Do diff covers make a difference?
In addition to providing access for changing gear lube, differential covers help dissipate heat that can damage differentials, and they protect gears from contaminants like dirt and water, as well as rocks and other large obstacles encountered when off-roading.
What does a upgraded diff cover do?
An upgraded differential cover allows for you to carry more gear fluid oil. This extra fluid equals greater diff cooling. An aftermarket diff cover can also provide heavy, duty protection for your axle parts. This is a common impact point especially for those that like to take their rig off road.
How do you seal a diff cover?
I prefer to circle all the bolt hole this is just the way that I learned how to do it and how I’ve always done it. So you make complete circles around each hole.
Are Solid diff covers good?
They are a very good cover and the price point is excellent. The issue often seen with aftermarket covers is interference with the track bar. Sometimes it’s as easy as taking a grinder to it, other times there’s no issues. Running a track bar that’s designed to clear an aftermarket diff cover can also help.
How warm should a differential get?
The normal operating temp of a differential is 175° to 250° depending on the type of driving you’re doing. We recommend using a handheld infrared digital thermometer which cost $15 to $50 to get a more accurate temperature reading.
What is a spider gear?
Spider gears are also known as satellite gears, they rotate around the side gears in the differential carrier. Side gears may also be referred to as axle gears or planetary gears. The spider gears are the ones with the cross-pin shaft going through them.
What does a Mag Hytec diff cover do?
MAG-HYTEC heavy duty differential covers and transmission pans provide increased lubricant and cooling capacity for hard working recreation and service vehicles .
Is it better to use a gasket or RTV on a differential?
Ease of Removal. For the next service/repair, a gasket is easier to remove than RTV. You won’t spend time cleaning RTV from the cover, differential and bolts, and you won’t need to worry about getting dried RTV particles into the unit’s bearings.
Should you use RTV with a paper gasket?
Please note that RTV is not to be used on the entire gasket; the gasket should be installed clean and dry. RTV should only be used on the corners of the gasket and/or stepped casting areas that have a gap. Using a small amount of RTV will fill in those areas to assure a leak-free assembly.
How hot is too hot for a rear differential?
300°
260°-300° 500-1,000 Miles until temp is controlled
Running 250° to 275° is normal for new differentials during the break-in period. It is critical to not tow or take long road trips for first 500 miles as this builds additional heat. At 300° the diff is considered too hot and it should be allowed to cool.
At what temp does gear oil break down?
At 140 degrees if no trash or moisture is introduced oil will basically last a million miles. However for roughly every 20 degrees above 140 it cuts life expectancy in half. A well broke in diff under normal conditions will run around 200 degrees and a quality gear oil will last 100k using above formula.
Why do spider gears wear out?
A common scenario is getting stuck in the mud or snow and free spinning your wheels trying to break free. When this happens, the spider gears can rotate on the cross-pin shaft so quickly that the differential oil is slung away, resulting in metal-on-metal wear.
Why do spider gears break?
What Causes Spider Gears to Break? Free spinning your wheels can cause the spider gears to rotate at an alarming rate and result in metal-to-metal contact. Once this happens, the cross-shaft and spider gears can melt and damage the entire spider gear and ring and pinion set as well as the differential case.
What is Mag Hytec?
ABOUT MAG-HYTEC
MAG-HYTEC derived their name from the signature magnet suspended in the oil within their differential covers. MAG-HYTEC heavy duty differential covers and transmission pans provide increased lubricant and cooling capacity for hard working recreation and service vehicles .
Do differential gaskets need sealant?
Replacing a Differential Gasket and How to Prevent Leaks – YouTube
Do you put gasket sealer on both sides of the gasket?
Unless a primer is required, you should apply the sealant to the prepared surface. Apply an even coat to all sides of the gasket.
What should RTV not be used on?
Due to their shape and design, some molded rubber gaskets necessitate the use of RTV as a supplemental sealer. Please note that RTV is not to be used on the entire gasket; the gasket should be installed clean and dry. RTV should only be used on the corners of the gasket and/or stepped casting areas that have a gap.
How long to let RTV cure before driving?
Typically, RTVs require a minimum of two hours to set up and 24-hours to achieve the full cure that’s needed before adding fluids or returning the vehicle to service.
How long does it take for a differential to cool?
After driving the first 15-20 miles at around 60 mph, it is best to stop and let the differential cool completely – usually about 1hr.
Is synthetic gear oil better?
A study cited in Machinery Lubrication magazine1 implied synthetic lubricants make gears more efficient than mineral oils. A polyglycol showed the highest efficiency (18 percent more than the high-performing mineral oil).
What’s another name for spider gears?
What do broken spider gears sound like?
Broken spider gears can sound similar to posi chatter, only more consistent, regardless of oil temperature. Broken spider gears will make a grinding or banging sound any time the vehicle is making a turn, and, if they are bad enough, even when going straight. Driveline vibrations can be caused by several problems.
Why do people Weld spider gears?
When you have an open carrier off-road it sends power to the tire with the least resistance, which usually means the tire with the least traction, leaving you a one-wheeled wonder. By welding your spider gears solid, you have forced the shafts to rotate at the same speed, thereby creating a locker.
Can I use gasket maker instead of a gasket?
While today’s gasket makers and flange sealants can replace most conventional, formed, or multi-material gaskets, they should never be used to replace a head gasket.
Is RTV better than a gasket?
RTV sealant is better than primitive gaskets in most applications ie. Water pumps, thermostat housings, intake manifolds, sump pans.