Diff skid recommendations

I’ve thought about doing that but wondered how you seal the bolt from leaking. Itty bitty crush washer?

 

Back when I had crawlers, I'd just put a dab of rtv on the bolt. That and it torqued would seal off just fine

 

Now that is how it should be done....

 

I had a diff diaper from boztec for a year and realized it was pointless and sold it. I did dent the back of the housing so I welded this on. Don’t know where I got it from I found it laying around my shop. 3/8” metal she thicc. Barnes 4wd also makes a weld on rear differential cover.

 

But it doesn't say Rci on it, therfore its not cool

 

So silly question... would you want that to continue on the main portion of the housing? Would that create the likelihood to break any welds of the melon?

 

Nada, that is plenty strong. The cover is plenty thick to weld too, and I dont think it could ever break off of the "main" housing

 

What’s states below for sure. The skid is 3/8” thick and welded to about 1/8’ thick material of the back housing. It’s also tied in at the very bottom where the thickest part of the housing is with weld. If my welds break then shame on me, but I consider this skid plate to be an extension of the housing and one with it at this point. You want to make sure to weld this one with the diff drained as to not cook the fluid that’s in there.

 

I took a different approach and welded it full of fluid to help absorb the heat, and then changed the fluid afterwards. It was nice and dark lol

 

well yeah that’ll work to, I had the diff out already to reseal the 3rd member. What I did notice is that even with the drain plug out and it completely finished draining, there are cavities of oil that don’t get drained I ended up cleaning out with old towels. Maybe it’s because I have the pumpkin tilted back to match the pinion angle caused this but either way, I was glad that I had it out otherwise that burnt oil would still be in there probably haha.

 

Luckily for me I can’t leave anything alone/always break stuff so I’ve changed my diff oil like 4 times within the past 2 years lol I think of it as a nice flush.