The JL/JT Rear Diff Skid (RDS) is designed to provide protection for the vulnerable ribs on JL and JT Rear Differentials, and provides a smooth surface to slide over obstacles.

Looking for a matching Front Differential Skid? Check out our JL/JT M210 Front Diff Skid here.

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JL JT Rear Diff Skid (RDS) for M220

The JL Rear Diff Skid (RDS) is a heavy duty skid designed to protect the vulnerable ribs on the JL rear differential and provides a smooth surface for you to slide over obstacles. All components are CNC laser cut and formed by a CNC press brake for a precise fit. We proudly fabricate and hand-weld this product in the USA.

The new JL Wrangler axles are a fantastic upgrade over the previous models. However, their shape is not ideal for rock crawling. The thin, exposed lip on the back of the housing is a rock grabber. It also creates a potential risk of cracking a housing or fluid loss if hit hard enough or worn through over time.

As any rock crawling enthusiast will tell you, every inch of ground clearance matters. Anything on your Jeep's underside that can be smooth should be, or it's likely to catch on an obstacle. Our JL Rear Diff Skid (RDS) is CAD designed with 3D modeling to retain every bit of possible ground clearance for critical protection you need on the trail. Additionally, you gain clearance to any adjacent skid plates.

If you find yourself watching the Lite Brite YouTube channel, and come across their 2019 King of the Hammer’s videos… this is one of the many pieces of metal you will hear banging against — scratch that, breaking — some of the rocks in Johnson Valley underneath their JL.

You can also check out this install video of the RDS by JL Life Offroad!

Product Details

We build the JL Rear Diff Skid (RDS) from a combination of 1/4" and 3/8" thick steel. This diff skid ties into multiple locations on the differential flange, as well as clamping tight to the snout of the differential. As a result, you will distribute any force -- such as the weight of the vehicle on a rock -- over a much larger area. This skid also extends your coverage to the pinion seal and yoke/flange where the rear driveshaft attaches.

This skid fits both the JL and JT rear M220 Differentials.

*This skid is designed and recommended for use with our HD JL Rear Diff Cover * It has been successfully test fit with TMR, CavFab, Ballistic, Under Cover Fab, and Motobilt Diff Covers by customers. It will *not* work with the Spicer aftermarket covers due to the shape/fin features. Incompatibility has also been found with G2, MetalCloak and Artec/Yukon covers.

Installation with a factory cover is possible but requires a shim/spacer to account for the factory cover's thinner material. While a stack of washers may do the job, we also offer this laser cut spacer for a clean, 1 piece solution. For ultimate strength, protection, and rigidly tying into all 12 mounting points that the axle offers, we recommend using this product in conjunction with our HD JL Rear Differential Cover. 

 

Included with purchase:

(1) Rear Differential Skid Plate with Top Clamp
(2) Hardware Sticks with hardware/bolts
(12) 12 Point Flange Bolts Class 10.9 Chromed (enough for matching hardware all the way around the rear diff cover)

FAQs

• Do I need to empty my differential fluid before installation?
  In our experience, no. The factory gasket in addition to the very thick/ rigid flange on our HD Diff Covers has not leaked any fluid when removing the lower 6 bolts on the cover, as long as the upper 6 bolts are left in place during installation.

 

• This ties into the diff cover; will it cause the gasket to begin leaking fluid if hit hard enough?
  In our experience, that would be unusual. When properly torqued with a good gasket, the clamping force of the differential cover bolts along with a very thick/ rigid flange. This prevents most impacts from compromising the integrity of a good gasket/ seal between the cover and differential. Our diff skid extends so far forward, it arguably offers more leverage than the diff cover itself. This is why the pinion/ snout clamp components and hardware are so substantial.

Our Standard Semi-Gloss Black Wrinkle Powder coat option may add 10 days to lead time prior to shipping. Other colors may add a lead time of 14+ days. Please call for a more accurate lead time.

The JL Front Diff Skid (FDS) is designed to provide protection for the bottom of the JL Front Diff, and provides the differential and pinion a smooth surface to slide over obstacles.

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JL Front Diff Skid (FDS) for M210

The JL Front Diff Skid (FDS) is a heavy duty skid designed to protect the JL front differential's drain plug and provides a smooth surface for you to slide over obstacles. All components are CNC laser cut and formed by a CNC press brake for a precise fit. We proudly fabricate and hand-weld this product in the USA.

The new JL Wrangler axles are a fantastic upgrade over the previous models. However, their shape, and bottom mounted drain plug is not ideal for rock crawling.

As any rock crawling enthusiast will tell you, every inch of ground clearance matters. Anything on your Jeep's underside that can be smooth should be, or it's likely to catch on an obstacle. Our JL Front Diff Skid (FDS) is CAD designed with 3D modeling to retain every bit of possible ground clearance for critical protection you need on the trail.

Product Details

We build the JL Front Diff Skid (FDS) from a combination of 1/4" and 3/8" thick steel. This diff skid ties into multiple locations on the differential flange, as well as clamping tight to the snout of the differential. As a result, you will distribute any force -- such as the weight of the vehicle on a rock -- over a much larger area. This skid also extends your coverage to the pinion and yoke/flange where the front driveshaft attaches.

*This skid is designed and recommended for use with our HD JL Front Diff Cover * It should fit with TMR and Motobilt Diff Covers. It will *not* work with the Spicer aftermarket covers due to the shape/fin features.

Installation with a factory cover is possible but requires a shim/spacer to account for the factory cover's thinner material. For ultimate strength and protection, we recommend using this product in conjunction with our HD JL Front Diff Cover. *Front Diff Cover Not Included*

Included with purchase:

(1) Front Differential Skid Plate with Top Clamp
(2) Hardware Sticks with hardware/bolts
(6) Class 10.9 12 Point Flange Bolts

FAQs

• Do I need to empty my differential fluid before installation?
  In our experience, no. The factory gasket in addition to the very thick/ rigid flange on our HD Diff Covers has not leaked any fluid when removing the lower 6 bolts on the cover, as long as the upper 6 bolts are left in place during installation.

 

• This ties into the diff cover; will it cause the gasket to begin leaking fluid if hit hard enough?
  In our experience, that would be unusual. When properly torqued with a good gasket, the clamping force of the differential cover bolts along with a very thick/ rigid flange. This prevents most impacts from compromising the integrity of a good gasket/ seal between the cover and differential. Our diff skid extends so far forward, it arguably offers more leverage than the diff cover itself. This is why the pinion/ snout clamp components and hardware are so substantial.

Our Standard Semi-Gloss Black Wrinkle Powder coat option typically adds 7 days to lead time prior to shipping if a pre-powder coated unit is not available. Please call for a more accurate lead time.

Hydro Assist Axle Mount for Jeep Wrangler JL & Jeep Gladiator JT
Updated Design As of 1/25/2021 for additional clearance and compatibility with recently introduced steering systems.

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Hydro Assist Steering - Axle Mount for JL Wrangler & JT Gladiator

These are laser cut, cnc formed, and hand welded with pride right here in the USA from 1/4" A36 Pickled and Oiled Steel.

This bracket ties into 2 factory mounting points: the sway bar and the lower trackbar mounting position. This requires no drilling or welding, and includes the longer bolt required for proper thread engagement of your lower trackbar bolt. This bracket uses a 1" mounting width and 5/8" bolt hole for ram mounting.

Shipped bare metal unless ordered with powder coat. Bare metal products may have scratches/surface imperfections from raw material handling/manufacturing/fabrication that are easily covered up with a textured powder coat. Additional finishing/sanding/prep work will likely be required if you wish to have them finished in a smooth coat or paint.

Lead time on these right now is 2-3 days typically but you can call or e-mail us for more up to date lead times if you would like!

Jeep TJ/XJ Full Width Front 44 Swap Kit/Truss

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Full Width Dana 44 Swap Kit (For TJ/LJ/XJ/MJ)

The early Ford Dana 44 is a popular option due to it's wider width, availability with a matching 9" rear, driverside drop, factory disc brakes (76+), many steering options, available locking hub options, and increased strength over the Dana 30 found in most TJs/XJs. Factory style adjustable front suspension, 4 links, 3 links, or radius arm ("Y-links") can be used along with this truss for a great front axle swap. This truss is laser cut from a combination of 1/4" and 3/16" steel. This kit includes: lower control arm mounts, upper control arm mounts, and left/right spring/shock combo mounts (passenger side/right mount has built in panhard/trackbar mount for use with factory style/aftermarket TJ/XJ panhard bar.

Truss, upper control arm brackets, panhard and coil/shock combo brackets all feature locating tabs that interlock for easy self-jigging/assembly. No measuring required to set the upper control arm mounts properly in relation to each other!

Our machined coil correction plates and coil retainer's are included! These prevent spring bowing (usually associated with the coil sitting on a flat surface) and retain the coil even under full extension of your suspension travel. These are weld on so you're free to position them front to back as you please to best suite your configuration. The retainer plate is fastened through the coil correction plate - which comes pre tapped to 1/2"-13 - hardware included!

Wheel spacers or different wheels may be required to maintain turning radius without having tires rub on the lower control arms depending on your tire size/configuration.

Upper control arm mounts are placed a bit higher (due to the geometry of the larger Dana 44 center section vs the Dana 30 center section) in relationship to the axle tube. Adjustable upper control arms are highly recommended. This truss will work with most front "Y-link"/radius arms that have the upper control arm affixed to the lower control arm.

Welding should be done by a competent welder/shop. Some grinding may be required for best fit. Instructions for setting caster properly etc is e-mailed at the time of your order.

Not sure how to choose a front housing or need help identifying one? Check out The Ranger Station!

Re-tubing of axle housing will likely be required for 1978-1979 Ford housings that have "cast wedges"; we highly recommend finding another axle housing if you already have a 78-79 housing (does *not* apply to housings from leaf-sprung trucks)

*Axle swaps may require use of wheel adapters or new wheels depending on the desired lug pattern for your vehicle*

*Front Truss+Accessories only; you will need to source an axle housing of your own* Upper control arm bushings will be required as well and we carry them here.

*PRODUCT SHIPS BARE METAL & UNWELDED*

A installation summary can be found by clicking here.