Diff Protection AAM 10.5/9.25

SimonandSimonBeast · Post by **SimonandSimonBeast** » Mon Jan 13, 2020 3:10 pm

Hi folks,. I suppose this could apply to ≤'13 rigs. I've read another discussion on here for ≥'14 rigs, so this is sort of a continuance of that thread but specific to trucks equipped with AAM 10.5" rear axles. I am currently driving a 2013.

I am about to pull the trigger on Purple Cranium guards front and back for my truck. I think it is pretty clear there is a consensus these are pretty robust.

1st question:. Is there are any clearance issues on the front AAM 9.25 with a Thuren track bar?

2nd question:. While the rear guard will protect a reversing strike against the diff cover and perhaps support the cover from peeling at the bottom, are there any pinion/diff style guards to protect the front of the rear diff plus the pinion and joint area like AEV makes for the Jeeps? I've seen commentary on here about that, and people discussing developing something like that, but I have come up with nothing. Maybe I'm not looking in the right place. Please advise.

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ghaugo · Post by **ghaugo** » Mon Jan 13, 2020 8:25 pm

I have a 2012 with front and rear Purple Cranium guards. I also have a Thuren track bar, and there are no issues with fit. The rear guard really does not look like it will do much for peeling the diff when it hits. It really looks to help out with collisions with rocks etc. I don't really know of any other rear diff guards that would do anything different. I haven't looked for a few years.

I have roughed them up on some rocks a few times and they have earned their keep on the truck. The only thing that was disappointing was the very soft hex-head screws that come for mounting them. They don't like to be tightened very much. I don't do the factory spec for the diffs with the guards on there, I just go as tight as I can by hand with an allen wrench. Overall, I like them a lot, especially when I ram into rocks!

RustyPW · Post by **RustyPW** » Mon Jan 13, 2020 8:43 pm

RockCrushers, call 330 397 1358. They might still be in business. Each diff cover is made out of cast steel, and weight about 20 lbs each. I've bounced mine off of some pretty big boulders. I had to do some grinding on the front cover so that the dampener bracket would clear.

Solid makes a 9.25 front cover and a 11.5 rear cover.

https://www.solidaxle.com/productcart/p ... iewAll=yes

SimonandSimonBeast · Post by **SimonandSimonBeast** » Tue Jan 14, 2020 11:47 am

ghaugo wrote:I have a 2012 with front and rear Purple Cranium guards. I also have a Thuren track bar, and there are no issues with fit. The rear guard really does not look like it will do much for peeling the diff when it hits. It really looks to help out with collisions with rocks etc. I don't really know of any other rear diff guards that would do anything different. I haven't looked for a few years.

I have roughed them up on some rocks a few times and they have earned their keep on the truck. The only thing that was disappointing was the very soft hex-head screws that come for mounting them. They don't like to be tightened very much. I don't do the factory spec for the diffs with the guards on there, I just go as tight as I can by hand with an allen wrench. Overall, I like them a lot, especially when I ram into rocks!

This brings up another question. Purple Cranium has 3 bolt options. a) stainless steel, b) G8 and c) armor coated G8. Which do you suggest, and do you recommend taking the option to buy extra bolts?

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Post by **DamageWagon** » Tue Jan 14, 2020 11:55 am

- nope no interference issues with that half-height style guard

- no pinion guards on the market now. I’ve looked into making them, and I’m slowly working on one for the ‘19 that I might backwards adapt, but otherwise they’re not around.

- I always prefer grade 8 over stainless if it’s an application where a seizes thread will make me hate life. ArmorCoat is cool, I use it on a lot of my bed rack hardware, just depends on what level of corrosion you might see. Generally a yellow zinc fastener won’t rust unless the coating is scuffed so I wouldn’t be too particular about the coating options there. ArmorCoat is a matte gray.

SimonandSimonBeast · Post by **SimonandSimonBeast** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 7:54 pm

Forgot to update. I decided on Purple Cranium Spider protection. They should be in transit starting yesterday. I appreciate all of the input from you guys. Right now I like the idea of the outer sacrificial guard with an OE diff cover beneath. We will see how this holds up to PA jagged boulders. I am tempted with the ultra thick primary diff covers (like the simplicity), but opted otherwise and will not discount that as a possibility in the future if these don't hold up. I also liked the Carli front and Maple front for stoutness. These will continue to be a consideration should the spider not hold up. Again thanks guys. Will update once installed.

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RustyPW · Post by **RustyPW** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 8:50 pm

SimonandSimonBeast wrote: ↑
Wed Jan 22, 2020 7:54 pm
Forgot to update. I decided on Purple Cranium Spider protection. They should be in transit starting yesterday. I appreciate all of the input from you guys. Right now I like the idea of the outer sacrificial guard with an OE diff cover beneath. We will see how this holds up to PA jagged boulders. I am tempted with the ultra thick primary diff covers (like the simplicity), but opted otherwise and will not discount that as a possibility in the future if these don't hold up. I also liked the Carli front and Maple front for stoutness. These will continue to be a consideration should the spider not hold up. Again thanks guys. Will update once installed.

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Some of those rock gardens at Rausch Creek are nasty. Baby heads the size of basket balls.

SimonandSimonBeast · Post by **SimonandSimonBeast** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 9:10 pm

RustyPW wrote:
SimonandSimonBeast wrote: ↑
Wed Jan 22, 2020 7:54 pm
Forgot to update. I decided on Purple Cranium Spider protection. They should be in transit starting yesterday. I appreciate all of the input from you guys. Right now I like the idea of the outer sacrificial guard with an OE diff cover beneath. We will see how this holds up to PA jagged boulders. I am tempted with the ultra thick primary diff covers (like the simplicity), but opted otherwise and will not discount that as a possibility in the future if these don't hold up. I also liked the Carli front and Maple front for stoutness. These will continue to be a consideration should the spider not hold up. Again thanks guys. Will update once installed.

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Some of those rock gardens at Rausch Creek are nasty. Baby heads the size of basket balls.

Yeah. I think some of the west coast guys think just because the mountain are bigger that somehow the immediate terrain isn't extreme. I would use the word quagmire regularly to explain our selection of trees, mud, jagged rocks and general slipperiness. Tougher in my opinion than dry rocks and open terrain.

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SimonandSimonBeast · Post by **SimonandSimonBeast** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 9:41 pm

Yeah, easy stuff

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SimonandSimonBeast · Post by **SimonandSimonBeast** » Fri Jan 24, 2020 6:26 pm

Looks, looky...these will be going on tomorrow. Went with the Hammertone red because I have some red highlights on my truck, but didn't want that in your face red under my truck. Also went with black decals for all you decal haters. I felt it was a way to have decals but subdued. This will probably be the best they will ever look and will be gouged up with labels scraped off soon enough.

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SimonandSimonBeast · Post by **SimonandSimonBeast** » Fri Jan 24, 2020 6:27 pm

And photo....

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RustyPW · Post by **RustyPW** » Fri Jan 24, 2020 8:44 pm

I went with the Rock Crushers when they first came out.

RustyPW · Post by **RustyPW** » Fri Jan 24, 2020 8:46 pm

Damn forum won't let me post 2 pic's in one post.

SimonandSimonBeast · Post by **SimonandSimonBeast** » Sat Jan 25, 2020 3:38 am

Haha. They should come up with a mud colored powder coat. The Rock Crushers look really stout.

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RustyPW · Post by **RustyPW** » Sat Jan 25, 2020 3:23 pm

SimonandSimonBeast wrote: ↑
Sat Jan 25, 2020 3:38 am
Haha. They should come up with a mud colored powder coat. The Rock Crushers look really stout.

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They are. They weight about 20 lbs each. Made out of cast steel. In the first pic. The white on the lower right corner of the cover is from hitting boulders. If you look at the boulder that I'm sitting on. You can see the scratch marks on it from where I drove over and then backed up.

SimonandSimonBeast · Post by **SimonandSimonBeast** » Sat Jan 25, 2020 4:49 pm

I put these pics on my build as well...

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