Diff Cover vs. Diff Skid Plate
Super Moderator
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,750
Likes: 89
From: Arizona
The rear tends to follow, not lead. You can take great care to avoid impacts to the front only to find your rear diff has either slid off something you didn't anticipate or you backed into something you didn't see.
Score: 3 rear diffs pealed back to the point of leaking. Two punctured through the case. 0 front diffs damaged beyond repair. Your results may vary.
JK Newbie
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 57
Likes: 1
From: Tracy, CA
+1 on this.
A good diff cover (ARB/Crane/Riddler/Great Lakes) will do far more for you than most diff skids. Some (Riddler and Great Lakes) are not much more than a skid.
The exception to this seems to the be the ARB diff skid plate. It's a little spendy, but it provides a huge amount of protection. Just bear in mind that it can't help you if you back into something, and I'm not 100% sure that will prevent "peeling" the stock diff cover...but I'm sure that it would make it less likely to happen.
For my money, I think that when funds permit I will end up running Riddlers front and rear, plus an AEV diff slider in the rear.
A good diff cover (ARB/Crane/Riddler/Great Lakes) will do far more for you than most diff skids. Some (Riddler and Great Lakes) are not much more than a skid.
The exception to this seems to the be the ARB diff skid plate. It's a little spendy, but it provides a huge amount of protection. Just bear in mind that it can't help you if you back into something, and I'm not 100% sure that will prevent "peeling" the stock diff cover...but I'm sure that it would make it less likely to happen.
For my money, I think that when funds permit I will end up running Riddlers front and rear, plus an AEV diff slider in the rear.
JK Super Freak
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,116
Likes: 3
From: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
I have to disagree with you on this. I have the Great Lakes diff covers and IMO they are far supieroir to ARB, Crane, TeraFlex, etc. I have taken impacts on mine that have shatered/broke other cast covers (which is why I went with GL, welded steel!) and done little more than scratch the Great Lakes cover.
I was only referring to the price. I'll edit my original post. I've done enough homework to know that the Great Lakes diff covers are incredibly tough. My bad.
JK Newbie
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 57
Likes: 1
From: Tracy, CA
Beer is on me for the misunderstanding
EDIT: For everyones understanding I am the guy that constantly picks the bad line and have taken nearly the full weight of the JK on the diff cover more than once! I am lucky I dont have a bent axle right now (and that is actually debateable, I have steering issues that may be a bent axle...to be determined...).
Last edited by 09rubicon; Nov 14, 2009 at 07:56 PM.
JK Junkie
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 3,074
Likes: 1
From: Denton, TX
go with the full cover. I prefer Riddler or Poison Spyder style since they are completely smooth and the biggest advantage is there is no lip to catch anything on. If you notice some covers have flat spots, which is not what you want when forcing it to go over something..
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
From: Schaumburg, IL
what do people think of the "Solid" brand diff covers? I am torn between the Riddler and Solid - Solid covers are $75 delivered and the Riddler are $99....and I will have to paint the Riddler.
Thoughts....
Thoughts....