Diff Cover Experts Weigh In

[CarbonSteel]

BTW, Banks did a very good job explaining and demonstrating how important the curve is and how without the oil gets air whipped into it. I had a high dollar($285), high capacity aluminum aftermarket mag-tech cover on my Ram 3500. Pulled it and put the factory unit on as soon as I saw Banks video. Live and learn.

I'll use Banks' own video against him. He goes on and on about how flat back covers introduce more aeration into the oil which subsequently creates additional heat. In the video below that I posted, look at the amount of aeration that's occurring under that clear cover that's an exact replica of a factory cover. Do you actually think that a flat back cover has the ability to introduce more aeration? You have to remember these are two gears turning at 90° to one another and introduce incredible shearing forces. The motion is going to aerate and heat the oil under the best of conditions.

I've said it many times before, had Banks not created a brand new cover and used these videos as a marketing tool and IF he had a third party substantiate and objectively prove his claims, I'd be much more inclined to believe him.

I ran a Mag HyTech cover on my 2010 Ford FX4 and towed 8 to 9000 lb for 45% of the 160,000 mi that I owned it and never had a single issue. I replaced that truck with an F250 Powerstroke and did the same thing with no issues. Dodge axles from AAM were known to have issues--flat back cover or not.

Marketing at its finest...


Start at about 3 minutes into the video:

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[Tank the Jeep]

Here are my diff covers. The are Motobilt kits. Tig welded and added a fill point in the upper corner. The fill plug is a Jeep JL oil pan plug. The grill logo is a stainless steel key chain that I got on eBay. Powder coated red of course and sanded the stainless off the grill logo. I put these on when I potted the locker sensors. I couldn‘t be happier how they turned out. I thought about a skid but decided against it because of the loss of clearance.

 

[grimmjeeper]

Around the 5:45 mark he says "...it became clear that the shape of the cover and its distance from the ring gear was critical in getting the lube to flow over the top and out to the ring gear pinion interface with minimal work being done to the fluid." and then goes on to talk about lubricant foaming and overheating.

Banks has been in diesel performance for a long time and it's obvious from the video they did some testing. I don't think that can be said for all the diff cover manufacturers out there.

Ya'll can believe what you want though, I'm not making money from any of these companies.

He talks a lot.

But what evidence of failures does he provide?

He doesn't show a single example of actual failure due to lack of flow, foaming, or overheating.

Sure, the shape of the cover does help get fluid flowing around. But so what? Where is the evidence that the other covers are actually responsible for failures of any kind? Where is the evidence that foaming causes failures? How many bearing failures are due to overheating? How many bearings failed due to lack of lubrication?

Show me the evidence. I'll wait.

 

[CarbonSteel]

Here are my diff covers. The are Motobilt kits. Tig welded and added a fill point in the upper corner. The fill plug is a Jeep JL oil pan plug. The grill logo is a stainless steel key chain that I got on eBay. Powder coated red of course and sanded the stainless off the grill logo. I put these on when I potted the locker sensors. I couldn‘t be happier how they turned out. I thought about a skid but decided against it because of the loss of clearance.

Just curious as to why you added a fill point? I am running these exact covers and use the one that is built in. I am wondering what the advantage might be.

I did weld threaded bosses into the top of the cover to attach my temperature gauge sensors though.

 

[Tank the Jeep]

Just curious as to why you added a fill point? I am running these exact covers and use the one that is built in. I am wondering what the advantage might be.

I did weld threaded bosses into the top of the cover to attach my temperature gauge sensors though.

I think it is easier to get the fluid in. Especially with the gear oil pouch. Worked like a charm. The one on the side works but I usually make a mess.

 

[CarbonSteel]

I think it is easier to get the fluid in. Especially with the gear oil pouch. Worked like a charm. The one on the side works but I usually make a mess.

Gotcha! Thanks for the clarification.

 

[Deleted member 74991]

Banks Power did a nice video discussing diff covers.
The shape of the fabtech one, while not completely flat, it also isn't completely curved.

The Banks Video is gospel.

 

[Spartywarrior]

At the 11:35 mark he discusses the upper fill plug. Sounds heavy when he puts it down on the bench but cannot be sure. I suspect because they stress their cover is made from nodular iron, it too would be of the same material.

I am planning on the AEV's as soon as the tax refund comes back.

Metal.

 

[Aonar]

Metal.

Yep, I installed mine before the Moab trip.

 

[XX4XEXX]

1st off let me say ARBs diff covers are superior quality not only the thickness but the craftsmanship is superior. The OEM is a thin stamped piece of metal like a kitchen fry pan. These covers have counter sunk holes for hardware, fully coated then CNCd, low earth magnet drain plugs, and dipsticks. There are alot of awesome fab shops out there you can support but we went with ARB after seeing most just hands down a jem. Oil was due for frag inspection so we did both with Amsoil 75w 110 and couldn't be happier! I'd prefer a cover and a separate skid which is what's next

My intent is to add an ARB locker and there cover. But after seeing this I don't know if ARBs cover is better then stock. I get the rock crawling but I do more highway driving then any kind of severe rock crawling.
I'd like to see one.

 

[Headbarcode]

1st off let me say ARBs diff covers are superior quality not only the thickness but the craftsmanship is superior. The OEM is a thin stamped piece of metal like a kitchen fry pan. These covers have counter sunk holes for hardware, fully coated then CNCd, low earth magnet drain plugs, and dipsticks. There are alot of awesome fab shops out there you can support but we went with ARB after seeing most just hands down a jem. Oil was due for frag inspection so we did both with Amsoil 75w 110 and couldn't be happier! I'd prefer a cover and a separate skid which is what's next

Another ARB fan here...

 

[Caliguy]

I ordered next venture diff covers and matching skid plates. To be honest I have no clue if it’s a good choice or not. I’ll be doing the replacement myself soon, never done one and am kind of terrified lol

 

[CWRUYOTE]

AEV diff covers + Next Venture skids:

 

[Jeepin_Donnie]

Is anyone aware of a diff skid that will work with the front Rancho diff skid/slider (besides the Rancho diff cover)? I really like the ARB diff covers.

 

[Original_Junior]

I wonder if the fill cap on the AEV is plastic though, I wouldn't like that.

The JK wasn't plastic. It was a heavy arsed solid piece of iron. Solid as a tank.

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