Diff skid plate causes damage

[wanderer]

I was thinking of putting diff skid plates on my diffs. But one shop I talked to said don’t do it because you can hang up on rock and rip the bolts out of the differential thereby doing more damage than if you had no skid plates at all. These skid plates use some of the bolts to secure the plates Curious if anyone has heard this or seen it on the trail. Seems counterintuitive to me

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[sass JT]

Might be talking about rancho front diff skid?
Ripping things out can happen in the right scenario but the chances are really low IMO.

Metalcloak came out with a
diff cover design that intergrates a skid if you have a rubicon.
https://metalcloak.com/jl-wrangler-jt-gladiator-front-differential-cover-skid-plate-kit.html

as for the rear, a design like Metalcloak’s where it attaches to the axle vs the diff bolts would definitely holdup to abuse.
https://metalcloak.com/jt-gladiator-m220-rear-differential-skid-plate.html

Oh and don’t forget to skid up your FAD, front and rear lower control arms, Front and rear shocks and the frame side rear lower control arm... to name a few. I personally have a mix of MC, rock hard and rusty’s offroad so far

good luck to you sir.

 

[hjdca]

Yes, what sass JT said, I went with the Metalcloak diffs and diff skids for that exact reason. I also think they have better clearance.
If the Metalcloak diff skids did not exist, I would just do diff covers and skip the skids.
Below, you can see how the small front MetalCloak diff skid screws into separate bosses on the front diff. It does not use the same bolts that hold on the diff cover.

Pic of Rear... You can see how well formed the rear skid is to the Diff. Very little loss of clearance. .

Here is a link to a front diff skid that got stuck on a JL after damage.
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...avy-duty-diff-covers.19154/page-2#post-380470

 

[sass JT]

Ps... if you haven’t done soo... jump in the contest.
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...m220-3rd-gen-d44-diff-skid-plate.32227/page-2

 

[EXTORTION]

Been running a Rancho front differential Skid plate on my last two Jeeps, JLUR and JTM now. Never had an issue with them hanging up or causing differential damage. In fact they saved my differential drain plug from being bashed and smashed or knocked loose or out.

I have heard numerous stories of stock front differential drain plugs being smashed to the point of not being able to remove them with out major work and or the plugs being knocked loose, loosing fluid and or fully falling out and draining the diff before the driver knew it, damaging the internals.

 

[HorneyBadger]

Metalcloak is da bomb!

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