Diff Cover Recommendations

mini2nut · Apr 9, 2023

Beautiful workmanship on those RuffStuff Specialties diff covers. Very impressive!

Electrified · Apr 9, 2023

Fast-n-Furious said:
I’ve posted mine earlier but don’t see others use RuffStuff diff covers. 1/2” thick ring and 3/8” thick cover. Super heavy duty and machined perfectly with beautiful welding. Just a few coatings of clear paint. It also strengthens the axle I believe.

They have 15% off right now. Think I'm going to pull the trigger.

Fast-n-Furious · Apr 9, 2023

Electrified said:
They have 15% off right now. Think I'm going to pull the trigger.

Do it. They are beefier than the Motobilt ones and the similar raw steel covers.

Electrified · Apr 9, 2023

Fast-n-Furious said:
Do it. They are beefier than the Motobilt ones and the similar raw steel covers.

Did you purchase their bolt or source you own?

Fast-n-Furious · Apr 9, 2023

Electrified said:
Did you purchase their bolt or source you own?

I did buy their bolts and they are very high quality. I think they are from Darling Bolt.

Electrified · Apr 9, 2023

Fast-n-Furious said:
I did buy their bolts and they are very high quality. I think they are from Darling Bolt.

Agreed. Seems easier than trying to source the exact size high quality fasteners myself.

Electrified · Apr 9, 2023

Just pulled the trigger on the RuffStuff dif cover with bo

Fast-n-Furious said:
Do it. They are beefier than the Motobilt ones and the similar raw steel covers.

Just pulled the trigger on these! Great price and love the "raw" look and the stout build. $270 out the door with their Easter sale.

7.62x392 · Apr 10, 2023

I ordered the AEV diff covers. I almost went with the Teraflex set but they weren’t compatible with the factory gasket and required creating a whole new seal which I read reports of leaking, so stuck with the AEVs.

They arrive this weekend, hoping to install Sunday. For those who replaced the front cover, did you need to remove the tie rod or were you able to replace with the tie rod in place?

Fast-n-Furious · Apr 10, 2023

7.62x392 said:
I ordered the AEV diff covers. I almost went with the Teraflex set but they weren’t compatible with the factory gasket and required creating a whole new seal which I read reports of leaking, so stuck with the AEVs.

They arrive this weekend, hoping to install Sunday. For those who replaced the front cover, did you need to remove the tie rod or were you able to replace with the tie rod in place?

No need to remove anything. Just lift up the front to gain more room, it was very tight without jacking up the front. I was able to use a long torque wrench, although a shorter one works better.

Jeepherz · Apr 11, 2023

Good call on the AEV. I have their rear diff skid and it's taken a hella' beating.
I am going to chime in on recommending the ARB cover as others have. The ability to easily check your diff fluid right from the top is critical and practical.
The ARB magnetic plug saved my gears- no doubt. I installed a Yukon locker on my JK just before running Rubicon. In my shake-out run locally I heard noises. Pulled the plug and it was covered with metal shavings. Think Gob-stopper sized ball. In a rare Yukon failure- they didn't thread lock the housing bolts and they used the wrong ones. They'd come loose in the carrier and were getting a nice shave. The ARB plug held almost all those metal shavings. Gears were fine then and still are. Worth every penny....And iits taken years of abuse.

Newb · Apr 11, 2023

Also did a little sensor potting while I was at it:

7.62x392 · Apr 12, 2023

UPS dropped off a few goodies today, just waiting for the gear oil to arrive to install the diff covers.

Electrified · Apr 14, 2023

Fast-n-Furious said:
Do it. They are beefier than the Motobilt ones and the similar raw steel covers.

Received these in the mail today. I’m no painter so looking for tips on what you used and how you prepped for the clear coal. The ones I received look browner than what was pictured.

Fast-n-Furious · Apr 14, 2023

Electrified said:
Received these in the mail today. I’m no painter so looking for tips on what you used and how you prepped for the clear coal. The ones I received look browner than what was pictured.

Looks like what happened to me also happened to you. Just email them and ask for a replace cover. They’ll mail a new standard/regular (steel/gray color) one with a return label, reuse that box and send the black/dark (hot rolled) one back. They had a batch like that using a different steel material. I remember talking to Ron and he was very helpful.

Once you get the new one, prepare both with some steel wool to smooth the inside/outside surface, then use acetone to clean a few time to get rid of some steel black oxide. The. Buy a clear paint rattle can to spray a few coatings, just spray the exterior, the inside will be contacting the gear oil so you don’t want paint there.

Use some yellow Teflon for the refill plug. You can reuse the factory gasket seal ring.

Electrified · Apr 14, 2023

Fast-n-Furious said:
Looks like what happened to me also happened to you. Just email them and ask for a replace cover. They’ll mail a new standard/regular (steel/gray color) one with a return label, reuse that box and send the black/dark (hot rolled) one back. They had a batch like that using a different steel material. I remember talking to Ron and he was very helpful.

Once you get the new one, prepare both with some steel wool to smooth the inside/outside surface, then use acetone to clean a few time to get rid of some steel black oxide. The. Buy a clear paint rattle can to spray a few coatings, just spray the exterior, the inside will be contacting the gear oil so you don’t want paint there.

Use some yellow Teflon for the refill plug. You can reuse the factory gasket seal ring.

Maybe there's nothing wrong with mine. When I look at my pics vs your pics they look identical??

Fast-n-Furious · Apr 14, 2023

Electrified said:
Maybe there's nothing wrong with mine. When I look at my pics vs your pics they look identical??

See mine, the dark one in the pic without their sticker is the one I exchanged. The standard cover is smoother surface and not as dark.

Electrified · Apr 15, 2023

Fast-n-Furious said:
See mine, the dark one in the pic without their sticker is the one I exchanged. The standard cover is smoother surface and not as dark.

I sent them an email and a picture. We will see what they say. Thanks for the advice.

JPBabyRange · May 2, 2023

Does the 392 just use the standard ARB Dana 44 cover or something else?

Mandrake · Jun 27, 2023

Fast-n-Furious said:
I’ve posted mine earlier but don’t see others use RuffStuff diff covers. 1/2” thick ring and 3/8” thick cover. Super heavy duty and machined perfectly with beautiful welding. Just a few coatings of clear paint. It also strengthens the axle I believe.

Hey 'Fast_N_Furious" in the detailed pic of you changing your differential oil, you had front mudflaps on, in the background.
What kind do you have installed?
I have been looking for some, from just making my own from generic plastic mudflap to ordering some built specific for the JL.
I appreciate the reommendation , if you get the time,
thanks
mandrake,

Fast-n-Furious · Jun 27, 2023

Mandrake said:
Hey 'Fast_N_Furious" in the detailed pic of you changing your differential oil, you had front mudflaps on, in the background.
What kind do you have installed?
I have been looking for some, from just making my own from generic plastic mudflap to ordering some built specific for the JL.
I appreciate the reommendation , if you get the time,
thanks
mandrake,

Here is the detailed writeup and pics: https://www.jeep392.com/threads/rokblokz-front-rear-mud-flaps-xl-installed-on-392-xr.1162/

Later I replaced the RubiRails with beefer rocksliders, so order a new set of front mudflaps without the cutoff hole: https://www.jeep392.com/threads/rok...flaps-xl-installed-on-392-xr.1162/#post-37182