Stock Diff Covers

[WILDHOBO]

@Summitdan I have the rock hard rear lower LCA and shock skids they are solid but untested so far. Up front have the Artec lower LCA skids, came as part of a front armor kit. Also untested… my front tie rod and pumpkin are the only things to take any real force yet. I will write something up maybe after Moab I assume they will see some real work there.

Thanks. I only touched one rear LCA once at Moab last week. Depends on the trail though. No diff hits that I can confirm.

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[bakobobby]

Can I get some thoughts on the new G2 covers? Looks like they are cast iron and thicker than any others I have researched yet. Have recessed bolts. Nice angle to them to slide off rocks and such. With 10% off brings them down to the Motobilt price range. Bad news for me the skids wont work with my trusses and such so I am going for the most robust cover I can find.

https://www.4wheelparts.com/p/g2-ax...a-44-advantek-gray-40-2151g/_/R-FCNB-40-2151G

 

[JeepOfTheseus]

I bought the Dana Spicer nodular covers, mostly because of the blue paint option, but they held up insanely well at Death Valley (specifically Mengel Pass). The bottoms have plenty of scratches, but no major damage to be seen.

 

[JD101]

my ruby diffs are 1/8" steel. Did non rubys get aluminum covers?

Same .Mine seen pretty stout for a factory offering ?

 

[Orange01z28]

Thanks. I only touched one rear LCA once at Moab last week. Depends on the trail though. No diff hits that I can confirm.

Yeah, the only thing I hit in Moab when I was there at the beginning of March were my rear LCAs and my step skid (best $100 I've ever spent)

I do have a 3.5" lift though

 

[WILDHOBO]

Yeah, the only thing I hit in Moab when I was there at the beginning of March were my rear LCAs and my step skid (best $100 I've ever spent)

I do have a 3.5" lift though

Mine is up 3.5 with 37’s as well. I touched my driver side rear LCA once, but not in a bad way. I was doing a high vertical shelf step. I occasionally used my hitch skid, but that’s why it’s there. Way less often than before the lift though. my diff skids and belly skid (should have it soon) are there for rock gardens like holy cross and rubicon type stuff. At least the trails I’ve been on in Moab allow for line choices where you can usually avoid the diff and LCAs.

 

[jac04]

Can I get some thoughts on the new G2 covers?
...
https://www.4wheelparts.com/p/g2-ax...a-44-advantek-gray-40-2151g/_/R-FCNB-40-2151G

The G2 cover inside shape is wrong (IMO). I would only use a cover that mimics the interior shape of the original factory cover. Oil flow in the differential is critical to ensure proper pinion bearing lubrication. The ring gear picks up oil and 'flings' it towards the pinion bearing using the contour of the cover to direct the oil. Comparison, G2 on left, Dana on right:

 

[WILDHOBO]

The G2 cover inside shape is wrong (IMO). I would only use a cover that mimics the interior shape of the original factory cover. Oil flow in the differential is critical to ensure proper pinion bearing lubrication. The ring gear picks up oil and 'flings' it towards the pinion bearing using the contour of the cover to direct the oil. Comparison, G2 on left, Dana on right:

Good call. Is that the OE Dana 44 Mopar cover, or upgraded Dana Spicer?

 

[Orange01z28]

Mine is up 3.5 with 37’s as well. I touched my driver side rear LCA once, but not in a bad way. I was doing a high vertical shelf step. I occasionally used my hitch skid, but that’s why it’s there. Way less often than before the lift though. my diff skids and belly skid (should have it soon) are there for rock gardens like holy cross and rubicon type stuff. At least the trails I’ve been on in Moab allow for line choices where you can usually avoid the diff and LCAs.

Yeah, I deal with a lot of rock garden stuff in AZ. I’ve been waiting for my belly skids since November now

 

[jac04]

Good call. Is that the OE Dana 44 Mopar cover, or upgraded Dana Spicer?

Upgraded Dana cast iron cover. I should have clarified.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Upgraded Dana cast iron cover. I should have clarified.

Just curious. I figured as it looked pretty solid.

 

[bakobobby]

Long overdue here is a pic of the damage I described after kissing the concrete pyramid

 

[Blade1668]

I get your point, but I’m not worried about the very distributed load while sharing six bolts with the diff cover. That’s a pretty strong part already, as you can put a floor jack under it if necessary. And then there is still a huge bracket that goes over the body of the diff further forward. If it were one or two bolts only, I’d see the possibility of an issue, but not with six.

I'll second that on the load being spread over multiple bolts, I welded up a guard for the rear dif on my XJ decades ago it's been bashed on many rocks now repainted many times.

 

[Rusty PW]

I bought the Dana Spicer nodular covers, mostly because of the blue paint option, but they held up insanely well at Death Valley (specifically Mengel Pass). The bottoms have plenty of scratches, but no major damage to be seen.

I bought the same ones. ?

The strongest covers out there were the Rock Crusher diff covers. Made from cast steel. Heavy as shit. One cover weighted 14 lbs. Too bad they are no longer made. Otherwise I would have bought them. I had them on my Power Wagon. Just sold them for $400 for the set.

 

[Rusty PW]

Here's the Dana covers. They weight about 10 lbs each.

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