walked out to my truck tonight (04.5) and see something laying on the ground. it is a hose!!! i drove home tonight with no driveability issues! the hose attaches to the driver side axle tube, right near the rear shock. the hose is about 2 feet long. the other end has a small white plastic fitting with a metal clip on the hose- which obviously clips onto something on my frame,etc-i hoping this is just the breather hose for the rear axle. am i correct??? need to go investigate further-but i wanted some input!

 

It is a breather. Just clip it back up high and don't worry about it.

 

From what you described it sounds like the vent hose to me also. Make sure you get it back on tight this time, sure don't want any water in that rear end.

Tony

 

Yes that is the rear end breather hose. It usually follows your rear axle flexible brake hose up to the inside of the frame and is fastened there by a clip. If the clip is rusted or broken you can fasten the hose up there with a nylon wiring harness tie. Check the metal cap and make sure it is free turning & not clogged with dirt, if it gets plugged up it can cause the differential to build pressure inside and force the pinion seal or axle seals to leak.
You can also fasten it to the brake hose for better reliability at staying in place.

retooc

 

thanks-thought that was it! minus 6 degrees with the wind chill- can not find where it technically clips too right now- i cabled tied it up as high as i could. will have to route it better tomorrow! thanks.

 

Yeah, make sure you cable tie it with a little slack in it, otherwise at full droop your likely to rip it out of the axle tube... Gear oil and Water don't make a good lubricant together, ask anybody who has sunk a Nissan axle in water, they'll tell you how much damage it can cause.

 

When I changed the shocks I clipped my breather hose to the top drivers side shock mount...works great!

 

Just ran 850 miles and discovered the vent hose on the ground. Do not have access to manual. Is there a cap at the end? If so does anyone have a picture or Part number? Thanks!
Just had shocks replaced and suspect the mount rusted and got hit during the R&R.

 

See the attached PDF. This is from the 04 catalog, but the axles are the same, and a vent is a vent.