Bottom line, I want diff protection before I go out again.

Is a diff guard going to cut it (ie Rough Country Diff Guard) or am I going to need something heavy duty like the Riddler/ARB Diff Cover?

 

I have neither right now but after researching I decided that I will buy the cover. Some reviews of the guards say they get hung up, others say they are not tough enough. As I was planning on purchasing in the next two weeks i beleive that I will follow this thread

 

Conceptually, either could work....the differences are the ability to protect from "Peel Back", when the lip of the cover catches a rock, and gets pulled back, creating a leak point...and the sharp/jaggedness of the rocks themselves you are up against.

The guards typically bolt to the stock bolt points, and primarily provide head on ramming protection....some have a lower lip that over laps the oem cover's edge to protect it from peel back...some leave openings large enough for a really evil shaped rock to potentially sneak between the bars, etc...and poke the oem cover, etc.

The covers are typically a thicker metal, and able to take a hit better than an OEM cover by a large margin...some hold more diff juice, and/or have ports for drain/filling that are more convenient, etc.

Some covers have a lip that overlaps the diff case with a reinforced leading edge that is hearder to peel back if you catch on it...some do not.

As all the covers are essentillay thicker, stronger metal, even when a lip does catch, its less likely to peel back, but, under the right circumstances, anything is possible.

You have to look at the SPECIFIC features to really know which is BETTER for you.

 

you could get both and just lok really cool and feel that you have the best ofr both worlds in your jeep

 

Would this fit the bill...it is a combination guard and cover. Of course with the combo you are paying twice the price too.

 

I think some of them 1/4" steel diff covers would be best.

 

There's some talk of leaking with the guards. Mine did when I put one on the front. It doesn't now that I have covers.

 

There's some talk of leaking with the covers, better get guards.



(I've heard both can leak...probably that lip peel back issue...)

 

I had a guard on the front D44 on my old TJ...tried everything to get it to not seep (or slight leak) ...just a drip now and then.
Never would stop leaking, so its on my shelf.....
Something for the for sale section?

chuck

 

I really like the idea of glider/slider for the diffs because that is mostly what I find useful. I had one on the rear diff of my belated TJ Rubicon. On the front I had a Currie diff cover with a built in ramp and had my eye on the Nth Degree glider thing to completely protect it front to back.

I like this Rancho glider but I can see how backing into a rock may push the bolts outward just a hair to possibly create a leak, but I am far from being any expert on this. I still like the idea a lot.