When do I need to replace my air cleaner housing? 1. The air cleaner housing assembly is not a part that requires regular maintenance or replacement. However, since it is made of plastic, it can crack from pressure or extreme environmental conditions. Sometimes air boxes can break when changing the filter. 2. This can happen when the person performing the maintenance does not know where all the bolts are or exactly how the box comes apart, so they may try to force it open, effectively breaking the box. .