Hey guys I was just digging around in the engine bay of my 92 tracker 4x4 trying to get the alternator loose to replace the ancient belts. When I was struggling around on that side of the engine I noticed what looked like a hose connector on the top of the front diff. I got curious and looked all around for a breather hose and didn't find one so I looked in the FSM and sure as sh*t I'm missing my breather hose. Will any oil resistant hose of the correct ID be fine? Whats a good filter to use? And where is it supposed to mount inside the engine bay once I get it connected?
Any advice would be appreciated. I'll be pulling the drain plug again just to be sure I didn't contaminate the internals on my last muddy outing.

I'm still trying to figure out what was wrong with the previous owners mechanic. Some of the stuff I've come across on this thing just boggles the mind :]

Yes any hose the correct size will work. I picked up some breather check valves off of a jeep at the salvage and put on mine. I ran mine up as high as I could beside the radiator and clamped it. Without the breather valves you can just put a uturn in the hose also, will make it harder to suck water into it.

Thanks for the quick reply weldboy. That's exactly what I needed to know.

*shakes fist at previous owners mechanic*


Peace!

If you go to the 350 section of your local auto store they usually have breather filters available that normally go on the crank case.  I have used those to some effectiveness.

Do NOT install a check valve on the diff breathers, air must be able to travel in and out, the stock line has a white plastic end fitting that prevents anything from falling into the hose and the height of the hose/fitting is what keeps water out.

I ran mine up into the engine compartment as high as practical, cable tied it to the top of the intake manifold and just use a cheap inline fuel filter that fit the hose. Allows air in and out and I rely on the height to keep out the water.

The stock breather hose attaches to the upper radiator hose via some plastic clips.  The stock hose sits at about the same height as the upper radiator hose, but you can make it any length you want and pretty much run it anywhere you want.

Be cautious of using "any" hose.... I use a reinforced hose much like heater hose. I say this because I recall seeing someone using a clear plastic surgical type hose that would collapse in the bend areas. It also after a period of time got hard and cracked open.

These breather hoses are in some outta sight outta mind places but can be critical when the vehicle is immersed in water or a muddy soup.

                                 

I used a length of clear surgical tubing for my rear diff breather tube as I didnt have any actual auto grade rubber vacuum/PVC tubing and I have a large box full of the clear surgical tubing. Eventually it will be replaced, but with 4 months of driving it hasnt started to harden or kink,,,,YET! LOL

Wow, thanks for all the info guys. Now I know why that plastic clip on the rad hose wasn't holding anything on there >:]

Bits-4-Vits has a kit to help this out, he also shows good pics of where are the original ones are or were supposed to be.
http://www.bits4vits.co.uk/store/vitara-/-x90/breather-kit/prod_41.html