Mysterious pipe?

When I was changing the driver side rear air spring I noticed a pipe that was just forward of the top the air spring. It was a black plastic coated metal pipe that looked like it was going towards the diesel tank. It literally fell off when I touched it (about 9 inches of it) and it had obviously been corroded right through for a long time. Does anyone know what it is? The only thing that doesn't work is the rear washers, is this it?

Could be the rear axle breather pipe. The breather hole is on the top of the axle casing near the o/s air spring.

Have you checked if the breather pipe is connected?

Thanks for this, it seems entirely feasable. If it's fine tomorrow I'll crawl under and have a look.

Endeleus said:

Could be the rear axle breather pipe. The breather hole is on the top of the axle casing near the o/s air spring.

Have you checked if the breather pipe is connected?

Click to expand...

Had a look and the breather pipe is in place and is a black plastic pipe. The one that fell off is a plastic coated metal pipe of about the same diameter as the breather pipe. Any more ideas anyone?

Showed the bit of pipe to a friend who works in the parts department of Stratstones and he hasn't got a clue either. I guess I'll have to do crawl around a bit more and see what I can find.

I think the bottom of the washer bottle and motors are in the area you describe... Although the most common reason for the rear washer failing seems to be the jet blocking with crap and limescale. A sturdy pin and a scrub with a Brillo pad cured mine.