ARB differential covers

[lowRail]

This weekend I installed the ARB diff covers for my gladiator. M210 on the front and M220 for the rear. Has anyone else installed these? How much oil did you use for front and rear? Yes I know there is a dipstick. I asked an online retailer and they recommended 2.7 quarts front and rear. Which seems like a lot.
I put in a little over a quart in the front and around 2 quarts in the rear

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[Wheelin98TJ]

Here is the Jeep recommendation:

 

[lowRail]

Here is the Jeep recommendation:

ARB claims the covers allow for more fluid

 

[JTGuy]

I put in enough to flow into the axle tubes to lube the wheel bearing. IMO, a little too much is better than not enough.

 

[Not2Late]

I seem to recall that ARB wants you to put the old and new diff covers on a table and then scribe over to make a mark (file) on the ARB dip stick to indicate where it lines up to where the bottom of the fill hole was on the old cover. That way, you would have a reference for the new covers.

 

[Jaxmax]

Not2late is correct instructions said about marking the dipstick to your application as in comparing to bottom of factory fill hole. I really liked the ARB cover and would have went with them but was concerned someone might over fill it , and then stumbled onto a guy here who gifted me a set of Dana covers. You might be able to measure the bottom on home on factory cover to bolt holes and measure the ARB on axle to get it close…..Jack

 

[lowRail]

Not2late is correct instructions said about marking the dipstick to your application as in comparing to bottom of factory fill hole. I really liked the ARB cover and would have went with them but was concerned someone might over fill it , and then stumbled onto a guy here who gifted me a set of Dana covers. You might be able to measure the bottom on home on factory cover to bolt holes and measure the ARB on axle to get it close…..Jack

I get the dipstick method but the fluid is really hard to see. You’d think for the most part the same amount of fluid would go in all Gladiators, wranglers etc..
And that information would be floating around somewhere. I checked with an online retailer and they recommended 2.7 quarts in both the front and rear, which seems crazy excessive

 

[Volt0]

Diff dipstick? Thought that’s what the pinky finger is for. What are you talking about? Got a pic?

 

[lowRail]

Diff dipstick? Thought that’s what the pinky finger is for. What are you talking about? Got a pic?

ARB aftermarket diff covers M210 front and M220 rear

 

[Jaxmax]

The post above with chart about fluid capacity of the diffs , there is a note that the quantity is for first dry fill and after use the cover hole bottom minus 1/8”. Contact ARB and see how much more capacity they have to start with perhaps.

 

[SIO2GA]

This weekend I installed the ARB diff covers for my gladiator. M210 on the front and M220 for the rear. Has anyone else installed these? How much oil did you use for front and rear? Yes I know there is a dipstick. I asked an online retailer and they recommended 2.7 quarts front and rear. Which seems like a lot.
I put in a little over a quart in the front and around 2 quarts in the rear

I just recently had a local shop put the ARB m220 rear axle cover on my Jeep Gladiator Rubicon. After looking at what all was available the ARB model seemed to be the best and had my main requirement: a lower drain hole. I liked that it has TWO magnets : the drain plug and also the dip stick. I was surprised that it wasn't clear on how much oil to put in. The instructions in the box that I got directly from ARB a few months ago said to use the amount recommended by the manufacturer as well as to "go by the markings on the dipstick". However, the guy at the shop said "Hey, there's no markings on the dip stick!". That's odd. I just went with the 1.6 quarts recommended in the manual. From what I've read it is not good to put more than what is recommended in differentials because it creates drag on the gears and reduces gas mileage (or diesel mileage in my case). I've always read that in general it's bad, and sometimes very bad, to add more oil than what is recommended by the manufacturer - and that goes for engines, transmissions, transfer cases, differentials, etc. ARB's cover might have a greater capacity than the stock cover and it doesn't make sense for ARB not to recommend the amount to put in since they designed it specifically for only one type differential. It is curious to me that there isn't a mark on ARB's dipstick as well as guidance on the amount of oil to use in their instructions.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

I just recently had a local shop put the ARB m220 rear axle cover on my Jeep Gladiator Rubicon. After looking at what all was available the ARB model seemed to be the best and had my main requirement: a lower drain hole. I liked that it has TWO magnets : the drain plug and also the dip stick. I was surprised that it wasn't clear on how much oil to put in. The instructions in the box that I got directly from ARB a few months ago said to use the amount recommended by the manufacturer as well as to "go by the markings on the dipstick". However, the guy at the shop said "Hey, there's no markings on the dip stick!". That's odd. I just went with the 1.6 quarts recommended in the manual. From what I've read it is not good to put more than what is recommended in differentials because it creates drag on the gears and reduces gas mileage (or diesel mileage in my case). I've always read that in general it's bad, and sometimes very bad, to add more oil than what is recommended by the manufacturer - and that goes for engines, transmissions, transfer cases, differentials, etc. ARB's cover might have a greater capacity than the stock cover and it doesn't make sense for ARB not to recommend the amount to put in since they designed it specifically for only one type differential. It is curious to me that there isn't a mark on ARB's dipstick as well as guidance on the amount of oil to use in their instructions.

There are some instances where you want to fill over capacity.

-Rear axle pinion rotated up for a tall lift.
-Auto transmission fluid starvation on steep hill climbs.

 

[DanW]

This weekend I installed the ARB diff covers for my gladiator. M210 on the front and M220 for the rear. Has anyone else installed these? How much oil did you use for front and rear? Yes I know there is a dipstick. I asked an online retailer and they recommended 2.7 quarts front and rear. Which seems like a lot.
I put in a little over a quart in the front and around 2 quarts in the rear

I have one on the rear of my JL (M220) and I think I just followed the instructions in marking the dipstick. But man, I love that diff cover. I think it could take a hit from a Russian missile.

 

[lowRail]

I just recently had a local shop put the ARB m220 rear axle cover on my Jeep Gladiator Rubicon. After looking at what all was available the ARB model seemed to be the best and had my main requirement: a lower drain hole. I liked that it has TWO magnets : the drain plug and also the dip stick. I was surprised that it wasn't clear on how much oil to put in. The instructions in the box that I got directly from ARB a few months ago said to use the amount recommended by the manufacturer as well as to "go by the markings on the dipstick". However, the guy at the shop said "Hey, there's no markings on the dip stick!". That's odd. I just went with the 1.6 quarts recommended in the manual. From what I've read it is not good to put more than what is recommended in differentials because it creates drag on the gears and reduces gas mileage (or diesel mileage in my case). I've always read that in general it's bad, and sometimes very bad, to add more oil than what is recommended by the manufacturer - and that goes for engines, transmissions, transfer cases, differentials, etc. ARB's cover might have a greater capacity than the stock cover and it doesn't make sense for ARB not to recommend the amount to put in since they designed it specifically for only one type differential. It is curious to me that there isn't a mark on ARB's dipstick as well as guidance on the amount of oil to use in their instructions.

My thoughts exactly, thank you for your comment. I love mine as well, just looking for peace of mind with the fluid level

 

[SIO2GA]

My thoughts exactly, thank you for your comment. I love mine as well, just looking for peace of mind with the fluid level

What amount of fluid did you end up using in the front and back?
Also, I am just now getting around to replacing the front cover. Did you have to add anything for the sway bar or can you just add the arb front cover with no worries? I've heard conflicting things. One guy from Canada has a video with no mention of front sway bar problems .......... but in the comments when asked he replied he had to add some sort of bracket for the sway bar so that leaves me with questions.
Thanks for any input about your experience with your Rubicon.

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