Some may say that driving a 4×4 in town is an overkill move. But what about when you want to go camping with the vehicle you use to go to work or to the shops? In that case, having a 4×4 would be a blessing as no type of tyre, no matter how much grip it offers, won’t save you out of a muddy or hilly area.
A 4×4 offers all the traction and all the control you need to go over any terrain no matter how challenging it is for both your vehicle and you as a driver. 4X4 are also usually larger meaning they offer more storage space. If driven properly, a 4×4 can have quite a low fuel consumption and because of all that traction, they are a lot safer on a wet tarmac.
Diff Breather Kit
What is It?
If you want to go off-roading more than just to see how capable your 4×4 is, you should consider adding a diff breather. Essentially a collection of hoses, these important 4WD car parts are what help reroute the air intake for the differential. But why would you need to do that?
Benefits
To keep your differential from getting flooded with water, installing a differential breather kit is a must. You see when driving out in the bush, there is nothing else that will save your differential from getting damaged when crossing a river or a deep pool of water in the middle of a bumpy path. These 4×4 parts will ensure that no matter how deep your 4WD gets into the water, it will stay operational and you’ll be able to get home safely
Installing a Diff Breather
- Installing such 4WD accessories is actually not that difficult even for someone who’s never done it before. First what you need to do is jack up your car and place it on jack stands.
- With your vehicle in place, get under it and locate the factory diff breathers. Depending on the type of vehicle you have you’ll either need to pull the hose right off after loosening a nut or two or you’ll need to deal with a barbed push-type fitting.
- Once you’re done removing the old breathers, get the kit with the new ones and fit them according to the institution manual provided in the kit. Usually, the installation requires that you plug in the new extended hose first and then connect the longer hose to the rear differential. Use a bit of silicone to seal the hoses once they’re in.
- After that, you’ll want to run the extended hose up to the chassis. This is where the diff will get its air from. The engine bay is usually a pretty good idea since there’s already an air intake on the side of your 4×4 close to the bonnet. Run the extended hose along a fuel line or a wire harness and then make it go up to the firewall. That’s where it will reside just make sure it’s not near anything hot.
- Lastly, you’ll want to fit the breather head where the extended hose ended. After that check every hose you installed and every piece of hardware that you needed to use to secure them and you’re good to go.
Other 4WD Accessories That Go with a Diff Breather
Snorkel
If you plan on driving with your 4×4 through deep waters it’s a good idea to add an extra layer of protection in the form of a snorkel. A 4×4 snorkel is one of those 4×4 parts that will save your engine from unnecessary water damage. It fits on the air intake for the engine bay and, like a breather kit, it brings it higher up. With 4×4 parts like these, you’re also going to make your off-roader run better as they bring in cooler and cleaner air.
Skid Plate
Skid plates are essentially a piece of metal that gets bolted on the underside. Also known as bash plates, these 4WD car parts are thus able to protect the front of the undercarriage from hard impacts. This includes the differential and breather as well as the driveshaft, transmission and exhaust.
Lift Kit
With a lift kit, you can increase the ground clearance of your 4×4. This can bring in two advantages. Your 4×4 will be able to go over hills a lot easier and you’ll keep your undercarriage away from road imperfections that might otherwise damage it. Anyhow, these 4WD accessories can still help keep your breather and differential in place while allowing you to tow heavier loads and improve ride quality.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, a diff breather isn’t a fancy new accessory that will break the bank. Since it’s so affordable and easy to add to your off-roading vehicle, it’s a no-brainer that you should. Unless you have other plans with your rig.
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