[Qthefun]

Ok so with breathers do you guys let the diffs/tans/transfer cool down before going into water?

I am not keen on water crossings but would like to know the safest way without screwing up diffs ect.

[Kor3y101]

Best bet is if you think it's going to get in your diffs/unsure of the depth of the water. Get out, and walk the crossing to work out its depth and feel for any big holes/rocks and plot a route in your head.
While you are doing this, your diffs will be cooling down and should be pretty sweet (depending on how long you wait of course)

But if you have breathers and are confident they are on and sealed correctly. There's no need to wait for the diffs to cool down.

[greenzook89]

I never have worried. There is a theory that condensation can form on the inside of the housing but I've never had it happen. Same theory also applies to my moto trials bikes when crossing creeks etc. Regular maintenance was the key in this situation

[Gwagensteve]

Breathers negate the need to cool the car down before crossing water. In any case, you'd be waiting HOURS to drop the temperature of everything to ambient.... which is still likely quite a bit above the water temperature.

Steve.

[pete_79]

Perhaps the correct question is; "should I wait at water crossings for my brakes to cool down so they don't warp?"

Then the answer is yes, especially if you've just come down long steep hills riding the brakes all the way just before reaching the water crossing.

[Mike57]

Agree totally with Pete. Maybe the Sierra guys don't use their brakes on downhill runs but the Jimny guys do so if you have been on the brakes on the downhill approach to the water you should make a cuppa and give them a chance to cool for a while before crossing.

[Gwagensteve]

Good call about the brakes - I hadn't considered that but do recall the fizz of hot breaks in the water when driving my hilux's years ago.

Steve.

[Qthefun]

As usual thanks guys Will get around to breathers soon!

How long for brakes to cool down? roughly?

[Gwagensteve]

Depends on use. If you've just ridden the brakes all the way down a long hill they can be (literally) red hot. If you're rolling along the valley floor in 4L i don't imagine they'd be much above ambient.

Steve.

[alien]

Safest way is to go around all together if you can. I do this now. Back when i was on my P's i used to plough through every puddle, but there's just no challenge in driving through water, so why do it if you can avoid it IMO. Most of the tracks here have a bail out track around any sort of deep hole. I take that bail out track 99% of the time these days, and my wheel bearings, brakes, suspension bushes.. EVERYTHING lasts about a million times longer.

[Gwagensteve]

When the term "water crossing" was referred to, I imagined that meant a creek or river, not a pretend obstacle. (*ahem* I meant "bog hole")

Steve.

[Qthefun]

Yep I want to avoid water, but for instance if you go some where and there is no rain for cast but then the day you are leaving it buckets down and dry creeks become knee high was the situation I am looking at nutting out the safe way through
So if brakes are red hot just wait an hour or so and they will be ok?
Cheers again!

[alien]

If that's the case, just get on through and deal with any issues later... you can't prepare for that kind of scenario, and should you wait an hour, knee deep might become waist deep and the problems get exponentially worse. It's unlikely on a rainy day that your brakes will be red hot, and unless you've been harnessing your inner colin mcrae i doubt the diffs will the THAT hot.

[Mike57]

My experience is from the Vic high country where by the time you reach water you have just spent an hour descending off a mountain with the brakes on for most of the time. WA and NT for example where you are just driving along flat terrain and come across a creek would be different. Common sense will prevail but as Alien states water is to be avoided or minimised where at all possible.

[Qthefun]

Thanks once again guys!

Cheers,
C and D