Technical rear axle breather problem

I couldn't get any air to pass thru this breather/vent. so I removed it and can't really see what's inside. Is there a check ball of sorts or just a tiny opening that maybe rusted shut? It's on a Ford 8'' .
Thanks in advance.

 

On my Dana 60 the vent got clogged. I sprayed it with brake cleaner and blew it out until the check ball was free.

 

just a small hole through the center, use some cleaner as suggested and poke it with a wire

 

I have a Ford 9" (source 1986 F150) where the vent hole was not drilled all the way through. The axle seals would seep. I finally got a clue when I removed the filler plug and heard air escape. Took me a while to find it, both ends were drilled, so it looked OK. I ended up chucking it in a vice and drilling out about 1/4" to connect the holes. Must be a Monday vehicle...

 

I did spray carb cleaner and blew with air hose, to no avail.

 

No check ball in mine. I'd poke a piece of wire into it and if it doesn't go through,take it off and drill that sucker.

 

You may have a different issue than I had. I poked a wire in the hole to break up the packed in junk. I alternated back and forth spraying poking and blowing the vent. It took some time to get it cleaned out. I was surprised how much was packed in and how hard it was to clean out.

 

I cleaned it out on my 8" and added a 90* hose to keep any outside debris from clogging it back up.

 

he alternated spraying, poking and blowing.....

 

At least I didn't say the dirty vent.

 

just a hole thru the housing on my 58 ford 9"

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sorry a threaded hole, NPT threads

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I think all of my Fords have had a tiny hole, maybe 1/16", and no check ball.

 

Thru the shop at work I've actually ran into maybe half a dozen thru the last 40 yrs that wasn't drilled all the way thru.

Ran them thru the parts washer, brake clean them wire, no luck. Shine a light thru them and no hole. Just drilled and reinstalled.

 

In the early 70's I bought a set of factory sbc pushrods, one of the ball inserts had not been drilled all the way through, burned it up and turned the rocker arm blue.
With the large number of mass produced items it doesn't surprise me that a few slip through unfinished.

 

After you get it opened up , go to the junk yard and look ,there's normally a hose that runs from that fitting up to a spot on the floor or frame that has a plastic cap affair connected to it to keep junk out , same fitting is used on some 4x4 transfer cases ....

 

I have done many 8 and 9 inch Fords , all were drilled straight through and had a hose connecting to them that went up out of the way of road debris . I have never see a Ford with any kind of check valve inside the vent . Maybe I just haven’t ran across one yet . Anyway you look at it the axle has to vent or you will have a leaker for sure

 

Soaked it for a day, drilled 1/16'' thru the crap/rust , then worked up to 1/8'' , at 5/32'' started to drill steel. Will definitely run hose to a clean spot, maybe add a filter.

Thanks to all.