I know there are alot of people here that fab things up. Someone ought to produce a diff guard for the 8.8, which we all obviously have. I know there are several for sale from various manufacturers, but they're all relatively pricey. I'd like to see someone produce a simple strong guard for $50-75. Or is that impossible for the work involved?

Are you thinking of something like this:http://i12.ebayimg.com/01/i/01/1c/c1/a1_1.JPG

Or do you want something more on the lines of under the diff/skid plate combo?

Once I get caught up on my SAS brackets I'll look into building some.

That thing is sweet! Is that your own custom fab? Or can it be bought?

That thing is sweet! Is that your own custom fab? Or can it be bought?

That one is from a builder on eBay. I emailed him asking if they would consider production for the Ford 8.8. If he doesn't then I'll look into starting my own fab work.

If they would make one of those for the 8.8 I would buy one.

That rock guard is nice, but I would like a full skid plate for the diff. I have seen them go all the way around to protect the pinion yoke on the driveshaft.
There are a couple of bolts on most 8.8s for the vibration damper. If the design is right it can utilize all stock bolt locations.

I was looking at the Warn guard they make, its a full cover and is very nice, but steep at $200 or so!

Then there is cleagearz, now those are just COOL! hahaha I can see it now a little neon in the rear diffy

I was thinking something like these, although these are cast.http://www.highclearance.com/
I'd like one made out of plates, or facets like a diamond.

Or, to fit in my price target, just a bolt ring and a pinion gear shield.

From link above.

I have seen the skid plates that go from the pinion to the diff cover, all bolt on but $$$$$.

I just installed my rock guard that I ordered from www.southtexashunter.com

You could seriously run a cement truck up on this and it wouldnt look any diff. A couple of the Texas guys got to see these in person and can vouch for the strength. I paid 65.00 for my 8.8 guard
http://www.southtexashunter.com/D-44%20Half%20Guard.jpg

I love the look of the Crane covers and was even planning on getting one until I saw the price. Man are they proud of thoes things!

Brian,

Thanks for the link! thats the cheapest I have seen!
Does it require new longer bolts, and do they come with it?

Thanks!

Jamie

Brian,

Thanks for the link! thats the cheapest I have seen!
Does it require new longer bolts, and do they come with it?

Thanks!

Jamie


It does require longer bolts which are shipped with the guard. I cant even begin to tell you how happy I am with these. They are made so strong. This is a local company here in Texas and they were very helpful. Give them a call.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37735&highlight=diff+guard

I got mine from Ron's and I love it. Little over kill but better than being to weak. Also the price was right. Hope this helps.

http://www.purplecranium.com/images/cat/Ford88FullSpiderRockGuard501318464m.jpg
only 105 bucks.

I'd like one made out of plates, or facets like a diamond.

like such?

http://Demon4x4.com/Mudd/Pics/rdiff.JPG

Yes! That's what I like!

I emailed South Texas Hunters for prices on the Younger Bros half guard pictured earlier. The price they quoted me was $89 for the 8.8. TrckMagik, how long ago did you get yours for $65?

hey rangerx. purplecranium has a half spider, the one ur looking for for about 65 bucks also. i just pictured the full spider.

I like all of these ideas.... does anybody have any pics of the kind that also prtects the yoke and pinion??

like such?

http://Demon4x4.com/Mudd/Pics/rdiff.JPG

clark, THIS is the one I was saying I like. I don't care for the purplecranium ones at all. Yhanks, though.

MuddWhore, who makes that one?

Yes! That's what I like!

Bill, That one that muddwhore posted is stout. I have the same one on my Dana 44 and on my 8.8. They are made with 1/2" plate for the outer ring and 1/4" plate in the center. The bolts are countersunk allen heads. I have bashed many a rock with my front one and it has fended them all off without any problem. I highly reccomend them, but be prepared, they are spendy as well, $550 for the pair. Well worth it for me, you get what you pay for.

I bought mine in December. May have been a christmas deal? They are well worth it though.

clark, THIS is the one I was saying I like. I don't care for the purplecranium ones at all. Yhanks, though.

MuddWhore, who makes that one?

Texas Auto Gear makes them. 281-448-4371. Tell them Randall sent ya ;).

Bill, That one that muddwhore posted is stout. I have the same one on my Dana 44 and on my 8.8. They are made with 1/2" plate for the outer ring and 1/4" plate in the center. The bolts are countersunk allen heads. I have bashed many a rock with my front one and it has fended them all off without any problem. I highly reccomend them, but be prepared, they are spendy as well, $550 for the pair. Well worth it for me, you get what you pay for.

I concur. That's $275 for those of you without a dana 44.

Poison Spider Customs has one for the 8.8 that is pretty trick...

http://www.spydercustoms.com/index2.html

8.8 is $105, I like this design



I wonder if Warn makes their new guard for the 8.8?

http://www.warn.com/truck/mounting-systems/differential_plate.shtml

Sure enough! No price listed though I think they are right about $100

I like these designs because I cant afford the $250 for the full cover!!
If I did go full cover one with a drain plug wouldnt be too bad either......I can see needing a full cover on a front diff, but on the back just a simple lower half protection should be enough, unless you are going backwards, which happens alot I guess....

I can see needing a full cover on a front diff, but on the back just a simple lower half protection should be enough, unless you are going backwards, which happens alot I guess....

I wanted something that wasn't going to peel back if I drug the whole diff across a rock. I could see that happening with a stock cover and one of those guards. TAG doesn't build a drain into any of their covers because they have see too many get pruned off on the trail leaving you with no gear lube. The Dana 44 ones have a fill built in but that is not needed on the 8.8. The rear one also greatly increases fluid level to almost a gallon leading to a cooler running rear end.

Just saw this one on ebay. Doesn't look as tough, but sure is easier on the wallet.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33640&item=2473017459&rd=1

If anyone is interested in these differential guards.. I'm friends with a metal fabricator that said he could try and fab some up if there's enough interest. He'd like to know what everyone would prefer, since there are many different types.

I just installed my rock guard that I ordered from www.southtexashunter.com

You could seriously run a cement truck up on this and it wouldnt look any diff. A couple of the Texas guys got to see these in person and can vouch for the strength. I paid 65.00 for my 8.8 guard
http://www.southtexashunter.com/D-44%20Half%20Guard.jpg

I had one like that. Trouble came when I hit a boulder as I was pointing nose down. The boulder had a part that went over the diffguard, over the tie-rod and smacked the diff cover right up into the ring gear.

This is what FST came up with:

http://fly-n-hi.com/FST/pumpkin_gallery/images/ramp_4.jpg

It's a stock cover with thick wall steel tubing welded to the area that has the ring gear behind it. I have taken a ton of hits to it with no problems.

alright this is a little off the topic but i was at ford waiting for my alignment to be done when i picked up a mag that had differential plats in it and they had a hole crap load of clear ones, does anyone here have one...i just wana know what it looks like with the guts inside. probly not real ideal for off road..thanks

alright this is a little off the topic but i was at ford waiting for my alignment to be done when i picked up a mag that had differential plats in it and they had a hole crap load of clear ones, does anyone here have one...i just wana know what it looks like with the guts inside. probly not real ideal for off road..thanks

The plastic covers are amazingly strong, but they will eventually shatter. FST had one on display at their shop with a 3lb sledge hammer next to it. People beat on it as hard as they could over a long perios of time and it never broke. It just scuffed up the plastic a bit. Then one day this women hits it and shattered it! Not that she hit it that hard, she just hit a spot that had been weakened.

The plastic covers are amazingly strong, but they will eventually shatter. FST had one on display at their shop with a 3lb sledge hammer next to it. People beat on it as hard as they could over a long perios of time and it never broke. It just scuffed up the plastic a bit. Then one day this women hits it and shattered it! Not that she hit it that hard, she just hit a spot that had been weakened.
:hammer:
Morral of ths story? Don't let a woman rock crawl with your truck: She'll find the weak spot. :D

If anyone is interested in the Crane covers, I talked to them at Moab this past week and they do offer group discounts. We'd have to do arrange this with Rick and have a set number of people that are SERIOUS about buying them, but if there is enough interest I'd be willing to arrange the whole deal.

I'd be interested in the group purchase, I was planning on getting one soon but if we can get a group buy going then all the better. I like the fact the if you can break one of their covers they will replace it free if you send them the broken one.

Those clear ones wouldn't let you see in very long. I would think the fluid would kinda mess up the view.

OKay well leave it to bill to start this topic and then this weekend I folloow him through some rock gardens and guess what? Peeled back my stock metal 8.8 guard.
Repaired on Sunday but it is dripping a little, so I am in the market for my replacement sooner than expected! Like TODAY so I dont have to buy gear lube twice! I will be re-using the lube that I can catch when it comes off this evening...

Figures...I have 2 choices.
Full cover in the mail today, or stock replacement and in the market for a guard....

That sucks Jaime...the thing I like about the Crane covers is that they don't peelback and if you manage to break one, they'll send you a new one. ;)

hahaha I like them too! I just dont like the PRICE! Damn taxes....

I like the Crane ones too. Too much cash for me. There is a guy up here in Colorado who has an orange YJ that Crane Built for him. His name is Ryan. Anyway, he was just a young punk (like me I guess) so maybe his dad owned the shop. He competes in Rock Comps here in Colorado Springs and he had a contest for a free crane cover called "wish I had a crane cover" (or something) on colorado4x4.org I guess the best picture wins. It might be over- but you might check Jaime- I bet you would be right in the running!

I am building my own. I built a front one like the ones that were circulating here on the board except bigger and all the way back to cover the Aluminium 3rd member. I plan to build a rear one that protects the pinion yoke and junk and attaches to the three bolts on the damper. It will be like a skid/ diff guard. When I finaly get to it I will get some pictures of my front guard.

Kirby, there are some members with skid plates like you are describing for the 8.8. Bolt on, protect the pinion.
Similar to what Duff carries for the D44 and 9" (EB)
I also found Bluetorch makes a nice 8.8 full cover from plate for $139

Warn's 8.8 guard will be available again May 24th, I called them direct they are on backorder everywhere. $73 was the lowest I found.


:)

If you make this plate I and a few others would be in line for one.
I know some of the Colorado members a few years back did some custom D35 TTB and 8.8 plates....maybe we could see some pictures.

I will be building 2. One for me and one for my brother. I will post pics of my front Asap. It is like that one Brett has but on steriods. I will post picks of my rear when I finish it, but I like fabbing too much to turn it into a job... I want it to be fun for a while- you know? Feel free to copy mine when I post picks.

I have seen the duff's. I think they have one for the 8.8 that is a truss too...

truss would be in the way of rocks. at least the way Duff does it....no thanks!!!

I agree. You want it done right, you got to do it yourself!

I'd like to see pics of your front diffy skidplate! I'm considering constructing something myself that's a bolt-on, and could sure use some more ideas!

Regarding the Duff 8.8 skidplate, they did offer one that bolted on over the axle tubes that came with or without the truss. However, they no longer make that for the 8.8. Too bad--I'd rather have a plate that attaches that way. Just simplifies things, seems to me.

Funny. I wasx just thinking I need to get some pics. I am selling it. You want to buy it? Let the bidding begin as soon as I get some pics...

What would you like for it? :D

I would like a skid plate diff guard. I like the half cage type ones.

Tim

Pictures Finally! Here it is. It attaches with 2 grade 8 Bolts. It is just below the Fill hole in the front of the diff, on the rear it follows all the way until 1/2" or so below the pinion. It is tough. The bottom part is around 3/4" thick. I used this thing multiple times and it worked great. It is built solid. Forgive me the pics aren't the best because it was raining and it needs another paint job.

They will be up tomorrow evening...

Sounds great! I like that attachment description. Eagerly awaiting pics! ;)

OK! Finally! I had some problems with MSN, then the board was down yesterday, but I finally have pics. Like I said, it needs a paint job! Front Picture 1 (http://groups.msn.com/KirbyandChuck/kirbysnavajo.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=108)
Front Picture 2 (http://groups.msn.com/KirbyandChuck/kirbysnavajo.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=110)
Picture from Back (http://groups.msn.com/KirbyandChuck/kirbysnavajo.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=109)

Hope it inspires some of you guys. If you want it, make me an offer. I will even supply the hardware. All you need to do is drill 2 holes. PM me if interested...

Good Job Kirby!

Looks like good fab work to me. Probably a bit thicker bottom plate that I really need--don't have too much ground clearance anyway. I like the attachment system, though. Kinda strapped for $$ right now, so can't call dibs on it. Should be a nice addition to an off-road vehicle!

Thanks for sharing the pics!

that sucker is HUGE! Nice design though and I really like the way it protects the diff in the back.....

You need something that will help the beam up and over rocks. I finally got my skidplate from Perry in Moab, it is unfinished but I will be installing it this weekend and also making some of my own modifications.....