Front differential vent location

[VORTMAX_99]

Front axle pinnon seal seems to be leaking and am preparing to replace it.
Before I do, I want to make sure the front differential vent isn't plugged.
I can see where the tube comes off the top of the front differential
and disappears up into the engine compartment. Searched the board and
found that it apparently terminates in the vicinity of the drivers side
firewall...though I still can't seem to find it. Can anyone give me a
a bit more detail of where it's located on the firewall? We did have the
TSB performed that cured the vent from puking gear oil over the
drivers side outer cv joint. Maybe that's why I can't find where the
vent ends. Also...do they use a breather cap or just some sort of "J"
fitting on the end?

Thanks for any info...
geo.

 

[VORTMAX_99]

Forgot to mention that it's 2003 Sport 4X4.

 

[lovebite]

On my '98 SOHC I do not think it has had the TSB but my front vent tube end can be found on the driver's side in the area of the wheel well. There is a inner fender liner that is the flexible stuff which if removed makes finding the vent tube much easier. My vent tube can be found just towards the front of the car connected to a bracket on the side and top of where t he shock mount is and bolts in.

 

[nitro71]

Since we are on vents does anyone have a reccomendation for a check valve for them? Or is that not a good idea?

 

[IZwack]

Since we are on vents does anyone have a reccomendation for a check valve for them? Or is that not a good idea?

I think thats making things more complicated than they should be - just run the tube as high up as possible, especially if you take it on the trails.

 

[VORTMAX_99]

Thanks for the replies guys. Finally found it.
It's located on the rear of the power steering
reservoir and it has a plastic vent cap. Don't
know if that was the original location as they
did a TSB on it to alleviate it from puking out
gear oil from the front differential. I remember
the tech mentioning that they had to "re-plumb"
it. I know they dropped the front differential to
swap the cover. Maybe at that time they moved
the vent from its original location. Checked the
valve and its free and I can blow air back into the
differential so doesn't look like I'm building up
pressure in the differential. Now I'll go ahead and
swap the pinion oil seal and that should take care
of the problem. Didn't want to swap it only to have
it blow again due to excess differential pressure.
Thanks again for the replies.

George.