Rancho front diff skid issue...

[Reldn]

Hello all,
I've been installing the Rancho diff skids today and have hit a major issue with the front plate. For some reason the rear portion of the skid with the U-bolt isn't sitting flush with the housing at all and that U-bolt is definitely not going to work. The front portion fit perfectly fine and lined up beautifully, but, this back section is a total mess. I've even removed the front bolts and tried to finagle it into place, but, still no-go and then the front doesn't line up. It's like the plate itself is warped.

Has anyone else had this issue with this particular plate? If so, what did you do to get everything lined up properly? Thanks in advance!

Sponsored

 

[wibornz]

I have found Rancho to be super easy to deal with. Give them a call and they will probably address your issues to your satisfaction.

 

[DanW]

Hello all,
I've been installing the Rancho diff skids today and have hit a major issue with the front plate. For some reason the rear portion of the skid with the U-bolt isn't sitting flush with the housing at all and that U-bolt is definitely not going to work. The front portion fit perfectly fine and lined up beautifully, but, this back section is a total mess. I've even removed the front bolts and tried to finagle it into place, but, still no-go and then the front doesn't line up. It's like the plate itself is warped.

Has anyone else had this issue with this particular plate? If so, what did you do to get everything lined up properly? Thanks in advance!

Do you have the new front diff with the drain plug deleted? If so, This isn't the first report of running into a fitment issue. In that case, Rancho will need to create a new one with a new part number.

As @wibornz says, their customer service is top notch. I met their Jeep guys in Moab and they are great. They'll surely help you out, whatever the issue.

And those skids are solid. I have them on my JK and JL and they've shrugged off some hard hits and scrapes.

 

[Reldn]

Do you have the new front diff with the drain plug deleted? If so, This isn't the first report of running into a fitment issue. In that case, Rancho will need to create a new one with a new part number.

As @wibornz says, their customer service is top notch. I met their Jeep guys in Moab and they are great. They'll surely help you out, whatever the issue.

And those skids are solid. I have them on my JK and JL and they've shrugged off some hard hits and scrapes.

Ahh...That is a good point that I hadn't considered. My front diff is the new style with no drain plug. I'll give Rancho a call sometime and see where to go from here. Thank you!

 

[DanW]

Ahh...That is a good point that I hadn't considered. My front diff is the new style with no drain plug. I'll give Rancho a call sometime and see where to go from here. Thank you!

I'll bet they either already have the new part number or are working on it. My money says they'll ship you one right out, if available, and give you a shipping label to send that one back. If not, you could easily sell it right here on the forum, but I'd bet Vegas money that they'll get you set up right.

If you haven't done it already, I'd pop that cover and put new fluid in there before putting the new one on. That's just me. The factory fluid will be fine for a long time even if you don't. The front diff doesn't really get much stress or work. Use a high quality syn fluid like Valvoline or Mobil 1 75w90 or even 75w140 and sleep well for 100k.

They didn't eliminate the fill plug, too, did they? LOL!

 

[Reldn]

Well, gave Rancho a call this afternoon and sadly, I was pretty much advised to see about sending it back to who I bought it from as even though it should fit. It doesn't state that it fits '21 models.

So, looks like I'll have a couple of Rancho Diff skids up for sale and continue my search for skids that'll fit.

 

[DanW]

Well, gave Rancho a call this afternoon and sadly, I was pretty much advised to see about sending it back to who I bought it from as even though it should fit. It doesn't state that it fits '21 models.

So, looks like I'll have a couple of Rancho Diff skids up for sale and continue my search for skids that'll fit.

Did they tell you if they are working on new part numbers for the new front diff?

 

[entropy]

Mine didnt fit perfectly either. 2019 wrangler JL sport S. 2 door. The same side as yours. Make sure everything is lose and fit the u bolt. Mine has survived plenty hard hits on rocks. Last wheeling trip I fell right on it and now it sits flush lol.

Yours looks way off tho.

 

[Reldn]

Did they tell you if they are working on new part numbers for the new front diff?

Nope, they just told me they were working on the longer U-bolts.

Mine didnt fit perfectly either. 2019 wrangler JL sport S. 2 door. The same side as yours. Make sure everything is lose and fit the u bolt. Mine has survived plenty hard hits on rocks. Last wheeling trip I fell right on it and now it sits flush lol.

Yours looks way off tho.

Yeah, it's so far off that there's no hope of the U-bolt even remotely fitting. I tried installing it with everything loose, snugged, front to back, back to front. This skid is just too far off for some reason.

 

[Reldn]

Apologies for double post, but, I've noticed in a lot of other images of this front skid that there's more of a curve in it for it to sit flush at the back. Compared to those other images mine looks nothing alike. I'm really starting to think it's just straight up defective.

Sponsored