Aftermarket Diff Covers? Hype or Help?

[Hootbro]

Since his covers are concerned with heat dissipation only, Banks didn't do any impact testing, so I'm wondering what it would take to make it rock worthy?

He did design the lower ear scoops that hang out into the airflow to be break away in the event of a impact event and retain the main body of the cover integrity. Not that has anything worthy in our application but it shows they have knowledge base to think of something that could work for us.

Given that Banks primarily caters to the Heavy Duty diesel crowd, might just not be in their wheelhouse to want to entertain our market?

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[Wheelin98TJ]

You do have to be careful with heavy duty diff covers that you do not damage your housing.

If you use the diff cover like it's indestructible, you can end up with axle tubes cracking or coming loose from the housing.

 

[whiteglad]

Yes, I watched the Banks videos. He is a great marketeer but not an engineer. My experience is different, but what the heck, I only have a Ph.D. in Chemistry.

 

[ChrisNLA]

Worth it. I ran them on my JK previously. I'd like to have them on my JT as even mild wheeling on a stock height truck scraped plenty of axle components.

Remember - it's not just about blunt force impacts on the front of the cover - not peeling one back on the bottom edge is just as important. Brad from Trail Recon peeled back the stock cover on their van doing some mild overlanding. Ruined the whole rear end on the way home not noticing it was leaking (and eventually out of fluid).

They are on my shopping list at some point. I like the ARB covers so far. I ran Poison Spyder on my JK and they were nice, too. Not too worried about the Banks video. We have ran all sorts of covers for tens of thousands of miles - maybe hundreds of thousands by now (collectively, in our group) with no lubrication issues. That's just me though.

 

[whiteglad]

I have used CavFab and Motobilt covers on my Jeeps. Both were good, strong and moderately priced.

 

[Alpine Warthog]

Yes, I watched the Banks videos. He is a great marketeer but not an engineer. My experience is different, but what the heck, I only have a Ph.D. in Chemistry.

Not knocking that piece of paper you're referring to or anything, But IIRC, Gale Banks has degrees in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering. I don't know if he's Doc Banks, but I'd say his years of experience and rock solid history would perhaps, maybe, potentially, say the guy knows his excrement...

 

[Hootbro]

Yes, I watched the Banks videos. He is a great marketeer but not an engineer. My experience is different, but what the heck, I only have a Ph.D. in Chemistry.

He is the face of a company he owns that employs engineers that designed and made the product he is marketing. I doubt he is pulling out his ass alone what he is saying in the videos.

 

[Silverator]

Silverator ,Wildhobo went with Next Venture Diff skids, check them out and you will see why the stock covers are good to use. The cost is a lot but you have to compare to guys buying diff covers and skids, and not buying a cover. They also protect the u joint a bit, you should probably not go to their website, their belly skid is to die for, bumper options are nice, and they are stepping up to protect Moab with giving a percent of profits to stop future closures.....Jack

Thanks - appreciated! Unfortunately, too late on the warning not to go to their website. Haha! I've already been there, and have their belly skid system on "my list". Again, thanks for the info! Cheers,

Also, profits to help protect Moab is a HUGE bonus!!!!!!

 

[Escape.idiocracy]

Yes, I watched the Banks videos. He is a great marketeer but not an engineer. My experience is different, but what the heck, I only have a Ph.D. in Chemistry.

With your background you have a better understanding of fluid dynamics and lubrication when aerated. Also Good you understand the point to what most are reiterating throughout this thread, which is to ensure thought is being placed on the design of the cover- specifically around the ring gear that is using an oil sling design to provide lubrication to the pinion….

 

[Escape.idiocracy]

Yes, I watched the Banks videos. He is a great marketeer but not an engineer. My experience is different, but what the heck, I only have a Ph.D. in Chemistry.

https://official.bankspower.com/about-banks-power/gale-banks-biography/

Maybe this will shine a little light and understanding that Gale Banks isn’t from the get rich quick through scam products…..

 

[whiteglad]

For 10 years, Ram has offered an aluminum, finned cover that seems to cool better than the stamped steel cover, while being of similar shape. I have tested stock steel, Mag Hytec powder coated, and Mag Hytec uncoated covers for temperature rise and average temperatures on flat land and uphill while towing, finding that those "flat" covers were effective in lowering lube temperatures compared to the stock shape cover. It appears that lube hitting the "flat" surface helps to transfer heat and long experience with them by many Turbo Diesel owners has shown that they lube the gears and bearings well.
Turbo Diesel owners also found it interesting that other companies including Banks purchased (and sometimes re-named) torque plates for the Bosch P7100 injection pump from a little company in Indiana founded by a retired Cummins engineer. Banks offered a multi-component kit to increase power on First Gen TDs with one line of the instructions telling the installer to turn a screw on the injection pump. That same small Indiana company (TST) also offered free instructions on turning that screw which was what increased fuel and resulted in the power gain.
I did not say that Banks products don't work. I just have found that in some instances, further research is worthwhile, and the buyer should carefully consider what goals are to be met, and whether the focus of a product's goals are exactly aligned with that owner's intentions. I felt that Banks apparent dismissal of the flat diff covers did not match my goals completely. Each buyer is free to make their own assessments.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Thanks for the info. If you don't mind me asking - what diff skids did you go with? I'm on the hunt and can't seem to find a lot of info on them.... Cheers,

Next venture motorsports. The only company that protects the pinion.

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