strong diff cover choices

[kelkolb]

This ARB one is nice, you cannot go wrong with it, but,

skids are the issue for me....,

I also want something for the bottom of the front diff housing which has
the drain hole, and I want something that is not going catch on a rock on the rear end and push the cover.... After much deliberation, I decided to go with both the front and back Metalcloak diff covers and both front and back matching skids. Comparatively, the price is good for this setup. The price will go up because I will have the diffs. powder coated, but, I will leave the skids in the gold zinc chromate coating.

In the end, I liked many diff covers like the ARB, but, I really, really liked the MetalCloak front and back skids better than anything else I have seen...., and you can only use the front skid with the Metalcloak diff cover....., so, I just decided to get the rear diff cover to also match the front.

Metalcloak is saying 3 weeks before my order is ready for ship, so, I will update again later -- after installation.

This is the route I'm leaning towards as well, but that dip stick and fill hole design on the ARB's is so much better..... I can't decide

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[hjdca]

You'll have to post an opinion on those when you get them because I'm super interested and haven't seen anyone who has them yet. I love the simplicity of them... the ARB ones are annoyingly flashy even in black let alone red.

Just received the Metalcloak rear skid plate. Looks like they updated the design with gussets and logo. Looks great ! Welds and finish look perfect.

Here is the skid from the front - great protection - negligible clearance lost

Here is the sway bar mount extension that comes with it to give you more clearance.

Some rear views, Metalcloak badging on the gussets.

 

[TRAILJT]

Very nice..

*minor thread jack here*

What size and backspace did you end up going with ?

Icon Bronze Rebound 17" x 8.5", 4.5"

 

[hjdca]

So, I installed my skids, Rusty's rear control arm skid (front), RockHard, rear control arm skid (rear), rear shock skids, front control arm skids. I recieved my Metalcloak diff covers and had them powdercoated 2 tone - Red and Grey ---

Rear Skids done

front control arm skids

Metalcloak rear diff cover and MetalCloak skid installed.

I finished installing everything. Metalcloak Diff covers and skids, Rusty's and Rockhard control arm skids.

Update:
My 12th skid is installed - RockHard FAD. Note: I had to loosen the front RockHard control arm skid and move the tabs to a more favorable rotation for the RockHard FAD to wiggle in. Here are some pics of the installation. Seems like a good setup for the front control arm and FAD.

 

[Commodus]

So, I installed my skids, Rusty's rear control arm skid (front), RockHard, rear control arm skid (rear), rear shock skids, front control arm skids. I recieved my Metalcloak diff covers and had them powdercoated 2 tone - Red and Grey ---

Rear Skids done

front control arm skids

Metalcloak rear diff cover and MetalCloak skid installed.

I finished installing everything. Metalcloak Diff covers and skids, Rusty's and Rockhard control arm skids.

Update:
My 12th skid is installed - RockHard FAD. Note: I had to loosen the front RockHard control arm skid and move the tabs to a more favorable rotation for the RockHard FAD to wiggle in. Here are some pics of the installation. Seems like a good setup for the front control arm and FAD.

I just purchased the same front differential cover and noticed that the fill plug looks higher than the factory. Did you fill you dif. To the fill plug or try to measure out the required 2.18 pints?

 

[whiteglad]

Many aftermarket covers have higher than stock fill plugs. I made an L shaped dipstick to put into the fill hole and check the fluid level vs. bottom of the hole.

 

[Bulldog4xfour]

So, I installed my skids, Rusty's rear control arm skid (front), RockHard, rear control arm skid (rear), rear shock skids, front control arm skids. I recieved my Metalcloak diff covers and had them powdercoated 2 tone - Red and Grey ---

Rear Skids done

front control arm skids

Metalcloak rear diff cover and MetalCloak skid installed.

I finished installing everything. Metalcloak Diff covers and skids, Rusty's and Rockhard control arm skids.

Update:
My 12th skid is installed - RockHard FAD. Note: I had to loosen the front RockHard control arm skid and move the tabs to a more favorable rotation for the RockHard FAD to wiggle in. Here are some pics of the installation. Seems like a good setup for the front control arm and FAD.

Did you have an issue with the front diff cover. The website says it doesn’t fit with the stock trac bar?

 

[LostWoods]

Did you have an issue with the front diff cover. The website says it doesn’t fit with the stock trac bar?

At full articulation it will make contact. Aftermarket bars have more of a bow to them at that point to avoid hitting the differential.

 

[Rusty PW]

I went with the nodular iron Dana covers. They will clear the stock track bar. I reused the stock oem diff gasket.

And after being kissed by a few rocks

 

[tonywin]

I went with Motobilt for front and rear. These things were way more solid than the oem flimsy covers.

 

[sass JT]

I have the metalcloak front and rear with diff skids.

 

[Jaxmax]

Next Venture makes an awesome set of skids, probably the best out there, they also protect the U joint and have a ramp design the glides the rock past the u joint, I idn't say they were cheap , but they are really neat.., work with Moto built and other some covers and have a spacer to run the factory cover , as the need for a diff cover is questionable with these skids......Jack

 

[Rusty PW]

Next Venture makes an awesome set of skids, probably the best out there, they also protect the U joint and have a ramp design the glides the rock past the u joint, I idn't say they were cheap , but they are really neat.., work with Moto built and other some covers and have a spacer to run the factory cover , as the need for a diff cover is questionable with these skids......Jack

I've seen those skids and like them. ?

 

[SW1]

I went with the AEV ones, beefy as heck and made in the USA.

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