Front Differential (Dana 25 or 27) Skid Plate

Does anybody use skid plates on their Dana 25 or 27 differential housings? Did you fab it yourself or were you able to find it off the shelf?

I found some Dana 30 skids (Rugged Ridge, Warrior Products) thinking that they share the same bolt pattern, but according to their tech reps they won't fit over a 25/27 housing.

Best suggestion I've heard so far it taking a junked 25/27 cover and modifying it to use as a skid. Seems like a budget conscience method, has anyone had success with something like this?

 

Military Dana 25's used a heavy duty cover that works pretty darn good. Very thick, probably around 3/16"-1/4" thick. That would be the path of least resistance and wouldn't interfere with tie rod or drag link. I have a spare one in the garage and could take a pic tomorrow if interested to see what it looks like....

 

I'm definitely interested to see what the military cover looks like.

How thick is the stock cover? To compare what I have, should I measure it at the flange, fill plug threads, or somewhere else?

 

flange. Most covers are stamped so have thicker and thinner spots. The best/easiest spot to measure is the flange .

 

Not all the stock 25/27 covers are the same. I'm using one off a 63 wagon front axle that is about 3/16 thick. If you have any junk jeep yards-look at the pickups and wagons. As noted above, the best and easiest is finding a MB/GPW cover. Maybe a bit pricey, but not much different than an aftermarket for a D30/44.

 

Boy, I have a thick cover on my 27 but, it's nowhere near 1/4 thick. It's not the thin, stock, stamped unit. It might be 1/8 thick. I'd love to see a pic of that cover, Nick. Then I'd like to go get one. Are there covers that thick for the 44, as well? I know the Scout covers are thicker.

 

Sorry guys, camera batteries were dead and the wife was using the charger for something else. They're on the charger now. I looked at the cover I have in the garage and it's between 1/8" and 3/16" must have come off the 23-2 I parted. I think there are some up at the shop and I have to stop by there tomorrow anyway.

Wheelie, most front dana 44 covers were thicker while the rears tended to be thinner. There are lots of different thicknesses I've found from very thin to much, much thicker.

 

Mine measures to be somewhere around 3/32"-1/8", I have no clue how that compares to stock thickness. Either way seems thinner than the MB/GPW cover, so I'll have to keep an eye out for one...

 

Might ask Patrick if he wants to sell his. I can check at the shop and see if there is one and how much they want for it if available.

 

Thanks guys. It's no rush anyways. If you do find one, let me know

 

I picked one up from the the shop. It's cast steel and is about 5/32" thick at the flange. The rest of it is about the same thickness. The gold colored one is a heavy duty stamped steel one and is about 3/32" thick. Pm will be inbound with sales info.

 

I know where two more are also. I may grab one for the Daughter's Jeep...

 

That can be fixed though. I'm thinking clear zinc though. Won't rust like chrome....

 

That "Use Hypoid Oil Only" script is kinda cool.

Is a cast cover any stronger than a stamped cover? Even though it's thicker, I suspect it may not be any stronger. Hit it hard enough and you may break it instead of dent it.

 

I've beat up a couple of these with hammers over the years and haven't been able to break one whereas I have bent several of the stamped ones in various ways. Not a scientific test by any means. I'm not willing to do a stress test in the press with something this hard to find though

Especially with someone else's partsR)

 

Nickmil, thanks!