water crossings in 100 series

Fisho,

Check your radiator for any marks from the fan blades. I've holed my radiator twice on water crossings and had it touched once.
Believe the problem is a gap between the bash plate and the bottom of the radiator either through a missing bit of foam blocking the gap or diff drop fitment also leaving a gap.

Do you have extended diff and trans breathers, or as the standard setup ?

sounds like youve got is sussed with dropping the oils wheel bearing could maybe do with a grease as well and check the brakes. if the water is muddy it will chew them straight out as well as destry transfer case and diff pinion seals.
I see people head straight out when conditions get muddy (for fun) and shake my head. From running work vehicles trogh mud all the time I know the imense amount of damage it does

The backward force of water when crossing a deepish river is huge,,, no wonder people can kill radiators when careless....

Anything over 500mm and i tend to tarp up which sounds a bit soft but i watched a training video which must have been setup in the engine bay with a minature camera,,,,,, and got the shock of my life when i saw the plastic blades on a viscous fan (Nissan Patrol)....

They bent so far in toward the radiator it was almost breathtaking... LOL.....It was in slow motion also...

They missed the radiator by mm's...

You only have to look at your front number plate all bent forward next time you ford a creek to see the backward force..

If you cross water before heading in you should put your hands on the hubs, if you can hold your hands on the hubs for 30 seconds you will probably not get water in to the diff or wheel bearings.

My 4 cars do 360 800mm to 1 mt water xings a year each, I service my cars every 1 1/2 to 2 weeks and I am also checking often for water.

Rarely is it a problem, I have put a thread on here to protect you radiator, here is the link.

Radiator fix for water xings.

Cheers Steve.

thanks for all the replies.
Diff breathers are at standard height (up under the bodywork, also trans etc. Im gonna get the transmission fluid changed anyway as it has 130K on it but as only Toyota can do it (sealed tranny) and I cant get it in for 2 weeks I better hope its ok!

Fan didnt touch radiator (apparently as we have travelled 700km since!)

Water wasnt muddy, just brown.

Thanks everyone!