So I'm looking to replace my Dana 35 diff cover with a better one. I'm looking for recommendations and if I replace it, do I need to use more gear oil or stay with the stock amount?
Recommendations for a better diff cover?
- Thread starter Adams2123
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The only “better” diff cover is a modified stock cover from Currie and other who designed them for Currie. Rock protection but none of the disadvantages of aftermarket covers.
X2 to this. All the other diff covers (i.e. ARB) will interfere with other components. They're nothing more than jewelry for your TJ and won't do anything but limit functionality.
The one you want is the Currie diff cover which is a design they bought (I believe) from Barnett.
There is a thread about it here:
https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/currie-iron-differential-cover.10680/
I believe @Jerry Bransford runs them.
Barnett Performance/T&J Performance makes them for Currie by the pallet and Currie rebrands them.
However there is no ramped diff cover available for the Dana 35 which is what OP is asking for.
Didn’t realize they don’t make them for a 35, however since the OP was just asking for “better one” I’d say stick with the OEM cover then. As @mrblaine has said before - if you need an aftermarket diff cover like some brands make, you’re driving by Braille and going to break other stuff first.
Depending on where you wheel, I wouldn't be as worried about the rear. The front however I've misjudged the height of rocks cruising down forest roads and accidentally blasted them with the diff cover. Also underwater rocks have tried to take out my diff. I supposed I could be more careful, but where's the fun in that?
So let’s say the front 30 instead of the rear 35....then Currie?
And if for some reason he needs it for the rear or likes driving fast down forest roads as well (My exact job with the Forest Service which I still don’t understand why they pay me to have fun) maybe a bolt on external guard.
FWIW my poison spyder diff covers dont interfer with anything, but they're d44s also so cant speak on the others.
I liked it on my 30 so much I bought them for my front and rear 44s.
Glad to hear good things about them, they have been on my list for my 44s for a while.
Just be careful with the plugs in the Rubi 44s. They like to go deeper than the OEM plugs and touch the locker.
Also, don't pay $189 for those. Shop around and you can grab a new one for $129. I picked mine up from JEGS; took about a month to get it because they had to drop-ship it directly from Currie, but since Currie wanted $70 more for the same item, I saved my $2.32 per day and happily waited.
Also, one slight correction (but an important one):
While they do limit functionality - sometimes to a terrible degree - many of them still offer a strength increase over the stock cover; thus, there's a palpable advantage to be found, albeit one that often has accompanying drawbacks. I'm not trying to nitpick, here, but it should be made clear that there's a lot of difference between "they're nothing more than jewelry" and "they have drawbacks that force us to be careful with our component selections."
I don't know about you, but I've slipped off a wet rock before; sometimes I've also done it in my Jeep. In both cases it would have been nice to have something more durable than the stock-issue protective layer keeping the important bits away from damage.
Also, one slight correction (but an important one):
While they do limit functionality - sometimes to a terrible degree - many of them still offer a strength increase over the stock cover; thus, there's a palpable advantage to be found, albeit one that often has accompanying drawbacks. I'm not trying to nitpick, here, but it should be made clear that there's a lot of difference between "they're nothing more than jewelry" and "they have drawbacks that force us to be careful with our component selections."
I don't know about you, but I've slipped off a wet rock before; sometimes I've also done it in my Jeep. In both cases it would have been nice to have something more durable than the stock-issue protective layer keeping the important bits away from damage.
TrailYacht
Member
My ARB covers have taken atomic rock hits.. they are excellent.
Now, I still would never pay full price for these. Just far to much. Plus they definitely can interfere with many setups, but like many on this forum I run a Currie 4” plus they’re steering with no issues.
Cheers.
Now, I still would never pay full price for these. Just far to much. Plus they definitely can interfere with many setups, but like many on this forum I run a Currie 4” plus they’re steering with no issues.
Cheers.
MallCrawlOnTons
TJ Enthusiast
Front axle I run Warns diff armor skid that bolts on and the stock Dana 44 cover. Thats taken a few direct hits over the years and done really well. In the rear I have a Poison Spyder that I don't seem to hit at all. More of my rear hits seem to come from hitting the front part of the rear diff. Debated one of those skids in the rear that would protect against that.
Do a search on Jeep Forum for the SOLI diff cover. The D gets in the way of the front track bar. The entire thing encroaches into valuable gas tank space.
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I don't know if they make one for the 35 but the newish cover from Tera is about to become our go-to cover since the Barnett has risen so high in price.
Barring that, the lower cover like the one from Warn is perfectly acceptable.
A few things to note-
How many of you have broken front axle housings?
If you have not, then no, you have not taken a substantial hit on the diff cover. I have broken 3 housings, 2 were on Ford 9" banjo housings with sheetmetal diff covers. The hit broke the axle tube where it joins the main housing and the dent at the lower edge did not even look that impressive. That hit was on a small rock at about 10 miles an hour that stopped the rig cold.
I did the same to a SA bolt in XJ HP 44. Broke the axle tube loose in the diff casting.
Bulletproof diff covers do not a bulletproof axle make. Choose wisely.
Barring that, the lower cover like the one from Warn is perfectly acceptable.
A few things to note-
How many of you have broken front axle housings?
If you have not, then no, you have not taken a substantial hit on the diff cover. I have broken 3 housings, 2 were on Ford 9" banjo housings with sheetmetal diff covers. The hit broke the axle tube where it joins the main housing and the dent at the lower edge did not even look that impressive. That hit was on a small rock at about 10 miles an hour that stopped the rig cold.
I did the same to a SA bolt in XJ HP 44. Broke the axle tube loose in the diff casting.
Bulletproof diff covers do not a bulletproof axle make. Choose wisely.
MallCrawlOnTons
TJ Enthusiast
Op is looking for a 35 cover.
In a post a few days ago, we had someone post a pic of their Dana 35 in a tj with a solid cover and it DID NOT encroach on the valuable gas tank space.
Where you get your info?
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