During routine nosy around contemplating tyre swap and I noticed juice staining from rear offside drum, whipped wheel and drum off - yep half shaft seal leaking.
Before replacing said seal and shoes I went to check the breather is clear and working - but it is not there! No plug, no broken off thread. The top of the diff housing is smooth minus a breather hole. Front one is all present and correct.
How can this be? I looked at the nose of the diff - there is a square male plug on the offside, like an alternative filler (the casing has filler plug on back and drain plug on bottom. Is there a diff casing that fits the Series 3 that does not have a breather in the usual place? The chap I bought it off originally many moons ago was a keen off roader so historically a broken casing needing replacement would not surprise me. I cannot understand that this has since done tens of thousands of miles like this and not had seal (nose or half shaft) go until now.
BTW anyone got tyre recommendations for a '72 SWB Station Wagon. I've got BFG 225/75 x 16 AT (old style - fitted approx 20 years ago!) that have hardly worn at all but have cracks between the blocks. The newer AT are too aggressive looking IMO with the big side blocks. I need good M+S type as it is my winter go to work vehicle in deepest Suffolk. Go cheap with Maxxis or General Grabber AT3?
Before replacing said seal and shoes I went to check the breather is clear and working - but it is not there! No plug, no broken off thread. The top of the diff housing is smooth minus a breather hole. Front one is all present and correct.
How can this be? I looked at the nose of the diff - there is a square male plug on the offside, like an alternative filler (the casing has filler plug on back and drain plug on bottom. Is there a diff casing that fits the Series 3 that does not have a breather in the usual place? The chap I bought it off originally many moons ago was a keen off roader so historically a broken casing needing replacement would not surprise me. I cannot understand that this has since done tens of thousands of miles like this and not had seal (nose or half shaft) go until now.
BTW anyone got tyre recommendations for a '72 SWB Station Wagon. I've got BFG 225/75 x 16 AT (old style - fitted approx 20 years ago!) that have hardly worn at all but have cracks between the blocks. The newer AT are too aggressive looking IMO with the big side blocks. I need good M+S type as it is my winter go to work vehicle in deepest Suffolk. Go cheap with Maxxis or General Grabber AT3?
