driving in water

[JoeD]

I'm a newbe and do not have my deuce yet but I have read on the site that if you drive through deep water it gets in the axles/differential/brakes and you have to change out the gear oil. I understand about the brakes but how does it get in the axles/differential?

 

[DeuceNewb]

there's a vent on the top of the axle. you could put a hose on it and extend it to higher up

 

[DieselBob]

For some strange reason they mounted the axle breather right on top of the axle housing. Because of this location if you drive in water that covers the axle housing it will enter into the housing. I am relocating mine to the frame rail. Easy to do with a couple fittings and hose from the local hardware store.

 

[DieselBob]

I have to learn to type faster

 

[ida34]

The vents were designed as one way valves. They are supposed to let out air when the stuff heats up but not let stuff like water in. Most leaking axles are the result of the vent getting stuck in the closed position. It' natural position is closed so they sometimes get stuck closed. This makes the axle vent out the seals and when it does so it damages the seal enough to allow the gear oil out. That being said most all the military manuals require at the least a bearing repack after fording operations.

 

[jwaller]

if you drive in water that covers the axle housing it will enter into the housing.

this is entirely not true. the vents are not vents, they are valves. they only open when they see pressure inside the housing, then they open to vent that pressure and then close again.

moving them higher wont hurt anything but it's not required. water enters the decue in lots of places it shouldn't because of poor maintenance.

The mil spec deepwater kit does nothing to address the axles. they felt the original design was just fine. the kit adds a lot of things like intake snorkel and pressure to the trans and bellhousing but not the axle.

FWIW the xcase is vented like the axles.

 

[Keith_J]

Like jwaller stated, the vents are check valves. When these trucks are operated on highway, the differentials heat, causing the air inside to expand. The breathers keep pressure to a minimum, venting. When a hot axle is submerged, it is suddenly cooled. But since some air was expelled when heated, the pressure in the axles drops. This overwhelms the seals and water enters the bearings from the inner axle seals and also from pinion seals, if you go deep enough.

Yes, the clutch and transmission are pressurized with the deep water fording kit to keep water out. This could be done with the axles BUT it might cause gear oil to bypass the outer wheel bearing seal.

 

[DeuceNewb]

thank you for clearing this up, i thought the axles were included in the water fording kit

 

[cyberspace_7]

This means Natural Disasters, like flooding, can naturally cause us extra maintenance work!

 

[DieselBob]

this is entirely not true. the vents are not vents, they are valves. they only open when they see pressure inside the housing, then they open to vent that pressure and then close again.

I stand corrected. Learn something new everyday. Thanks for the information.

 

[jwaller]

This means Natural Disasters, like flooding, can naturally cause us extra maintenance work!

yes, lots more work. TM suggests that you repack every wheel bearing and check/change ALL the fluids.