newbie tech question

[coreys88burban]

go easy on me im just a kid and it my 1st truck, lol. anyway i was wondering what exactly the rubber hose is for on my front diff? its a 88 chevy 10 bolt 8.5" corperate; not a dana. is it just a vent hose? i was also wondering if i should replace it with the extra hose i have in the garage as it has almost no room to travel down... what happens if the front end drops down and the hose rips off?

you can see it going kinda sideways center and behind of the diff.

 

[Deleted member 9101]

Should be a vent... extend it up into your engine compartment next chance ya get.

 

[poriggity]

Looks to be a vent hose.. nothing absolutely critical, but I would take Jnich's advice, get a longer piece of tube, and extend the breather up to the engine compartment.

 

[xpndbl3]

It's the vent for when the fluid expands/contracts Run it as high up as you can, at the top it should have a fitting on it as well.

 

[TKSC01]

I cant see the outer ends of the axle but I dont thisnk you have a vacuum activated axle like the Jeeps and some Dodges. THen again I am not a Chevy guy, I think everyone here is correct, it is a vent hose.

 

[Rovertrader]

agree on the vent, but the reason for it is expansion of fluid- and to NOT to allow water back in when it cools off(as it acts like a vacuum)- hence the need to run it up into the engine bay. We sometimes extend them up into the snorkle, but probably a little overkill.