Aftermarket Diff Covers? Hype or Help?

[BuzzBee]

The ARB diff covers come with a dipstick, and both the dipstick and drain port have magnets. Easy to check / top up / replace fluid without pulling the cover (although you should, and you know it ).
Nodular iron handles granite impacts quite nicely. Bruised the paint with a direct impact on the Rubicon Trail, kept on going. The impact would have been above most skid types protectors.
The only issue; after a decade, dragging a diff over hard rock will wear the lip. Never leaked, but was getting shaved to the point where the recesses for the bolt heads were going to be exposed. If you are into heavy rock, maybe both? Their current design is not recessed,
Differential Covers (arbusa.com)

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[HappyGladiator]

On the ARB suite it says that a spacer has to be used so the rear sway bar doesn't contact the diff cover. . Who would know? Called ARB but they have no info. No measurements.

 

[BigLizzard]

On the ARB suite it says that a spacer has to be used so the rear sway bar doesn't contact the diff cover. . Who would know? Called ARB but they have no info. No measurements.

Just installed mine today, the diff cover fits on the rear without any spacer on the sway bar, but I did have to take the bar off to fit it. I think Ill do some flex tests to see if it does get in the way and makes contact with the sway bar.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Just installed mine today, the diff cover fits on the rear without any spacer on the sway bar, but I did have to take the bar off to fit it. I think Ill do some flex tests to see if it does get in the way and makes contact with the sway bar.

I hate the rear sway bar setup on these........ for at least 2 reasons.
If I were to replace covers, since I tow, and it gets hot here, too, I'd opt for something with some extra surface area for cooling, to dissipate heat. There's a heck of a lot of force, pressure, between pinion and ring gear as it is, a lot of shear forces heating the lube (thus the moniker EP lube - extreme pressure lube) Hours on the highway, hills and towing, generates heat.

 

[Silverator]

Get diff skids instead. I have diff skids and factory covers. I’ve done the rubicon and other equally difficult trails. There isn’t a scratch on my covers or diff housing for that matter.

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,

 

[Average Oregonian]

Choose wisely.

 

[Jaxmax]

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

 

[Brahmajoe]

Do you Rock Crawl? Do you hit "big rock & rutted" trails with Wrangler Peeps?

I will be doing the Rubicon Trail later this year & am concerned about my stock Diff Covers...

Seems like the diff covers get tougher with every generation or Wrangler, thus less of a need to "upgrade".
What are your opinions on the Dana Rubicon diff covers we actually have?

Is replacing with an aftermarket cover really necessary?

Just don’t get flat covers. It doesn’t allow the gear oil to properly flow around. It just splashes off the flat cover and messes up lubrication process

 

[whiteglad]

I have used "flat" covers for decades and found them to help cooling the lube vs. stock covers.

 

[Alpine Warthog]

Choose wisely.

Dude, this video series dropped me in a rabbit hole! Too bad they don't make something that could be offroad capable and incorporated this cooling tech for those of us that tow and wheel!

 

[Escape.idiocracy]

Do you Rock Crawl? Do you hit "big rock & rutted" trails with Wrangler Peeps?

I will be doing the Rubicon Trail later this year & am concerned about my stock Diff Covers...

Seems like the diff covers get tougher with every generation or Wrangler, thus less of a need to "upgrade".
What are your opinions on the Dana Rubicon diff covers we actually have?

Is replacing with an aftermarket cover really necessary?

After watching this, I’ll be going with a Dana or ARB nodular iron cover- for the inside design/fluid path….

that above video- while I have never seen a flat back for jeeps….. I ran a poison spyder for cost and function- really has me questioning “function”…. Beefy for impact but fluid flow was probably hurting bearings and gear wear.

 

[Escape.idiocracy]

I have used "flat" covers for decades and found them to help cooling the lube vs. stock covers.

You should really watch the video Banks put together…..

 

[John in the Woods]

I took out a steering dampener and dented some stuff up front on the blues at AOAA. Getting home with wobble was not fun, but if one of those rocks smacked the front diff cover, there'd be no getting home. I switched to ARB covers front and rear after that, and have not worried about it since.

I think the ARB design is among the best at incorporating what the Banks videos show, and understanding what rocky trails require. If you're going to put the rig in a situation where a big smack from an unforgiving object is a possibility, get the covers or some good skids. You'll sleep better.

PS: I've since added an engine and tranny skid, which I'd recommend as well.

 

[Hootbro]

Dude, this video series dropped me in a rabbit hole! Too bad they don't make something that could be offroad capable and incorporated this cooling tech for those of us that tow and wheel!

Gale Banks twisted a lot of panties in the aftermarket diff world when he dropped those videos. Kind of hard to push back on the info he was putting out.

I do agree that I wish they would put something out that is off road capable.

 

[Alpine Warthog]

Gale Banks twisted a lot of panties in the aftermarket diff world when he dropped those videos. Kind of hard to push back on the info he was putting out.

I do agree that I wish they would put something out that is off road capable.

Yes, exactly!

Move those air scoops to the top of the diff and then add something to beef the bottom, maybe an extra spider style guard add-on. Not everybody needs the rock guard in the jeep world.

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?

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