How to change front diff breather valve/filter/vent
One of the causes of front diff failure has been the breather hose filter clogging up and not allowing the pressure within the diff to escape. This in turn causes a build up of pressure and forces oil out of the seals. This does not affect rear diff or the transmission breather hoses.
Land Rover have released an updated part, however they have not made it standard procedure to swap out. Everyone should change this part if they do not have the new style vent.
Locate the breather hose. The original one is thin and faces straight up.
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Click image to enlarge
Step 2:
The TSB advises to cut the pipe diagonally, 20mm from the top of the filter. The pipe is not easy to cut so I used cable cutters. The angle needs to face the rear of the vehicle like this (front |\ rear)
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Step 3:
Hold the breather pipe and push the new filter down as far as it will go, ensuring it faces the REAR of the vehicle
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Job Done!
Old and new:
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Old filter dissected - melted foam as expected
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Last edited by kav1187 on 18th Mar 2013 2:14 pm. Edited 2 times in total
15th Mar 2013 2:58 pm
Advanced Factors Site Sponsor
Member Since: 27 Nov 2012
Location: Southampton
Posts: 2648
Very helpful post, thanks another job to do!
15th Mar 2013 3:21 pm
kav1187
Member Since: 01 Oct 2012
Location: SX
Posts: 149
At least it's relatively cheap/easy.
Might as well give your MAP sensor a clean too while you're at it
15th Mar 2013 3:31 pm
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
Good post.
Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
Member Since: 17 May 2009
Location: Bury
Posts: 2057
Had mine done recently at LR but must say although they are usually very good with me and my D3 they didn't really know about this. As I had asked them to change it whilst having all my transmission oils done i gave them a copy of the technical bulliten and although it states clearly in bold typeface that the new breather must point towards the rear of the vehicle the mechanic managed to install it facing the front! As I say they are usually so good with me that I never mentioned it and corrected it myself but just goes to show how little in the knw some of them can be.D4 HSE Lux MY16 Club Waitomo
D3 HSE MY06 missing her still…
16th Mar 2013 12:14 pm
kav1187
Member Since: 01 Oct 2012
Location: SX
Posts: 149
To be honest I think that they should have made this a service item for any cars that haven't had the upgrade already. Any owner would rather pay an extra fiver on a service than risk their diff failing.
18th Mar 2013 1:07 am
Discoed
Member Since: 16 Jun 2010
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 1020
My diff was pressurised when I changed the oil - my breather has the same melted foam so a replacement revised part is on order with TLO. Meanwhile I have just cut the old one off
10th Jul 2013 6:19 pm
H16UUP
Member Since: 01 Dec 2012
Location: Stockport
Posts: 271
Discoed wrote:
My diff was pressurised when I changed the oil
Blimey!
10th Jul 2013 8:01 pm
blue200tdi
Member Since: 23 Sep 2012
Location: Lincoln
Posts: 1094
My filter was just cut off and the pipe left without one, suppose I should buy a new one. You guys are gonna be busier than a test bench in a plunger factory!
Java black 2006 2.7 TDV6 HSE AUTO.
2014 Kawasaki ZZR1400 Performance sport.
10th Jul 2013 9:31 pm
Discoed
Member Since: 16 Jun 2010
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 1020
H16UUP wrote:
Discoed wrote:
My diff was pressurised when I changed the oil
Blimey!
When I undid the filler plug most of the diff oil erupted from the hole - the pressure has taken well over 50k to build. I was a little taken aback I must say!
Fingers crossed that next time it won't be self emptying and my seals will survive.
10th Jul 2013 10:30 pm
qwerty
Member Since: 11 Nov 2010
Location: Bristol
Posts: 118
Anyone know if this is the same for the rear or is that one a better design?
11th Jul 2013 7:34 am
blue200tdi
Member Since: 23 Sep 2012
Location: Lincoln
Posts: 1094
The rear one is OK! You guys are gonna be busier than a test bench in a plunger factory!
Java black 2006 2.7 TDV6 HSE AUTO.
2014 Kawasaki ZZR1400 Performance sport.
11th Jul 2013 9:32 pm
race.it
Member Since: 15 Oct 2011
Location: Hopefully at a race track.
Posts: 851
Just done mine, thanks for the heads up
13th Jul 2013 4:28 pm
gensetsteve
Member Since: 01 Jan 2014
Location: hampshire
Posts: 340
I was changing my front diff oil and found the diff under pressure. I was changing the oil as the diff is stuffed. I see some people have bought the kit for £6 but I am being quoted £20.
3rd Jan 2014 7:29 pm
CGA
Member Since: 03 May 2010
Location: Preferably horrizontal
Posts: 284
Did my breather today as per above instructions (spot on write up), not even 5 mins. No pressure on removal of the old cap thankfully. I did not cut it up but when gently blowing down the cut end of the tube, the top of the cap rose, so I assume it was still working OK. Less than a tenner was painless, I imagine the £20 quoted above was for the full breather pipe assembly,which you dont need.CGA
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At least it's relatively cheap/easy.
