Rear Diff. Breather Routing?

Looking to install a ARB rear diff. breather next weekend. Can someone pls. point me to a good step by step that includes a routing diagram or photos? The install is pretty straightforward. I'm more interested in how people are routing the line from the rear diff. to the engine bay. Thanks in advance.

 

What about routing it into the rear cargo area (although you may smell gear oil as it gets hot) or an external place outside of the engine bay? Seems like a lot of line to run if you can find a space closer to the rear of the vehicle, more near the axle housing.

 

I did a DIY version for quite a bit less cost than the ARB setup, and ran it to the empty area behind the left rear tail light. Didn't require so long a length of tubing.

Basically duplicated the process used on my 2013 Tacoma.

 

There’s dozens of videos and write ups on google. It’s a super easy install. Mine is on passenger side next to air box. Just follow a wire and zip tie down the chassis. You can’t really do it wrong.

 

I routed along the frame on the driver side, followed existing wire booms and such.

I am not near it right now but i can send pictures later in the day when I'm home

 

I got the arb kit too. The line is a bit stiff, so you have to be careful not to bend it too tightly so it kinks/collapses. I ended up routing it with sufficient slack to allow for suspension movement, and then zip tied the breather line along the brake lines on the drivers side frame rail all the way to the engine bay. That routing takes it close to the catalytic coverter, but I think the arb line can take some high temps. Regardless make sure it’s secured well to the brake lines when it passes near the cat. Once in the engine bay, I drilled the arb breather filter/ manifold thingy into the sheet steel behind the fuse box.
(First and only hole I've drilled to the sheet steel, and I still can’t believe I did that lol. I drilled two holes for the manifold, but the spacing was off so it’s only being held by one lol).

Dont cut the breather line until the routing is done. It’s frustrating when you’re short by an inch.

I would suggest that you find a way to physically verify the routing and the amount of slack you leave near the diff to make sure there isn’t interference or pulling. Find a rock or a stump somewhere and flex it out all the way, take a bro-photo and and carefully look underneath (don’t get run over).

 

I routed mine by the section of the inlet of the gas tank. Not inside where we open to fill in, but behind that section. It was a bit cumbersome but we got a way to stick there. It is as high as possible in that are and seems to be working well. Good luck.

 

Since I installed it by the fuse box everything is routed through the driver side. I kept the slack in case I need to use that space and need to relocate it in the future. I chose the driver side because h the êtes just enough space for it and the passenger side has a lot more space that I want to leave empty if ever set up an additional battery or something else

 

Yep, I ran my line up the filler neck as far as it would go and zip tied it.
This vid will show how to do it on the cheap.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MFW8YK9dx0&t=219s

 

I just routed along existing wires and frame avoiding heat shielded areas as best I could to the air box area. Zip ties from Harbour freight. Done, easy project to do and very effective in preventing water fouling or pressure build up in the rear differential.

 

Empty area behind the left rear tail light? Is that inside the cargo area or some super secret spot I can find on the exterior?

I'm gonna do mine at some point in the nearish future and still debating running all the way to the front or finding a spot in the back. Keeping it in the back seems easier and a shorter hose seems like less room for cracks/breaks/melted from exhaust pipe in the future. I don't want to vent into the interior though

 

This is the thread I started back in 2020 when I was researching the possibility of extending the breather to the rear tail light area, and completed the extension mod:

https://www.4runners.com/threads/rear-diff-breather-extension.13816/

There are links in there to different ways, and the components needed. I followed the process done by @kbp810, where he located the breather end below and behind the tail light cavity. The thread will explain it better than I can here. The kit I bought from BlaisBrosTacos may no longer available, as he hasn't been (or posted) on Tacomaworld since 2022.

@MI-FL off roader in that thread used a filter (same one as the one in the Wanderlost Overland video, it looks like) from Summit and put the breather/filter in the area where the jack is stored.

Let me know if you have any more questions.

There was also this thread recently:

https://www.4runners.com/threads/diff-breather-options-other-than-arb.36541/

 

Scuba Mod FWIW: I did this mod on my last two 4Runners and on my previous FJ, never had any smell from the rear diff.

 

Thanks for the photos. I like how you didn't bypass the existing locker line near the diff. and added the "T" where the existing locker breather is. Seems cleaner this way. Can I get part number(s) for the additional part(s) you used in addition to the ARB kit including the "T" that fits both the ARB line and the OE locker line?

 

I did it a while ago and I don’t remember the exact one that I got but I brought the arb line to ace hardware and looked for a t connector with the right diameter similar to the one below (not sure if these are the correct dimensions though)

https://www.acehardware.com/departments/plumbing/hoses-and-tubing/hose-connectors/4501409

 

For what it's worth the WO video used this setup for the locker and diff tee:

 

As long as you don’t run it up your exhaust pipe, you’re in good shape…heat, sharp edges, possible pinch areas, overexposure are the enemy

Preventive strategy, cause i hate saying “wish I thought of that…” AKA over plan
…if your thinking of running sliders, skids, updating suspension, tires, etc
Not to run your line in those areas where it may interfere with install/function
Probably not the end of the world to reroute but…

also I used colored zip ties to easily identify the breather line since it follows black OEM wiring up to engine(it’s under the truck so get over it)

n last but not least, if you think you’ll ever get around to the full “scuba mod”(thank you @Saker)
Foreshadowing for the rest of the breathers to be relocated

 

Awesome, thanks for the reply. When I get under there I will figure out where I end up leaving it. I already purchased the ARB kit on sale last year so it's just a matter of getting under there and doing it. Need to pull the KDSS skid while I'm under there as well

 

Yotashop sells one for like 25 bucks. Route it up to your gas tank fill cap. Job done.

Not as clean as the ARB version but easier to install and you save $100.

 

Probably goes without saying, but dropping the spare tire makes the job.so much easier.

 

Luckily I got a hitch mounted spare carrier from SSO before they went through the regime change so my spare is gone from underneath. Saw they recently put it back on the market

 

Ran mine to drivers rear shock side going up between frame and body