I bought an 87 F250 last night and when I came home from work today I found a good size puddle near the drivers side rear wheel. I looked at it seems that a hose that is not connected to anything, but has a plug on the end of it split open near the fitting on the rear axle. This hose connects into the rear end where the brake lines do but the other end is just plugged. Is this the vent tube and should it be plugged or leaking any kind of fluid. The tube is about 6" long and is split open right near where it plugs in the rear end. What should I do with this as far as fixing it? Any help is appreciated. thanks

 

Hey this hose just vents air from the rear axle. the end is plugged so mud doesnt get in it and clog it. If you notice, its not completely plugged, air can still get through.

Mine did the same thing. Just get a new piece of hose or cut it back to where its not split and reattach it. I put a hose clamp on mine so it wouldnt split again.

I dunno about the puddle though. Was it gear oil or brake fluid?

 

It appears to be gear oil from the rear, is it normal for it to be going through the vent tube like that. I just bought the truck and havent pulled the rear diff. cover off yet to look at its condition but I drove it an hour home on the highway and didnt feel any problems or anything out of the ordinary. It was a good amount that came out of the tube.

 

Do not recall seeing any plug in the end of any, it clips on up on the frame pointing to the rear. Maybe a bug made his home in the end.
The rear end needs to be vented or the seals can go bad and start leaking.
If the split is low enough or the hose is not attached then yes oil can come out of the hose.
Also check the oil level in the rear end to see if it is too full or low.

 

My '87 has a little check valve or breather on the end of the hose.
I agree with everything else. Replace the hose and check the fluid level.
I used a cow hitch of .040" safety wire to hold it onto the hollow junction block bolt.