Eagle_SX4 Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 I was wondering if anyone has any info on what the thickest factory diff covers were. Specifically for the Dana 30, 35 and 44. I am not looking for aftermarket covers just what is the best junkyard cover to pull. I read somewhere that the Grand Cherokee covers are thicker than the Cherokee covers. (Can't confirm that). Also read somewhere about thick 44 covers but can't figure out where to source them from. Any info would be helpful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comanche SS Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 Well, the only applicable Grand Cherokee covers would be ZJ, WJ Dana 30/35 and the WK C8.25 Grand Cherokee Dana 44A's arent the same as XJ/TJ/MJ etc dana 44's Not sure about thickness on any of those, most stamped covers came stright from the dana spicer factory with the axles, so its a crapshoot. But to humor you, there are some "factory" dana 44 covers that are 3/8'' aluminum off older IRS cars, but it'd be pretty laughable to put those on a jeep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89 MJ Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 The diff covers on my Eagle D30s seemed noticeably thicker than my D30 in my MJ. Which I find odd because they were all a similar vintage. 81-84 Eagle D30 (2.72 gears) cover was as thick as my 86 Eagle D30 (2.35 gears) cover. Both of those seemed thicker than the cover on the 86 XJ D30 (4.10 gears) in my truck and thicker than the 92 and 95 YJ D30s (both 4.10 gears) that we had. I never actually measured the thickness and never had the covers off at the same time, but both my dad and I came to the same conclusion separately. The two Eagle ones I had removed at the same time, so I can confidently say that those were the same thickness, but I can’t say with 100% certainty about the other D30 covers. Leads me to believe that either Eagles had a thicker cover, which I doubt because the front crossmember protects most of it or that higher geared vehicles had a thicker cover and lower geared vehicles had a thinner cover, maybe for clearance because the ring gear would be a different width. I don’t necessarily know if I believe either of those theories though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89 MJ Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 I will also say that the AMC 15/Dana 35 cover on the Eagle does not seem as thick as the D30 front. It seemed in line with the Chrysler 8.25 and Ford 8.8 diff cover (both of which I’ve bent) in terms of thickness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neohic Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 Spicer 706112X for a Dana 44. This part number is for 70’s vintage 3/4 ton trucks and they’re about 5/32” thick. Not sure I’d pull one from a used rig because of their age, but they’re cheap and easy to find. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghetdjc320 Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 Any cover that has a threaded fill plug will be a bit thicker. For Dana 35’s that’s mostly 89 and earlier. 8.25 and 8.8 covers are thin. The rodeo and passport Dana 44’s have a nice finned aluminum cover that is quite thick and very strong due to the ribbing. All the Dana 30’s I’ve had use the same cover and seem like the same thickness. A diff guard will be a nice upgrade though if you’re hitting the axles that hard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle_SX4 Posted February 12 Author Share Posted February 12 Thanks for all the info. @neohic thanks for the part number on that 44 cover. Going to change the fluid in my 44 soon and when I did the gears, I noticed the cover (with a threaded plug) was much thinner than the one on my 35 (has a date stamp of '98 and a rubber plug) Which is what started this question. Will get one ordered. @ghetdjc320 thanks for the info on the rodeo/passport. I will check those next time I'm in the junkyard. Also a diff guard is a great idea. @89 MJ Oddly my Eagles 30 diff cover is thinner than the one on my Comanche. Seems like it is hit or miss which covers were put on which axles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89 MJ Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 27 minutes ago, Eagle_SX4 said: @89 MJ Oddly my Eagles 30 diff cover is thinner than the one on my Comanche. Seems like it is hit or miss which covers were put on which axles That is weird. At the very least, that means it’s not a year difference being that your Eagle is older than mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle_SX4 Posted Thursday at 03:22 AM Author Share Posted Thursday at 03:22 AM Got a Spicer 706112x cover in for my 44. ($48 shipped from Rock Auto) It is 2.5x thicker than the one I pulled off. New cover measured 5/32" (.160) and the old one was 1/16 (.060). Fill plugs are in the same spot. Side by side New on top of old. Thanks @neohic for the part number. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neohic Posted Thursday at 12:53 PM Share Posted Thursday at 12:53 PM 9 hours ago, Eagle_SX4 said: Thanks @neohic for the part number. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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