I was changing my rear brake line went to reassemble line I noticed that the Differential Vent plug and tube were stripped. Does anyone know what size the vent is and how I might fix this? Thanks. I have a 8 or 9 inch rear.
My stock 8" vent threads were much larger than the threads on the 9" that replaced it. I want to say 9/16" vs 7/16", both were fine threads... Hopefully (like bad said in post #2) just the bolt threads will be stripped and not the housing.
If it's the threads in the rear you might try one of the taps that are made for restoring threads. Just a thought.
Using a tap a die set I used the 7/16- 20 tap on the hole. I am still new at tapping, but it seems to have worked. The tap feels tight in the threads, but I can’t really put any force or torque on it with out the new vent. I can thread it with my fingers and it doesn’t seem to have any “wiggle’ up down or side to side. Very little material was removed. Hard to get my head under there and compare new and old threads on the rear-end but it looks ok. What do you guys think? Is the rear end housing tubes made out of high quality steel? In other words could the vent strip without damaging the threads on the rear end?
Whether or not the vent bolt goes back in without stripping is the real test. The housing I'm sure is just plain jane carbon steel, the bolt should have been made from harder steel. No telling though as the 70's(up to the mid 80's) were not exactly Ford's best for making quality parts.
Hmmm, wonder why my stock 8" axle was 9/16" and the 9" axle I replaced it with was 7/16"? Strange... Whenever you reassemble it, no need to over-tighten. It's only there to hold the brake-line block in place, and of course, to vent the axle...
you might try green thread locker i have used this product on bolts that vibrate. you will have to heat the area if you need to remove the breather. just a couple minutes from your propane torch
Not sure that it is a 9 but the tap was 7/16-20. Will install on Monday or Tuesday. BTW it still has the axle tag on it.
