Suggestions for new Diff covers

[John VonJeep]

Actually the gasket came on JLs are reusable and has brass washers and are in much higher quality than expected. I have reused them couple times and on different vehicles and never leaks.
Lubelockers is indeed a good alternative.

That is great to hear! I haven’t had to change the fluid on my JL yet. I loved my Lubelocker on my JK.

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[supermike]

No it doesn't....you sure you have a 392?

what makes you think a 392 wrangler is so special. It is overall just another wrangler.

And yes, I have a fake made in China knock off fake clone Chinese 392 that has diff drains.

 

[Tank the Jeep]

There was a thread a few months ago about some axles (years?)not having drain plugs. Mine is a 2020 JLURD and it does have drains.

 

[Tank the Jeep]

It’s true: the drain plug has been removed from the front diff on Rubicon | Jeep Wrangler Forums (JL / JLU) - Rubicon, Sahara, Sport, 4xe, 392 - JLwranglerforums.com

 

[Overwatch]

what makes you think a 392 wrangler is so special. It is overall just another wrangler.

And yes, I have a fake made in China knock off fake clone Chinese 392 that has diff drains.

Mike, I can't tell if you are being sarcastic, funny, or truly have a different 392 Diff than we do. The problems with a forum I guess. You are showing pictures of an AEV cover....so funny? As Tank points out below we don't have drain plugs on the normal covers though.

 

[~Blue392~]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the video series Gale Banks did on diff covers. It should give you an idea of what to look for and what to avoid. When the time comes I will be getting ARB diff covers.

 

[oldcjguy]

Dana 44 - Holley

B&M diff cover looks nice. Has a drain and a dip stick. Drain looks small, recessed and at the very bottom to get waste too.

 

[chevymitchell]

Mike, I can't tell if you are being sarcastic, funny, or truly have a different 392 Diff than we do. The problems with a forum I guess. You are showing pictures of an AEV cover....so funny? As Tank points out below we don't have drain plugs on the normal covers though.

Dude… there are NO covers with drains from the factory. That drain is IN the housing itself, not the cover.

Can you snap a quick picture of your diff? You may have a housing that didn’t have a drain machined into it.

 

[Remorseless]

Late 2021 and 2022s+ are where you lose the drain plugs. My 2022 has no drain plug front or rear. I just suck the fluid out with a pump. Easier/lazier than taking the cover off.

 

[Overwatch]

Dude… there are NO covers with drains from the factory. That drain is IN the housing itself, not the cover.

392 Diff...just point to the drain for me.

 

[chevymitchell]

Ok. So, you have no drain machined into the housing. It’s not the cover.
If you’re looking for a cover with a drain, again, it’s a terrible idea. Just take the cover off to service it. There’s no good solution to maintain a diff that doesn’t have a drain other than taking the cover off. For many years and for many customers, I would weld the drains shut. What you have is ideal. Drains are great, but not when the plugs back out offroad. Ask @mgroeger how that worked out for him. You’ll be putting your rig at risk if you buy any cover with a drain built into it.

If you really want a drain, just drill and tap that blank spot and add one. It would take 10-15 minutes to do and $10.

 

[Tank the Jeep]

Shawn,
Is there a thread on here following your 2 door PU build? I hope you are going to call it a scrambler. I'm really interested in that build.

Greg

 

[chevymitchell]

Shawn,
Is there a thread on here following your 2 door PU build? I hope you are going to call it a scrambler. I'm really interested in that build.

Greg

I have a thread started but haven’t updated it in a very long time. Almost all of the pictures and comments about it are in the NC Roll Call thread. One day I’ll get the build thread updated. Lol.

 

[Overwatch]

Ok. So, you have no drain machined into the housing. It’s not the cover.
If you’re looking for a cover with a drain, again, it’s a terrible idea. Just take the cover off to service it. There’s no good solution to maintain a diff that doesn’t have a drain other than taking the cover off. For many years and for many customers, I would weld the drains shut. What you have is ideal. Drains are great, but not when the plugs back out offroad. Ask @mgroeger how that worked out for him. You’ll be putting your rig at risk if you buy any cover with a drain built into it.

If you really want a drain, just drill and tap that blank spot and add one. It would take 10-15 minutes to do and $10.

Thanks man but...you're an aviation mechanic. I'm not there. I can use a wrench just fine, but I am not drilling into a Diff. That's why I started this thread, because I want a plug and I wanted to know what other people used after-market. Sounds like ARB.

 

[Remorseless]

Thanks man but...you're an aviation mechanic. I'm not there. I can use a wrench just fine, but I am not drilling into a Diff. That's why I started this thread, because I want a plug and I wanted to know what other people used after-market. Sounds like ARB.

Use the OEM fill plug on the OEM diff and suck the fluid out with a pump: Amazon.com: OEMTOOLS 24397 Manual Fluid Extractor (9.5L), Oil Extractor Pump, Transmission Fluid Pump, and More, Oversized Handle Manual Oil Pump Extractor, Oil Change Pump w/ 2 Adapters : Automotive

Then use a little nozzle on the gear oil bottle to pump the new stuff back in: Amazon.com: Slippery Pete Fluid Pump for QUART BOTTLES - Transfer Gear Oil, Transmission and Differential Fluid With This 5cc Hand Pump (NOT FOR Red Line Quarts!) (1) : Automotive

Cheaper than new diff covers if you don't need them. You can also suck out more with this than you could drain out of a diff cover drain plug.

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