Wagoneer D44 Breathers?

[chans]

Did the rear D44s in 70's Wagoneers have breathers? I though all axles had a breather but there is none on my rear axle plus no place that looks like there use to be one. My axle seal is going out and I was trying to decide if it was caused by no breather and drill and tap a hole for one when I replace it or if it was just caused by age and wear and leave the housing as is. Thanks

 

[Floydargue]

All I can say for sure is that mine did. I had a D44 out of a '76, and it's breather was on top of the diff. Some of them are along the tube, like where the brake lines are attached and T'd off.

 

[Kiel]

Mine was a 75 and had one. It got caped by the rear axle truss. No seal problems in 3 years

 

[Tacoma]

One of mine had it on the diff, the other two had them on the tube.

 

[chans]

That is odd. I will have to look at it again and see if it was welded up.

 

[toughtoy]

You may find a hole in the driver's side axle tube where the brake hard-lines split off from a manifold. The original bolt that holds that brake line manifold to the tube came from the factory with a hole through it and a nipple to attach a rubber breather line. It was probably replaced with a bolt with no hole through it.

 

[toughtoy]

If you find the hole and need the fitting, I have it in my brass bucket. Be happy to send one to you.