[Dr. Marneaus]

Well, i've been scared into getting skids seeing as i've taken a few close hits under the jeep, so, i was lookin at Diff protection.

Well, i saw the Warn diff skid plates, just bolt over the bottom half of the diff.
3/16th steel, not welded but bent i guess.

when i stoped over on northridge 4x4 and saw a special they had.

2 rock crusher diff covers for 129.99 shipped. well, turns out that covers for a D30 for this deal are SOLID, and cost a little more, so its 165 shipped for a SOLID and Rock crusher diff cover.

which would be the better buy? the covers or the skids? it'll be about the same price either way. prolly a little cheaper for the actual covers....

whatcha think?

[rob5059MOD]

I run a Rock Crusher diff cover on my D30, and I am happy with it. I was in the same boat; not sure which way to go, but then I found this one for sale on Craigs list for $45.00 in a sealed box.

[Dr. Marneaus]

just wondering which would offer more protection, or any advantage/disadvantage to either.

[bigj1974]

I have a Poison Spyder on my front diff. kinda expensive....

I bought a rear cover, too but I'll be damned if I can get the cover bolts out.
that's fine though, since I'll be probably have a gear job done soon.

you can take a look at it sometime if you want, Marn.

[jeeptillidie]

Buy the ones from Northridge. Those skids wont last long in the rocks. Plus the covers have a higher fluid fill hole so if you dont have a CV driveshaft already then when you do tilt your pinion you will still be able to get in the correct fluid. Hands down the rockcrusher/solid.

[Crashnburn80]

I personally like the Riddler covers (like Crane) because there are no lips to get hung up on in the rocks. Its a little more expensive, but still reasonably priced.

http://www.rokmen.com/products/differential_protection/riddler_diff_covers/riddler_diff_covers.html

Thats what I bought, haven't installed it yet, but this thing is seriously beefy.

[Dr. Marneaus]

meh, 35 extra bucks...thats new diff oil and RTV....

[Steelman]

Marn,

Do you have an engine/oil pan skid? Or a gas tank skid?

[Dr. Marneaus]

Originally Posted by Steelman

Marn,

Do you have an engine/oil pan skid? Or a gas tank skid?

engine skidd is getting ordered this week.

no gas tank yet.

i'm armoring the things that have taken the most hits so far man. engine skid is the first thing, and my diff's have gotten REALLLL close to being hit on the cover. if the hits were an inch or 2 higher, i'd have been in a bad spot... On one occasion i was brought to a complete stop by ramming the edge of my diff into a rock that i hadnt seen.



see my oil pan in the back ground? (manifold in the foreground).. i think that is the scariest damage so far.

[frankiefire702]

I've pesonally ran the poison spyder diff guards and ruff stuff full covers. I like the ruff stuff covers much better. Seems much beefier to me.

[rjt36]

Better now than later, I always say when it comes to armor. Your diffs don't look too bad yet. I'm really gonna have to work to get the bottom bolts out of any of my covers.

Just my experience with the RockCrushers, some of the holes won't line up nicely. That makes installation a little difficult because you're trying to hold it up, while not moving it around too much so you don't ruin the RTV, so you can get the bolts in. I would suggest getting a Lube Locker gasket so you don't have to work quickly and you can take your time and maneuver the cover around to fit right.

I agree with frankiefire, the Ruff Stuff covers are some of the strongest ones I've come across. If OX doesn't come out with their 8.8 locker soon, I'm going to be getting one for my rear.

[Dr. Marneaus]

Originally Posted by rjt36

Better now than later, I always say when it comes to armor. Your diffs don't look too bad yet. I'm really gonna have to work to get the bottom bolts out of any of my covers.

Just my experience with the RockCrushers, some of the holes won't line up nicely. That makes installation a little difficult because you're trying to hold it up, while not moving it around too much so you don't ruin the RTV, so you can get the bolts in. I would suggest getting a Lube Locker gasket so you don't have to work quickly and you can take your time and maneuver the cover around to fit right.

I agree with frankiefire, the Ruff Stuff covers are some of the strongest ones I've come across. If OX doesn't come out with their 8.8 locker soon, I'm going to be getting one for my rear.

they'll line up in the end right? like theres enough play to get them on and tightened down wihtout having to enlarge holes or anything?

[rjt36]

It depends. Some people have had to bore some holes out, others have been able to get it on there by just shifting it around. Either way it's a PIA.

I moved mine around too much when I did it, and the RTV didn't set right. I had a miniscule leak that went unoticed for a couple weeks. Long story short, the fluid ran low and I burned everything up inside. End product was an 8.8 though, so it's not all bad.

I would just suggest a gasket so you can take your time and move it around when installing it.

[Combatsylvania]

Ill vote for new diff covers... (i dont have either, yet) but they increase the volume, so you have more diff fluid in there, so it would run cooler..

just my 2 cents

[Crashnburn80]

Originally Posted by rjt36

It depends. Some people have had to bore some holes out, others have been able to get it on there by just shifting it around. Either way it's a PIA.

That was a Rockcrusher manufacture defect that affected only the D35 I believe. I think the prob has since been resolved.