The stock Dana 30 vent tube fitting, part # 83504653 (Supersession(s): 83500330) is no longer available. As most know, this fitting goes into the top left portion of the Dana 30 and is where the vent tube attaches. It's a common problem that this plastic, press-in fit, part breaks easily when removing the vent tube. Or, in my case, they're sometimes missing, when a used Dana 30 assembly is purchased. Since the Dana 30 I bought was missing the part, I spent hours looking for a solution, ending up with the most common fix being to use a 1/8 NPT tap and screw in brass fitting.
Only wanting to use the tap as a last resort, and not having found other viable options, I took a $3.99¢ leap of faith. I ordered the JK Mopar Axle Vent, Part # 68017179AA-M, and, after measuring it, discovered that it would indeed fit. The new replacement part is metal, which is a big bonus over the stock plastic part it replaced. Although the new part was a very tight interference fit, the install was straight forward, with a couple simple tricks. The steps were basically this:
Harbor Freight 10mm deep well 1/2" impact socket used to insert new part
Finished Product
Only wanting to use the tap as a last resort, and not having found other viable options, I took a $3.99¢ leap of faith. I ordered the JK Mopar Axle Vent, Part # 68017179AA-M, and, after measuring it, discovered that it would indeed fit. The new replacement part is metal, which is a big bonus over the stock plastic part it replaced. Although the new part was a very tight interference fit, the install was straight forward, with a couple simple tricks. The steps were basically this:
- Inspect the hole in the housing to ensure no plastic stock parts are still there. If so, you'll have to remove them before proceeding.
- Once the opening is clear of the stock part, I gently used a round file to clean out any debris
- I then used a Q-tip soaked in WD40 to clean the opening.
- With that done, I used another Q-tip to apply a coat of Jet-Lube 550 anti-seize around the inside of the opening that the new part would go in
- I then placed a 10mm deep well impact socket over the end of the replacement part, where the vent hose attaches
- Lining the new part up with the hole in the housing, I gently drove the fitting in with a small hammer, being careful to keep it square
- When the new fitting was in, I attached the vent tube and declared victory!
Harbor Freight 10mm deep well 1/2" impact socket used to insert new part
Finished Product
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