How to replace a Diff Breather Neck ?

Submariner1

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 3, 2016
Messages
4,689
Reaction score
787
Location
Windsor Berkshire
Your Mercedes
CL500 2009 5.5
wrong car but same part no.? See about 28 secs into the video

Does it just pull out and push in? Difficult to tell but is that an O ring on it?

Imagine it will be a pig to pull out? ( awkward to get at, and probably gunked in! ) on a 42K 2009 car.

Sadly as they have changed the design it needs a new neck, not just the cap.

Anyone done one of these.
 

Wighty

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 4, 2016
Messages
13,435
Reaction score
12,467
Location
Sunny Essex
Your Mercedes
W211/E320cdi/2009 and CLK200k 2009
If you were to buy the new one , you would see things like thread , o ring etc
 
OP
Submariner1

Submariner1

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 3, 2016
Messages
4,689
Reaction score
787
Location
Windsor Berkshire
Your Mercedes
CL500 2009 5.5
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #3
If you were to buy the new one , you would see things like thread , o ring etc
I have ordered it , just wondered re fitting the job in timewise.
Lets hope its not one of those crazy desgns where you have to lower the diff to get sufficient clearance to take it out at the top :-/
 

Wighty

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 4, 2016
Messages
13,435
Reaction score
12,467
Location
Sunny Essex
Your Mercedes
W211/E320cdi/2009 and CLK200k 2009
I have ordered it , just wondered re fitting the job in timewise.
Lets hope its not one of those crazy desgns where you have to lower the diff to get sufficient clearance to take it out at the top :-/
I know what you mean , but I think it's straightforward , just fiddly to get your hands up to the top of the diff . I would be interested to see what the new thingy looks like , then I might do mine at some point .
 
OP
Submariner1

Submariner1

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 3, 2016
Messages
4,689
Reaction score
787
Location
Windsor Berkshire
Your Mercedes
CL500 2009 5.5
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #5
I know what you mean , but I think it's straightforward , just fiddly to get your hands up to the top of the diff . I would be interested to see what the new thingy looks like , then I might do mine at some point .

I will post a pic and let you know how difficult the Indy said it was to fit.
Such as, do they get corroded in. If they are round as it looks, no nice nut affiar to twist off.i
 
OP
Submariner1

Submariner1

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 3, 2016
Messages
4,689
Reaction score
787
Location
Windsor Berkshire
Your Mercedes
CL500 2009 5.5
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #6
I know what you mean , but I think it's straightforward , just fiddly to get your hands up to the top of the diff . I would be interested to see what the new thingy looks like , then I might do mine at some point .

Hi Wighty
Here you go with part no bags. Genuine MB of course
IMG_4158.JPG

No O Ring or recess for one in the neck part, its semi magnetic so may be some kind of not too corrosive steel alloy??
Lord knows how it is secured ... an "interference fit" perhaps.
Glad I am not fitting it, as it makes one wonder if the old one is corroded in like hell!
Leaving that to MBS

The neck ventilator is hollow ... nothing fancy.

Pic of the breather cap
IMG_4162.JPG
That yellow hook on the end is actually the end of a longish corkscrew. It does fit in the hole of the neck but feels tight for the first 2mm ... so didnt push it in .. maybe its a one time thing.
I assume the principle is oil has to wind itself up the corkscrew under excess pressure , and will roll back when not under pressure.

Note this is the one that replaced mine a month after production.
Once you have fitted the new style neck ventilator, one can just replace the Cap part.

I will ask Colin if it was a bitch to get out or put the new one in and let you know.

Both were only £2.11 each after my discount .. so imo as long as its easy..ish to fit ... worth replacing when you do the diff oil.
 

Wighty

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 4, 2016
Messages
13,435
Reaction score
12,467
Location
Sunny Essex
Your Mercedes
W211/E320cdi/2009 and CLK200k 2009
Excellent write up , looks like this might end up in the DIY section by the time you have finished the thread :)
 
OP
Submariner1

Submariner1

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 3, 2016
Messages
4,689
Reaction score
787
Location
Windsor Berkshire
Your Mercedes
CL500 2009 5.5
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #8
Excellent write up , looks like this might end up in the DIY section by the time you have finished the thread :)

Thanks
Funny but I cant even find it in WIS ... either to clean it or how to replace it. Maybe its because proper mechanics just know how to do these things.
I was going to crawl under it today to see how the leak was, but its pouring down outside. :(
Hoping for a dry day tomorrow so MBS can easily see whats leaking :)
 

LostKiwi

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 25, 2006
Messages
31,328
Reaction score
21,575
Location
Midlands / Charente-Maritime
Your Mercedes
'93 500SL-32, '01 W210 Estate E240 (RIP), 02 R230 SL500, 04 Smart Roadster Coupe, 11 R350CDi
Its rare a diff breather has an issue - thats probably why its not in WIS.
I don't think I've ever had to clean a transmission breather.
On my Defender the breathers were extended via tubing to run into the high level air intake. Never saw anything in the tubing.
 
OP
Submariner1

Submariner1

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 3, 2016
Messages
4,689
Reaction score
787
Location
Windsor Berkshire
Your Mercedes
CL500 2009 5.5
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #10
Its rare a diff breather has an issue - thats probably why its not in WIS.
I don't think I've ever had to clean a transmission breather.
On my Defender the breathers were extended via tubing to run into the high level air intake. Never saw anything in the tubing.

Until I saw it on U Tube when looking for info on diff seals ... I didnt even realise Diffs had breathers ;)
 

LostKiwi

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 25, 2006
Messages
31,328
Reaction score
21,575
Location
Midlands / Charente-Maritime
Your Mercedes
'93 500SL-32, '01 W210 Estate E240 (RIP), 02 R230 SL500, 04 Smart Roadster Coupe, 11 R350CDi
Until I saw it on U Tube when looking for info on diff seals ... I didnt even realise Diffs had breathers ;)
That's how rarely they cause issues.
Normally breather issues manifest as severe oil leaks from all the seals on the unit (whatever it is - diff, gearbox etc).
 
OP
Submariner1

Submariner1

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 3, 2016
Messages
4,689
Reaction score
787
Location
Windsor Berkshire
Your Mercedes
CL500 2009 5.5
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #12
Since the cleaning of the diff, it was still bone dry around the breather.
So I agreed with Colin ... no need to change it.
 
Top Bottom