Currie 9" Axle Vent

[NorCalBronco]

I recently bought and received a Currie 9". It came with everything ready to bolt up but for some reason the axle vent fitting they provided is narrower than the stock 9" part and is too short to hold down the brake line distribution block thingy. I haven't been able to locate something the same diameter as the Currie part but long enough to hold down the brake block in the local parts store or online. I really don't want to drill out the new housing to fit the stock vent/breather part as its all sealing up and ready to go other than this and getting metal flakes in there doesn't sound great. Anyone else run into this problem with their Currie 9" and have a part number of something that would work? I've emailed Currie but haven't received an answer other than them confirming they use a different size than stock. I've attached a picture of the stock part and the part that came with the Currie axle.

 

[Broncobowsher]

Looks like the brass is standard tapered pipe thread. The long thread hold down/vent I believe is normal bolt thread.
There is no long version of pipe thread. Not anything normal.
couple of possible fixes. If there is room, drill and tap the existing hole out to the bolt threads.
Drill and tap a new hole and put a pipe plug in the Currie hole.
Use the Currie vent as is and weld a bolt to the axle to hold the distribution block.
And probably a half dozen other possible options.

I'll add this question, where is the vent at? Don't know if Currie still puts it at the top of the big part of the housing, but that is good for spitting oil out. If it is on the top of the tube, probably going to be just as good as stock. After doing a custom axle I found what I think is the best spot and don't see people use it. Inside the housing there is a tube support. between that and where the banjo necks down and welds to the tube. The tube support acts as a nice baffle. The housing I got had it fully welded so I drilled a few holes high and low so it can breath and flow, but it is a nice fully baffled, centrally located, and a fairly high location. Never splashed a single drop out that vent location.

 

[NorCalBronco]

Looks like the brass is standard tapered pipe thread. The long thread hold down/vent I believe is normal bolt thread.
There is no long version of pipe thread. Not anything normal.
couple of possible fixes. If there is room, drill and tap the existing hole out to the bolt threads.
Drill and tap a new hole and put a pipe plug in the Currie hole.
Use the Currie vent as is and weld a bolt to the axle to hold the distribution block.
And probably a half dozen other possible options.

I'll add this question, where is the vent at? Don't know if Currie still puts it at the top of the big part of the housing, but that is good for spitting oil out. If it is on the top of the tube, probably going to be just as good as stock. After doing a custom axle I found what I think is the best spot and don't see people use it. Inside the housing there is a tube support. between that and where the banjo necks down and welds to the tube. The tube support acts as a nice baffle. The housing I got had it fully welded so I drilled a few holes high and low so it can breath and flow, but it is a nice fully baffled, centrally located, and a fairly high location. Never splashed a single drop out that vent location.

Thanks for the reply and suggestions.. Bummer that it sounds like there wouldn't be a longer version of the Currie part. I was hoping to avoid drilling/tapping as I assume this would get some metal shavings into the axle and pulling everything all apart to get those shavings out kind of defeats the purpose of getting the crate axle in the first place I guess I will try to figure out a way to attach the brake block to the brass fitting some other way first. I've attached a pic of where Currie put the vent.

 

[SteveL]

I would try giving currie a call during the week. They're usually pretty helpful

 

[Broncobowsher]

Just weld a bolt on and use it as a stud. No metal shaving inside.

 

[1sicbronconut]

X2 and it doesn't appear to me that where the factory vent hole would be?? I'd want it closer to the frame rail for the hose going from the frame to the rear end.

 

[DirtDonk]

In the past at least, Currie did not locate the vent hole in the same position as the factory Bronco's had. So using the existing one is a moot point unless you make your own custom brake lines anyway. AND if it's in even a remotely usable location for the flex hose.
But you'd have to compare to a '77-only rear axle housing, since Broncos only came with the reinforced "truck" housing that one year only. So comparing vent locations is best done with a '77 Bronco housing just in case there was a slight change.

A separate vent with a welded bolt for the stud sounds like the best solution.
Let me guess though.... That nice cast-iron gray color is powder coated. Right?
Does not bode well for the weld option. But hey, it might still be the best course of action.

Paul

 

[DirtDonk]

Oh, and speaking of drilling and tapping...
What if you did your work with the housing upside-down so that any shavings tended to fall out or collect near the hole where they could be flushed out?

paul

 

[Rustytruck]

if you drill and tap use a couple of high strength magnets next to the hole pack your drill bit and tap with heavy grease . could also grba your wifes vacuum to help suck up stuff.

 

[sprdv1]

I would try giving currie a call during the week. They're usually pretty helpful

Definitely wouldn't hurt

 

[sprdv1]

Oh, and speaking of drilling and tapping...
What if you did your work with the housing upside-down so that any shavings tended to fall out or collect near the hole where they could be flushed out?

potentially could work

 

[NorCalBronco]

Thanks everyone. I went to a hardware store and looked through all their pipe fitting stuff and was able to find a few things to make it work. However I’m still not really happy with it as I had to stack some washers and my nice pre bent brake hard lines don’t reach on one side I don’t want to weld anything to the housing as it’s of course already powder coated. Since it looks like I will have to make some brake lines either way I was thinking about making some sort of bracket that attaches to the bolt holes for the third member and just using the pipe fitting vent that was provided. Overall I’m super tempted to just drill and tap the existing hole to fit the standard vent that I can buy from the vendors. I always get caught up on silly little things like this it seems

 

[hsach]

Thanks everyone. I went to a hardware store and looked through all their pipe fitting stuff and was able to find a few things to make it work. However I’m still not really happy with it as I had to stack some washers and my nice pre bent brake hard lines don’t reach on one side I don’t want to weld anything to the housing as it’s of course already powder coated. Since it looks like I will have to make some brake lines either way I was thinking about making some sort of bracket that attaches to the bolt holes for the third member and just using the pipe fitting vent that was provided. Overall I’m super tempted to just drill and tap the existing hole to fit the standard vent that I can buy from the vendors. I always get caught up on silly little things like this it seems

I am also looking at a Currie rear right now and have the same issue. I looked on their website and saw three things that might help with the vent location.

This might work since you were talking about making a bracket that attaches to the bolts on the housing. Housing Bracket
Here is a universal line kit that looks like it has a distribution block that will screw into the Currie housing vent. Line Kit
Here is another line kit, but this one has a different sized hole for attaching to the housing. Stainless Line Kit

I haven't called Currie about these yet, but hopefully one will work. All will require new custom length lines though. I assume one of the distribution block they sell screws into their housing vent hole. I am hoping to not weld anything to a new powder coated housing as well.

 

[Scoop]

Just weld a bolt on and use it as a stud. No metal shaving inside.

This what I did on my Currie housing. Works great. Easy fix.