RuffStuff Dana 30 3/8" Differential Cover Installation

[Mudderoy]

http://youtu.be/3tRu7e9Kr70

I ordered a RuffStuff Dana 30 3/8" Differential Cover (http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/catalog/D30COV.html) for my 1998 Jeep Cherokee.

http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/catalog/images/logo.gif

Tonight I installed it!

I got all the options.


Drain Plug
Counter Sunk Holes


http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/catalog/graphics/00000001/D30%20Diff%20cover.jpg (http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/catalog/D30COV.html)

First things first... Paint it RED!!!!

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-7YMZa27U77A/TwZl0mCwVSI/AAAAAAAABm8/gu1N-UuVjCA/s800/20120105_182914.jpg

Now while it's drying lets get that sad stock Dana 30 diff cover off...
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AYEaW9mPBqY/TwZlqWcHIkI/AAAAAAAABm0/QrKVtlzdELE/s800/20120105_182922.jpg

Removed all the bolts, leaving the top one in by just a few turns.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2mg80Px5zdc/TwZlgjvy4LI/AAAAAAAABms/T9YKNkMmrSg/s800/20120105_183633.jpg

Then time to whack it from the side with a rubber mallet! Have the pan ready!

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-I6QnUp9PshA/TwZk3sGkbCI/AAAAAAAABmU/a7wJcoddJgw/s800/20120105_183809.jpg

Them there are some 4.56 gears! :D
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HVtvQEvOdjM/TwZkslta0eI/AAAAAAAABmM/9mcYMwaLaL4/s800/20120105_184112.jpg

Clean up the surface. I used a wire brush.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-8Fa5w8pMgZo/TwZkhnu0klI/AAAAAAAABmE/IOlCivWGlmc/s800/20120105_185050.jpg

Test fit! I read that there can sometimes be fitting issues and I thought it was best to find out BEFORE I put the RTV on the cover. :D
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-RDGeOif6vgw/TwZeyzhHTBI/AAAAAAAABl0/Ygj5WPca7NI/s800/20120105_190956.jpg

Now back off and a quick cleaning before putting on the RTV...
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-PqATqa67uFM/TwZeUQm4T9I/AAAAAAAABlc/H5g4kfNpdcI/s800/20120105_191513.jpg

Carefully placed the cover on the Dana 30 pumpkin and finger started all the counter sunk bolts.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-eMSCD_KDMwE/TwZkYfrGggI/AAAAAAAABl8/KG62qYSviec/s800/20120105_190925.jpg

Filled with 2 bottles of Royal Purple gear oil and put the plug in!
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-jelEZ2fWY74/TwZlVYW2wCI/AAAAAAAABmk/S1mxBKB1efo/s800/20120105_190935.jpg

Whether it's crushing zombie heads, or bouncing off rocks, this diff cover is going to take the abuse. The Dana 30 might not, but I'll be able to move the cover over to the new axle if/when that occurs! :shocker:

:check: This is an xjtalk highly recommended!

[4.3LXJ]

Glad to see you shin up those other parts Tony. Can't have dull red next to shiny red :D

I notice it sticks out a little further than stock, does it clear the tie rod well?

[Mudderoy]

Glad to see you shin up those other parts Tony. Can't have dull red next to shiny red :D

I notice it sticks out a little further than stock, does it clear the tie rod well?

I need to get under there and repaint! :D

[4.3LXJ]

I need to get under there and repaint! :D

I know what you mean. It has been several years since I shined up the aluminum. It is looking kind of dull and getting kind of reddish from the mud in the hills.

[bluedragon436]

The Ruff Stuff diff covers have quite a bit of clearance between them and the tie rod.. I have a guy that works upstairs that had their covers on his TJ.. had a nice bit of clearance between it and the tie rod.. I would love to pick up their D30 and Ch8.25 diff covers, and replace the fluid while I'm at it..

[Mudderoy]

The Ruff Stuff diff covers have quite a bit of clearance between them and the tie rod.. I have a guy that works upstairs that had their covers on his TJ.. had a nice bit of clearance between it and the tie rod.. I would love to pick up their D30 and Ch8.25 diff covers, and replace the fluid while I'm at it..

Yep, there was no problem with the clearance. Now installation would have been easier if I had dropped the tie rod down and out of the way. It would have taken 5 minutes to drop the track bar. It took me an additional 15 seconds to place the cover on going slow between the diff and the tie rod.

Worse case I would have got RTV on the ring gear.

[xj4life2]

Dan has some great products !!!!

[LizardRunner]

And yet another opportunity to add a little Green to the Red Brute has been missed. :smiley-laughing021::smiley-laughing021:

[Mudderoy]

And yet another opportunity to add a little Green to the Red Brute has been missed. :smiley-laughing021::smiley-laughing021:

GREEN?!?!? WTH?!?!?! Christmas is over. :mock:

[LizardRunner]

:rolleye0012: Just Saying....

[Kenny811]

http://youtu.be/3tRu7e9Kr70

I ordered a RuffStuff Dana 30 3/8" Differential Cover (http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/catalog/D30COV.html) for my 1998 Jeep Cherokee.

http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/catalog/images/logo.gif

Tonight I installed it!

I got all the options.


Drain Plug
Counter Sunk Holes


http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/catalog/graphics/00000001/D30%20Diff%20cover.jpg (http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/catalog/D30COV.html)

First things first... Paint it RED!!!!

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-7YMZa27U77A/TwZl0mCwVSI/AAAAAAAABm8/gu1N-UuVjCA/s800/20120105_182914.jpg

Now while it's drying lets get that sad stock Dana 30 diff cover off...
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AYEaW9mPBqY/TwZlqWcHIkI/AAAAAAAABm0/QrKVtlzdELE/s800/20120105_182922.jpg

Removed all the bolts, leaving the top one in by just a few turns.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2mg80Px5zdc/TwZlgjvy4LI/AAAAAAAABms/T9YKNkMmrSg/s800/20120105_183633.jpg

Then time to whack it from the side with a rubber mallet! Have the pan ready!

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-I6QnUp9PshA/TwZk3sGkbCI/AAAAAAAABmU/a7wJcoddJgw/s800/20120105_183809.jpg

Them there are some 4.56 gears! :D
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HVtvQEvOdjM/TwZkslta0eI/AAAAAAAABmM/9mcYMwaLaL4/s800/20120105_184112.jpg

Clean up the surface. I used a wire brush.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-8Fa5w8pMgZo/TwZkhnu0klI/AAAAAAAABmE/IOlCivWGlmc/s800/20120105_185050.jpg

Test fit! I read that there can sometimes be fitting issues and I thought it was best to find out BEFORE I put the RTV on the cover. :D
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-RDGeOif6vgw/TwZeyzhHTBI/AAAAAAAABl0/Ygj5WPca7NI/s800/20120105_190956.jpg

Now back off and a quick cleaning before putting on the RTV...
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-PqATqa67uFM/TwZeUQm4T9I/AAAAAAAABlc/H5g4kfNpdcI/s800/20120105_191513.jpg

Carefully placed the cover on the Dana 30 pumpkin and finger started all the counter sunk bolts.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-eMSCD_KDMwE/TwZkYfrGggI/AAAAAAAABl8/KG62qYSviec/s800/20120105_190925.jpg

Filled with 2 bottles of Royal Purple gear oil and put the plug in!
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-jelEZ2fWY74/TwZlVYW2wCI/AAAAAAAABmk/S1mxBKB1efo/s800/20120105_190935.jpg

Whether it's crushing zombie heads, or bouncing off rocks, this diff cover is going to take the abuse. The Dana 30 might not, but I'll be able to move the cover over to the new axle if/when that occurs! :shocker:

:check: This is an xjtalk highly recommended!

Just a question but what happens when you smash the drain plug bolt on a rock and either tear it off or smash to where you cant use it? Why is even there?

[Mudderoy]

Just a question but what happens when you smash the drain plug bolt on a rock and either tear it off or smash to where you cant use it? Why is even there?

Well it doesn't have to be, it's an option. I don't do rocks, so it wasn't an issue for me. I'll have to remember to keep a cork and RTV with me though, just in case.

[bluedragon436]

I am really wanting a set of these covers for my XJ!! They look good, and from what I've seen online they perform as well as they look!!

[Xjay98]

That stuff is thick and heavy! Dan is a good guy too!

[Dredwolf]

I am really wanting a set of these covers for my XJ!! They look good, and from what I've seen online they perform as well as they look!!

Getting ready to buy stuff for the winter projects. RuffStuff seems to have the best covers, did anyone get the D30 and 8.25 cover yet?

And I will admit the drain plug on the 30 scares me too, any other input?

[BlueXJ]

I would consider having them powdercoated in a bright color other than the traditional "RED" to keep them looking nice for a long period. How about a bright blue?

[xjrev10]

Getting ready to buy stuff for the winter projects. RuffStuff seems to have the best covers, did anyone get the D30 and 8.25 cover yet?

And I will admit the drain plug on the 30 scares me too, any other input?

I have a 8.25 cover. Had a little bit of trouble with fit. Just used a little extra RTV! Id buy another one.

[Mudderoy]

I have a 8.25 cover. Had a little bit of trouble with fit. Just used a little extra RTV! Id buy another one.

Did you contact RuffStuff about this? I'm really surprised since the D30 cover was just absolutely perfect fit. I'll be getting a 8.25 cover soon, when we install the ARB.

[Dredwolf]

Did you contact RuffStuff about this? I'm really surprised since the D30 cover was just absolutely perfect fit. I'll be getting a 8.25 cover soon, when we install the ARB.

I am interested too. My "plan" is for a Powertrax in the 8.25 and a LockRite in the Dana 30...but I wish I had the budget for an ARB. So I will need the covers, since my self-imposed lift height limit or 4.5" means the diffs will get hit.:rolleye0012:

[xjrev10]

Did you contact RuffStuff about this? I'm really surprised since the D30 cover was just absolutely perfect fit. I'll be getting a 8.25 cover soon, when we install the ARB.

I've seen a few that have been so close but no cigar for fit. A club member sent back a D44 last fall that didn't fit. I stripped the bolts so mine ain't coming off. The countersinking was off by a fraction of a inch. It's a good part and I made it work. I know they woulda sent me a new one if I woulda said something.