3510i Front axle problem

[Zork]

I found my right side of the front axle wet. I found the breather plugged. The breather looks like a nut-cap on the drivers side of the axle and close to the pivot stop.
The thread looks like m10x.9.
When I opened the fill port I could definitely hear a venting or a vacuum.
I tried to clean it but ended up drilling a hole in the side. I put a plastic cap from a brakeclean can temporarily over it to keep the rain out.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

This thread is 11 years old.

Nice.

 

[Zork]

This thread is 11 years old.

Nice.

I'm not sure the cycle of deterioration has any time limit, just my maintenance schedule.