Someone pls educate me on 14+ Axles

SeahawkDriver · Post by **SeahawkDriver** » Fri Jul 07, 2017 1:16 pm

Search function was marginally helpful. So I've had a pair of AFE POWER Pro-Series diff covers sitting in my garage for like 4 years, new in box, that I've been waiting to put on my next Ram. Originally bought them for a 2010 dually tow rig but never got around to the install. Of course buying the 17 PW that comes with AAM 11.5/9.25 housings I thought I was good to go. Yeah..... not so much. Front diff cover isn't even close. I even called AFE tech support to ask WTF was going on, the dude on the phone was clueless kid who probably knew more about safe-spaces than axles. No help there. Did AAM just completely change their axle housingns for 2014? It's STILL an AAM 9.25" front, but a totally different bolt pattern apparently.

The rear 11.5 looks like it is the same bolt pattern but now in wondering if I will have clearance issues with the rear sway bar.

I'm thinking I now own a pair of $350 aluminum candy bowls for my livng room table...

Any help appreciated

Post by **DamageWagon** » Fri Jul 07, 2017 1:33 pm

The front 9.25 is the same axle basically but they did add the CAD mechanism and change the bolt pattern on the diff cover, amongst other tweaks like ball joints, steering, Trackbar. Someone might say it's completely different. I guess it's like comparing Dana 60's. So yes your front cover will not fit. I'm almost positive any 11.5 will share the same bolt pattern and you should be good on the rear.

SeahawkDriver · Post by **SeahawkDriver** » Fri Jul 07, 2017 1:53 pm

Thanks for the help, anyone in the market for a sick-ass front diff cover for '13 and older trucks?

Reloaderguy · Post by **Reloaderguy** » Fri Jul 07, 2017 1:56 pm

Different front housing and you need spacers for the rear sway bar. The front diff cover is a huge waste of money.

Bill2014 · Post by **Bill2014** » Fri Jul 07, 2017 2:35 pm

Reloaderguy wrote:... The front diff cover is a huge waste of money.

You only drive in reverse?

Post by **DamageWagon** » Fri Jul 07, 2017 2:40 pm

The previous government employees driving my truck have made some pretty good dents in the front cover, but it still hangs on to some oil and doesn't usually rub the ring gear

Reloaderguy · Post by **Reloaderguy** » Fri Jul 07, 2017 2:45 pm

Bill2014 wrote:
Reloaderguy wrote:... The front diff cover is a huge waste of money.
You only drive in reverse?

Good point, you'd need drive only in reverse and in 4 wheel drive while towing heavy (hooked to the front bumper?) at freeway speeds for the front diff cover to be of value. Otherwise, cast aluminum will be less beneficial than the stock cover. Just get a front diff guard, there is no added cooling benefit for the front diff on 2014+ trucks.

Bill2014 · Post by **Bill2014** » Fri Jul 07, 2017 3:26 pm

I understand your point - and agree.

But...
What if....
you go rock crawling way out in Moab, and F your rear drive shaft and have to remove it!

then you have to make the long trip back home in 4wd - with your truck and gear!

you would want your front diff to remain Cool - right?

YouTube · Post by **OffroadTreks** » Fri Jul 07, 2017 6:38 pm

Bill2014 wrote:I understand your point - and agree.

But...
What if....
you go rock crawling way out in Moab, and F your rear drive shaft and have to remove it!
then you have to make the long trip back home in 4wd - with your truck and gear!
you would want your front diff to remain Cool - right?

You can get that drive shaft two hours away in Grand Junction, there is a dealer. So why drive all the way home. Just get your buddy to drive you to GJ.

RustyPW · Post by **RustyPW** » Fri Jul 07, 2017 6:42 pm

You guys are so mean to 2Sticky.

SeahawkDriver · Post by **SeahawkDriver** » Sat Jul 08, 2017 3:24 pm

Where do I get these spacers for the rear sway bar? I really want to get the diff covers off at 3000mi to clean out the metal and magnets, replace fluid and hopefully extend E-locker lifespan.?

Reloaderguy · Post by **Reloaderguy** » Sat Jul 08, 2017 3:42 pm

You have to make them.

TwinStick · Post by **TwinStick** » Sat Jul 08, 2017 7:41 pm

RustyPW wrote:You guys are so mean to 2Sticky.

Just to recap Rusty, when i made the comment "now try that in reverse", I thought that it was pretty clear that it meant from Syracuse to Buffalo & into the wind---instead of Buffalo to Syracuse with the wind at your back, but apparently it was not clear to some who think they know everything. So, there was no misprint on my end, just some misinterpretation by those on the other end. Personally, I thought it was funny that someone could even possibly think that I meant that literally.

RustyPW · Post by **RustyPW** » Sat Jul 08, 2017 10:09 pm

Bill2014 wrote:I understand your point - and agree.

But...
What if....
you go rock crawling way out in Moab, and F your rear drive shaft and have to remove it!
then you have to make the long trip back home in 4wd - with your truck and gear!
you would want your front diff to remain Cool - right?

Here's the quote I was thinking about when I wrote that.

FordyceCreekTrail · Post by **FordyceCreekTrail** » Sun Jul 09, 2017 9:55 pm

[/quote]

You can get that drive shaft two hours away in Grand Junction, there is a dealer. So why drive all the way home. Just get your buddy to drive you to GJ.

[/quote]

Except this stuff always happens on a Holiday or Weekend.......

rkgzx9leftcoast · Post by **rkgzx9leftcoast** » Mon Jul 10, 2017 11:36 am

SeahawkDriver wrote:Where do I get these spacers for the rear sway bar? I really want to get the diff covers off at 3000mi to clean out the metal and magnets, replace fluid and hopefully extend E-locker lifespan.?

DOR , Dodge Off Road, just came out with some for larger rear covers... saw them on their site

SeahawkDriver · Post by **SeahawkDriver** » Tue Jul 18, 2017 3:43 am

I"m going to put my AFE Pro-Series Front Diff cover up for sale.... unless I plan on putting jelly beans in it for my coffee table, its useless to me. Will try and make the rear one fit somehow since the bolt pattern is right. Not really interested in fabricating sway-bar brackets though

completely given up on any sort of aftermarket front diff cover, the purple cranium spider lower axle cover looks like it will pretend those stupid stumps I keep hitting from ruining my day though. The vast majority of my off-roading is in North Florida and South Georgia. Very lose sandy soil and black-as-tar mud, lots of tree stumps, and lots of critters.... gators, snakes, frogs, bugs. Was out the other day running through a newly-dug fire break and sunk it up to the doors... that was fun... stock diff cover had a few marks on it from sticks and debris.

YouTube · Post by **OffroadTreks** » Tue Jul 18, 2017 9:26 am

SeahawkDriver wrote: completely given up on any sort of aftermarket front diff cover, the purple cranium spider lower axle cover looks like it will pretend those stupid stumps I keep hitting from ruining my day though. The vast majority of my off-roading is in North Florida and South Georgia. Very lose sandy soil and black-as-tar mud, lots of tree stumps, and lots of critters.... gators, snakes, frogs, bugs. Was out the other day running through a newly-dug fire break and sunk it up to the doors... that was fun... stock diff cover had a few marks on it from sticks and debris.

Hey man, I've been running the Purple Cranium cover for awhile, and smack the hell out of it. On stumps in Idaho and on lot of rocks in Idaho, Oregon and mostly Moab. It works great. I thought the gaps would be a problem, but in reality, I don't think much gets in there. No marks on my stock cover.

But you might be even more interested in the Carli Dif Cover:
http://www.carlisuspension.com/products ... -2014.html

Looks like this

Hammerballs · Post by **Hammerballs** » Tue Jul 18, 2017 10:26 am

MikeKey wrote:
SeahawkDriver wrote: completely given up on any sort of aftermarket front diff cover, the purple cranium spider lower axle cover looks like it will pretend those stupid stumps I keep hitting from ruining my day though. The vast majority of my off-roading is in North Florida and South Georgia. Very lose sandy soil and black-as-tar mud, lots of tree stumps, and lots of critters.... gators, snakes, frogs, bugs. Was out the other day running through a newly-dug fire break and sunk it up to the doors... that was fun... stock diff cover had a few marks on it from sticks and debris.
Hey man, I've been running the Purple Cranium cover for awhile, and smack the hell out of it. On stumps in Idaho and on lot of rocks in Idaho, Oregon and mostly Moab. It works great. I thought the gaps would be a problem, but in reality, I don't think much gets in there. No marks on my stock cover.

But you might be even more interested in the Carli Dif Cover:
http://www.carlisuspension.com/products ... -2014.html

Looks like this

MikeKey, given the choice between your Purple Cranium or the Carli, which would you choose if doing it again?

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

Hammerballs · Post by **Hammerballs** » Tue Jul 18, 2017 10:27 am

MikeKey, if choosing a front diff guard again would you choose your Purple Cranium or the Carli?

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

YouTube · Post by **OffroadTreks** » Tue Jul 18, 2017 10:51 am

Hmm... tough choice. I'm a bit of a weirdo in that I like things to match.

That being said, I think the Carli is a better design than all others because it wraps the bottom portion of the lip on your diff cover. Giving you an actual dif skid in a way. It's kind of a plain jane, but clearly highly functional and useful. A number of people here have them. I might buy one if I did it over again.

If I'm honest, I had purple craniums on a past rig, and I bought them for this rig because I think they look cool. Also, the price for front and back is hard to beat. You can see them when you see my truck in a parking lot. I like that. But as I said, I'm weird.

Post by **DamageWagon** » Tue Jul 18, 2017 12:01 pm

I've heard of guys taking some pretty hard hits on those Carli covers. The Purple Cranium looks strong too, don't know that there's a direct comparison from anyone's experience. That may be more of a looks thing.

Hammerballs · Post by **Hammerballs** » Tue Jul 18, 2017 12:12 pm

Is the Purple Cranium really the only/best option for the rear?

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

Post by **DamageWagon** » Tue Jul 18, 2017 12:23 pm

I believe OCF welding and DOR are making rear plate covers

YouTube · Post by **OffroadTreks** » Tue Jul 18, 2017 1:05 pm

The AEV cover also fits the rear. Aaron only had a problem with the front cover hitting. But it's SPENDY.

Power Wagon Registry