1988 bronco rear diff hole?

[ryanapfel]

So i just replaced the gears in the rear. When i noticed a pretty big hole at the top of the pumpkin ( not the fill hole) its at the vert top and its just a hole. Nothing plugging it. Id say about the size of a quarter maybe a lil bigger? Is there a plug i can buy for it? Is it even soposed to be there? I was thinking about just filling it with silicon. Any ideas? Thanks

 

[Bully Bob]

You didn't see "light" coming thru there when you had the R&P out..????

Did you check to see if it's threaded..??

There should be a vent hose on the dr. side axle tube with brake lines hooked to it as well.

If not., this may be some sort of custom vent., --OR-- the entrance for an air locker or elect. locker.

 

[ryanapfel]

Yea you can see right though it to daylight and theres no thread. The vent hose is on the axle with the brake lines is there. Is it going to hurt anything to plug it up? Its leaking oil slowly so i need to do somthing about it

 

[Bully Bob]

How strange but ya., it needs to be plugged but you don't want goo or chunks of sealant falling inside.

 

[ryanapfel]

Could i put a piece of metal over the hole and silicone around it?

 

[Lotus]

A pic would be nice.

 

[ryanapfel]

Ill throw one on here tomorrow. May be hard cuz i have the diff put back together already but ill try to.get a decent pic

 

[miesk5]

yo RYAN,

It's prob the hole for da Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS); also called RABS Sensor & Differential Speed Sensor (DSS)

bolt is like the rear cover bolts in 87-up: 13mm hex head @ 25-30 lb-ft.

85-91 used a t-case mounted VSS (6 pulses per cable rev) for cruise and E4OD shifting. The ABS sensor was only used for RABS



pic by Shadofax (TheJuice, The Juice, Mark Z)

Was the diff replaced by you or a prev owner?

Because in 88, the VSS is mounte in Transfer Case Tail Housing

8.8 Parts Break-Out DiagramSource: by AutoZone

 

[ryanapfel]

Yea that looks like where the hole is. although sombody before me must have ripped all of the wireing out. So it accually is threaded? I wonder if i could get like an oil pan plug that would fit.

 

[ryanapfel]

It must have been replaced before me. My speedometer still works so it must be off a pre 87. The rear end was torn up when i bought it thats why i had ti replace the gears. They did it wrong and it spun the pinion.

 

[miesk5]

yo,

The VSS fits into that hole with an O ring & is bolted in-place



by Chilton via waltman

instead of tapping da hole, consider getting a vss from yard and using new o ring & bolt from NAPA, etc

 

[ryanapfel]

I was just about to get on here to say its not threaded as stated before. But your miesk5 ur right it has that hold down ***** for it. Ill pick one to plug the hole next time im at my pick a part. Thanks!