Front and rear differential skid plates that don’t bolt to differential cover.

[GoVR46]

Anyone know of any differential skid plates that don’t utilize the differential cover bolts.
I bought ARB differential covers and Rancho Differential glide plates, well the skid plates wont work with the ARB covers because of the thickness of the covers.
So unless I machine down the ARB covers (which I don’t really want to do) I want to find skid plates that will work with the ARB covers.
Any suggestions?

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[hjdca]

Anyone know of any differential skid plates that don’t utilize the differential cover bolts.
I bought ARB differential covers and Rancho Differential glide plates, well the skid plates wont work with the ARB covers because of the thickness of the covers.
So unless I machine down the ARB covers (which I don’t really want to do) I want to find skid plates that will work with the ARB covers.
Any suggestions?

Casey 250 found this issue. Here is a link to his video...



For this reason, I went with Metalcloak for the diff covers and skids... The front skid has separate bosses on the diff cover for attachment. the bolts are separate from the bolts that screw into the axle... Of course, this skid can only be used with the Metalcloak cover... The rear metalcloak skid is excellent and can be used with any diff cover. Both skids are tucked in nice with minimal clearance losses.

Here is a link to my install.. Take a look at a few pages and you will see a discussion.

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...hile-off-road-lifted.31324/page-5#post-523350

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...hile-off-road-lifted.31324/page-6#post-525805

 

[GoVR46]

Casey 250 found this issue. Here is a link to his video...



For this reason, I went with Metalcloak for the diff covers and skids... The front skid has separate bosses on the diff cover for attachment. the bolts are separate from the bolts that screw into the axle... Of course, this skid can only be used with the Metalcloak cover... The rear metalcloak skid is excellent and can be used with any diff cover. Both skids are tucked in nice with minimal clearance losses.

Here is a link to my install.. Take a look at a few pages and you will see a discussion.

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...hile-off-road-lifted.31324/page-5#post-523350

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...hile-off-road-lifted.31324/page-6#post-525805

Thanks for the reply, yeah If I didn’t already install the ARB covers I would have definitely went with the Metalcloak setup. I’m probably going to end up modding the covers so the sliders will fit.

 

[RodRecket]

EDIT:
After thinking the metal cloak front and rear diff protection was for me I was wrong. Reading their site it looks like their front diff cover/skid kit doesn't allow use with the stock front trackbar. I almost missed that and am not planning on upgrading that yet. Worth noting an additional unplanned expense. Also they only work with rubicons....

TLDR: front diff protection requires after market track bar and only works with rubicons
rear diff pro meant to work with lifted JTs

 

[Commodus]

Anyone know of any differential skid plates that don’t utilize the differential cover bolts.
I bought ARB differential covers and Rancho Differential glide plates, well the skid plates wont work with the ARB covers because of the thickness of the covers.
So unless I machine down the ARB covers (which I don’t really want to do) I want to find skid plates that will work with the ARB covers.
Any suggestions?

Finally got time to install my front differential cover and skid. More work than expected, it was like the factory used locktight on the cover bolts. Now front and rear are protected

 

[hjdca]

EDIT:
After thinking the metal cloak front and rear diff protection was for me I was wrong. Reading their site it looks like their front diff cover/skid kit doesn't allow use with the stock front trackbar. I almost missed that and am not planning on upgrading that yet. Worth noting an additional unplanned expense. Also they only work with rubicons....

TLDR: front diff protection requires after market track bar and only works with rubicons
rear diff pro meant to work with lifted JTs

I put Metalcloak front and rear diff covers and skid plates on a stock JT Rubicon with manual transmission with no track bar interference issues. I used the supplied silicone for the diff cover instead of the reusable rubber gasket on the stock cover. This practice will insure that you have plenty of clearance.

 

[brianinca]

Wished I had read more closely the Permatex was supplied in the kit, I ordered that and synthetic gear oil from Amazon when I ordered from MC. Chris called me up to let me know the rear skid might be a week and a half out, I've NEVER had a head's up from a vendor like that!

I put Metalcloak front and rear diff covers and skid plates on a stock JT Rubicon with manual transmission with no track bar interference issues. I used the supplied silicone for the diff cover instead of the reusable rubber gasket on the stock cover. This practice will insure that you have plenty of clearance.

 

[Commodus]

I put Metalcloak front and rear diff covers and skid plates on a stock JT Rubicon with manual transmission with no track bar interference issues. I used the supplied silicone for the diff cover instead of the reusable rubber gasket on the stock cover. This practice will insure that you have plenty of clearance.

I did the same but have yet to get off road to flex the suspension and see if there is any interference with track bar. Have you tested your Rubicon on full compression yet and if so did the cover clear?

 

[RodRecket]

I put Metalcloak front and rear diff covers and skid plates on a stock JT Rubicon with manual transmission with no track bar interference issues. I used the supplied silicone for the diff cover instead of the reusable rubber gasket on the stock cover. This practice will insure that you have plenty of clearance.

Interested to see if you have any contact at full flex. Their site also references rubicon models only so still not an option for me. Sport S 6MT.

 

[Phljeeper]

Why would you need a skid in addition to the ARB cover? The cover should be enough protection.

 

[GoVR46]

Why would you need a skid in addition to the ARB cover? The cover should be enough protection.

Because a skid helps slide over rocks and protects the bottom of the diff, a diff cover only helps to protect a direct hit to the face of the diff cover.

 

[Phljeeper]

Because a skid helps slide over rocks and protects the bottom of the diff, a diff cover only helps to protect a direct hit to the face of the diff cover.

Ok makes sense. I have never run a diff skid but have run diff covers mostly ARB on my past and current Jeep. I have wheeled some pretty rough black and red rock trails at Rausch Creek without damage issue to the diffs. I will say that I have been hung up at the diffs though many times and it’s possible a skid down there could have helped slide over instead of changing my line. However there are likely other times that my clearance is higher without a skid and allows me to get over stuff that a skid may have dragged on instead.

 

[GoVR46]

Ok makes sense. I have never run a diff skid but have run diff covers mostly ARB on my past and current Jeep. I have wheeled some pretty rough black and red rock trails at Rausch Creek without damage issue to the diffs. I will say that I have been hung up at the diffs though many times and it’s possible a skid down there could have helped slide over instead of changing my line. However there are likely other times that my clearance is higher without a skid and allows me to get over stuff that a skid may have dragged on instead.

I too have been hung up a couple of times on my front diff. But then again I was not lifted at the time. Since lifting the truck 3.5 inches I have not had a problem yet with getting hung on the front diff. So as you did I am now skipping the idea of a front diff slider for the additional ground clearance.

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