at the axle shaft sealing surface? Was the vent not venting? Was the seal not installed correctly?