Diff covers and Diff Skids ?

[HoneyBadger II]

Coming from the JK world this is my first JL question

are both diff cover and skids needed ?

looks to me that skid protects diff cover

Sponsored

 

[MntGoat]

my opinion is 99% of people dont need them, if you hit a stock steel diff cover hard enough to bend it 3/4 of an inch to contact ring gear and then continue to drive to wear a hole through 1/8 steel?

so we always used them on our ifs rigs because you constantly abuse the rear cover.

easy fix I did for out beater race trucks was a couple pcs of 3/16 or 1/4 bar and a spare gasket. These never broke off bent and $25 is better than $150+

example of a standard D44 protection ring.

mods...its on marketplace dont ban me.

Were as this is like a 20 pc 1/4 thick cover i built for the turtle back 2002?

I always built hvy covers because isuzus 1998+ had aluminum find covers. Every time you would back into stump fins would break and put a hole in it.

Bad picture...

 

[Terrymo]

Lots of threads on this. Mostly people with both defending why they need both, and people with one or the other defending why both are not needed. I suspect you’ll get the same answers from the same people.

I pick bad lines, I have both. We have trails narrow enough that you’re not going to get out of dragging across rocks even with 37s. I’ll say it depends on where you wheel, and each persons circumstances shouldn’t lead to them making statements as if they apply to everyone.

 

[cj7ox]

I agree with @Terrymo. It depends on where and how you intend to wheel. Do you plan to take relativelymild trails, and take your time over rock obstacles? Probably don't need either. Do you plan on taking difficult trails, and driving WOT like the rock bouncers? Probably need both. Need is not the same as want. You may not need them, but if you think they're cool and just want them. That's okay too. ;-)

 

[zouch]

good covers also help keep the dif housing from flexing under load, which can help prevent problems at the gears.

not an issue for everyone, but if you've got the torque of a diesel on 37s driven by 4.56s, those forces can add up.

 

[bd100]

Goes over the stock diff covers, easy to install. Verify which diffs you have before ordering.

https://purplecranium.com/ag-432-jeep.html

 

[yokramer]

I just went with well made thick covers from Cavfab. Larger oil volume, stiffer housing, and figure the little I would drag over obstacles anyway would make up for the clearance loss from skids.

 

[kah.mun.rah]

Our JK has HD dif covers. our JL has original covers and skids. Both have hit a lot of rocks. So far, neither leak. TBH with a JL I would be more worried about damaging cooler lines by the oil pan or the steering stabilizer than the dif.

 

[Gorpf]

I’m with 3.5” lift and 37” tires. Off roading around Big Bear and Johnson Valley. Got the AEV diff covers and a skid on the rear which has taken some hits and done it’s job.

The front has a few minor scratches, so I attempted to install the Next Venture Motorsports front diff skid, but it doesn’t work with the thickness of the AEV cover despite what one of their customer reviews says on their website. The holes for the collar that goes over the pinion don’t line up because of the thick cover. Would have had to pay more money to have it modified at a local shop in order to make it work. Ended up returning it.

To be honest, I didn’t like how the front of the NVM skid mounts to the cover and hangs down to lose a couple inches of clearance. So, just rolling with the heavy duty cover up front.

 

[Ratbert]

I’m with 3.5” lift and 37” tires. Off roading around Big Bear and Johnson Valley. Got the AEV diff covers and a skid on the rear which has taken some hits and done it’s job.

The front has a few minor scratches, so I attempted to install the Next Venture Motorsports front diff skid, but it doesn’t work with the thickness of the AEV cover despite what one of their customer reviews says on their website. The holes for the collar that goes over the pinion don’t line up because of the thick cover. Would have had to pay more money to have it modified at a local shop in order to make it work. Ended up returning it.

To be honest, I didn’t like how the front of the NVM skid mounts to the cover and hangs down to lose a couple inches of clearance. So, just rolling with the heavy duty cover up front.

I had the same experience with NVM's diff skids over AEV diff covers. A local shop was able to get them on after I failed to, but it required a lot of grinding.

 

[Cips]

I have both diff covers and a rear diff skid. The ARB covers are nice because they have built in drain holes and fill holes so you don't have to remove the cover each time.

 

[Ratbert]

I put covers on for more oil capacity and protection/strength. The rear cover probably isn't nearly as critical from a protection stand point but probably more critical from a capacity and cooling point. I do run both front and rear diff skids and use them. I wheel my Jeep pretty hard so every skid available, I have and use.

Why would protecting the rear be less critical?

I've wondered if I was fucking up the rear diff's cooling by putting that diff skid on it.

 

[Megawatt]

I use a cover on front but not on the rear.
On the rear I use a skid with the stock diff cover. I get the protection of the skid and better heat dissipation with OEM cover vs a 1/2” thick iron cover with no heat sink fins.

The DV8 rear skid also covers the axle tube. Maybe not necessary but I got it.

Diff cover peel back when dragged over boulders is the biggest danger and the skid I use offers good protection for that.

 

[Terrymo]

Why would protecting the rear be less critical?

I've wondered if I was fucking up the rear diff's cooling by putting that diff skid on it.

I give my diff skids equal time. A well designed diff skid is also a pinion guard.

Sponsored