Got the breather box out, luckily. It took some serious effort and removal of quite a few extra parts. Biggest thorn in the side was the egr california stuff mounted to a bracket that is attached by breather box bolts. Couldn't get at the bolts without removing the egr thing.

So, upon trying to pull the BB up and out, had to tilt it back towards driver's side and then up. Otherwise it would get stopped by heater core hose above it.

Once I got it out I was soaking its innards and knocking the crud loose with a mallet when I noticed the smaller bottom stem was slightly broken. NOt completely broken off, but enough to make me suspect. Its broken about halfway around where the stem connects to the main body of breather box.

If the breather box sits back in pretty snug and is tightened down this might not be a problem.

I'm leaning towards using the new one

"knocking the crud loose with a mallet"

how much crud was on the Breather Box?

If it was that bad.....you should install the
new one.

Joseph in New Mexico

"knocking the crud loose with a mallet"

how much crud was on the Breather Box?

If it was that bad.....you should install the
new one.

Joseph in New Mexico

Put the new one in, then you won't be wondering or worrying. And whenever you take it out in 5k or 20k miles to clean it you'll remember the best and safest ways to remove, clean, and reinstall it without breaking. Keep the broken BB for an emergency or through it out/recycle the plastic.