Leaking rear axle breather

[88red]

FJ62 Rear axle breather tube is mounted in the stock position. Oil is creeping out the breather and working its way down the tube and into the u-bolts and spring perch. Its not so much that I worry about the diff going dry anytime soon but just as well, Id rather have it working right and not spitting gear oil. Checked the level and the diff isn't overfilled and hasn't taken on any water. I even replaced the tube and breather from a dry truck and oil still is coming out.
The axle has a replacement used differential from a different truck that I dropped in. Drives fine.
Any ideas?

 

[EscapeWagon62]

I had the same issue, I had drained and refilled the axle and replaced the breather. Spoke to a tech I know and he explained:
1. When the axle is filled we typically overfill slightly as we are squeezing the gear oil in
2. When the axle heats up it raises the level slightly through expansion
3. As we turn left, right etc the fluid in the axle shifts right/left changing the fluid height on that side
4. When this happens the fluid level hits the bottom of the breather and some diff oil ends up in the breather tube
5. As the air in the axle expands it can push this bubble of diff oil out the top of the breather
6. His opinion = no issue

On my rig my leaking started right after changing the diff oil. It mostly was small but I did have one big “BLAT” in my garage after a drive.
After a couple of weeks it stopped entirely.

 

[Willard]

We typically overfill slightly?

I fill mine until the fluid is dripping out of the fill hole, then put the plug in. I have never had an issues with any diff in 34 years doing this.
Sounds like they are overfilling a lot more than that they think.

 

[ferg]

Add a riser breathing tube, piece of rubber hose. Just stuff that breather up as far as you can. Couple of clamps, hose, some zip ties and you're golden and can now ford deeper water. I have seen some run all the way to the air cleaner/intake.

 

[burningoil]

my breather tube are run and mounted for both axle high up in the engine compartment so no water can get in axle through the breather.