Stock Diff Covers

[bleda2002]

Is anyone making a rear diff skid that protects the input pinion? I have the AEV version on my JK, and you can see that it's doing its job, but I haven't seen anything similar for the Advantek D44.

https://nextventuremotorsports.com/...t/products/jl-rds-m220?variant=40696448286913

They have them, not cheap though when you add in their diff covers. front and rear skids ~600-700

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[hjdca]

Is it messed up that I get a feeling of joy seeing seeing parts all scraped up I think I like the idea of that skid. Despite losing a bit of clearance. Trying to reason it out, it only loses in that one small area. Usually I don't want that area anywhere near dragging on stuff its a major miscalculation if it does.

I do rock crawling, especially the 3 badge of honor Trails in Big Bear. I have lots of skids, and I bang my sliders, diff skids, control arm skids, transfer case skid, etc... on the boulders on these trails. Every big trip, I go underneath the truck and paint the banged up skids satin black, but, the metalcloak stuff is gold, so, I have not got around to getting matching paint for those yet. Note: My method rims are also satin black, and I also paint those with touch up paint when I scrape them. So, the gold color on the skids is the only drawback I see, since, I cannot use my bottle of satin black touch up paint on it. Other than that, the metalcloak diff skids are fantastic.

Generally, I hit the diff skids when I slide off a rock, -- and the most common situation is that the front diff makes it through the obstacle and the JT is long, so that I may have to turn, and thus, the rear may slide off the line on the rock and hit the diff skid. The rear diff skid and rear control arm skids at the frame take those hits. IMHO, those rear control arm skids at the frame are also super important to save trashing your control arm brackets.

 

[LostWoods]

I am convinced. Ordering something better. What do you recommend? I see the metalcloak option ahas a small skid that looks like it would give an extra level of protection.

I've got the metalcloak and have been happy so far. Low profile and they took paint well. Only downside is the fill hole isn't where the factory one was so you have to measure out your diff fills.

 

[whiteglad]

I have Motobilt covers. You can also look at Cavfab which are supposed to be surfaced also, a good thing.
Axle / Differential - CavFab

Jeep JL 18-Current Year– Motobilt

 

[bakobobby]

I have Motobilt covers. You can also look at Cavfab which are supposed to be surfaced also, a good thing.
Axle / Differential - CavFab

Jeep JL 18-Current Year– Motobilt

From watching the Litebrite video where they installed those. Confident you could ram that cover into anything with zero worries. Been watching more vids. Found there is a camp that argues the covers need to have the rounded stock like shape or the fluid dynamics are an issue. Kinda sounds fishy to me found zero instances of failure due to diff covers. What do you think? I love Motobilt stuff have their bumpers front and back on the JT.

 

[whiteglad]

Banks is the main proponent of stock shape covers. He may be just trying a sales tactic. I have used Mag Hytec flat covers in Rams for decades and they work great. Furthermore, you need the lube to hit the cover for cooling, not just slide around it, Indeed some stock diffs such as older Mopars with the removable pumpkin have round covers.

 

[bakobobby]

Banks is the main proponent of stock shape covers. He may be just trying a sales tactic. I have used Mag Hytec flat covers in Rams for decades and they work great. Furthermore, you need the lube to hit the cover for cooling, not just slide around it, Indeed some stock diffs such as older Mopars with the removable pumpkin have round covers.

Makes sense. One source was that guy you mention and it did seem a little sales pitchy rather than science driven.

 

[Hootbro]

I watched the whole series that Banks did on diff covers. While obviously there was a selfish profit motive to sell their covers, they did a pretty good job showing the science behind diff cover design.

 

[WILDHOBO]

I am convinced. Ordering something better. What do you recommend? I see the metalcloak option ahas a small skid that looks like it would give an extra level of protection.

I recommend diff skids instead, or in addition to covers. Even aftermarket covers can get torn up. I have next venture motorsports diff skids on front and rear. They’re bullet proof. 1/4” gusseted steel.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Is anyone making a rear diff skid that protects the input pinion? I have the AEV version on my JK, and you can see that it's doing its job, but I haven't seen anything similar for the Advantek D44.

https://nextventuremotorsports.com/collections/jeep-truck-gladiator-jt/products/jl-rds-m220

https://nextventuremotorsports.com/products/jl-front-diff-skid-fds

These are amazing. If you have stock covers, they have spacers to account for the thickness. They protect everything. Not just the bottom of the diff cover.

 

[Deleted member 30519]

I went with the Yukon covers and I kind of regret it because I think it was only really designed for the JL and not JT even though it its listed as compatible. The Yukon logo is partially blocked by the rear sway bar and all you see is "Yuk". I tried reaching out to Yukon on FB msg but they never responded after it showed they viewed it. They seem like solid covers though.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Here are some pictures of the next venture skids. Primed and painted billet silver to match the body. I know. Silly. I wanted something different. I’m happy with how it turned out. And I can just hit them with rattle cans when they get hit badly.

 

[bakobobby]

I went with the Yukon covers and I kind of regret it because I think it was only really designed for the JL and not JT even though it its listed as compatible. The Yukon logo is partially blocked by the rear sway bar and all you see is "Yuk". I tried reaching out to Yukon on FB msg but the never responded after it showed they viewed it. They seem like solid covers though.

Oh sorry that sucks. At least it looks pretty stout?

 

[Dougstdig]

So what about protecting the drain plug from getting hit underneath on your axle? Isn’t that why jeep stopped putting them in that location starting with the 2022’s???

My 2021JTRD does not have a drain plug on the front axle

 

[Dougstdig]

The oem diff covers are quite thin. Darn confident in my AEV covers - they are overkill

Do the AEV dip covers have a ring seals?

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