- Location
- Colorado
I got the axle pulled and am doing everything else to the damn thing so might as well go for this easy upgrade... my question is- is there a good, strong, cover that doesn’t sacrifice extra clearance for the tie rod? I’m running dubJ knuckles and had to clearance my coil spring perches and sway bar end links to get it to clear OTK, which is fine with the stock cover... but just by a hair. Literally a hair at full lock, probably even touches ever so slightly.
Artec makes some awesome looking covers, and the price reflects that. Its flat in front which could be good, but I’m worried that it won’t clear- annnnd don’t fully want to spend that much. Magnetic drain and fill plugs are neat, drain plug in general is pretty cool! But if I’m honest, changing the diff fluid is a once in a great while ordeal, especially with amzoil $$$. Says 12.5 #s, has a little name plate about where the tie rod would meet, if it sticks out to far it’d be more work then others to shave
https://www.artecindustries.com/Diff_Cover_D30
A cheaper option that, like Artec offers, recessed bolt holes is the one I’ve been eyeing for a while, the Riddler. Price is fair, design looks solid, and since it isn’t as pretty or $$$ I wouldn’t feel as bad taking a grinder to clearance the tie rod if I had to. Also says it’s only 9 #s-
https://www.ironrockoffroad.com/product/riddler-dana-30-front-differential-cover.html
Cheaper even still is the SOLID cover. This guy is the cheapest, could get the cover and splurge on a LubLocker gasket for the price of the Riddler (seeing how this and the riddler come with RTV I doubt I would tho). Looks like slightly recessed bolt holes. Some fancy textured paint job, that’d be a pita to match if I had to take the grinder to it. 13#s
https://www.ironrockoffroad.com/product/solid-axle-industries-hd-differential-cover-dana-30.html
Ballistic fab makes one, but is definitely into the tie rod per the build specs by nearly an inch...
Something (fugly) like this would probably work... price is higher then I’d like for the design tho-
https://tandjperformance.com/product/part-bp-dt030/
This has to be a common upgrade/ problem ya?
What’s the cure? Short of bending my tie rod (no bender) what do y’all run?
Artec makes some awesome looking covers, and the price reflects that. Its flat in front which could be good, but I’m worried that it won’t clear- annnnd don’t fully want to spend that much. Magnetic drain and fill plugs are neat, drain plug in general is pretty cool! But if I’m honest, changing the diff fluid is a once in a great while ordeal, especially with amzoil $$$. Says 12.5 #s, has a little name plate about where the tie rod would meet, if it sticks out to far it’d be more work then others to shave
https://www.artecindustries.com/Diff_Cover_D30
A cheaper option that, like Artec offers, recessed bolt holes is the one I’ve been eyeing for a while, the Riddler. Price is fair, design looks solid, and since it isn’t as pretty or $$$ I wouldn’t feel as bad taking a grinder to clearance the tie rod if I had to. Also says it’s only 9 #s-
https://www.ironrockoffroad.com/product/riddler-dana-30-front-differential-cover.html
Cheaper even still is the SOLID cover. This guy is the cheapest, could get the cover and splurge on a LubLocker gasket for the price of the Riddler (seeing how this and the riddler come with RTV I doubt I would tho). Looks like slightly recessed bolt holes. Some fancy textured paint job, that’d be a pita to match if I had to take the grinder to it. 13#s
https://www.ironrockoffroad.com/product/solid-axle-industries-hd-differential-cover-dana-30.html
Ballistic fab makes one, but is definitely into the tie rod per the build specs by nearly an inch...
Something (fugly) like this would probably work... price is higher then I’d like for the design tho-
https://tandjperformance.com/product/part-bp-dt030/
This has to be a common upgrade/ problem ya?
What’s the cure? Short of bending my tie rod (no bender) what do y’all run?
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