Lets talk diff covers.

[mooman]

So, Ive been dreaming about what i want for my wraith this summer when i can run it every day or so. And vanquish and boom racing and all of those companys offer Diff covers for the wraith.
They are pretty expensive for my blood and everything i buy i really question the absolute need of it.
Coming out of comp crawling and only ever having MOA crawlers and a buggy (indepent suspention) i natturally thought about why people need aluminum dif covers.
Is it for show? in witch case why not just paint it?
If its for extra durability witch i would assume it is, do they break? i mean i understand that they get the most abust being the first thing to hit everywhere but what breaks? i mean i guess eventully it would wear down but that would take many many years ! They cant break by bending like an axle because theyre supported in every direction. the only other reason i could see is that they fit atermarket axle houseings. BUt like what? why would companys do that? Please explain and tell me how ofter yours break. Thanks

[Bripick]

For me it was just for show. I bought two hot racing ones that are black and painted them like I wanted. They were like 20 from my lhs. I've ran them both ways and see no difference over years of abuse on my wraith and now my bomber. I use to replace them with every housing I broke

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[Polaris425]

I had the HR ones and didn't like them. They were thin and would dent really easy. I ended up painting the factory covers, and putting them back on.

[JatoTheRipper]

For me they are all show and I don't spend the money on them.

Sure, there's a possibility that you could wear through the covers and if that happened you could destroy your gears. But I've never gotten close to wearing through them.

[slowmethinks]

Originally Posted by Polaris425

I had the HR ones and didn't like them. They were thin and would dent really easy. I ended up painting the factory covers, and putting them back on.

This on the HR covers. Fully regret buying thm. I replaced mine with the SSD HD covers for the front of my Wraith and Bomber and I love them! Nice look, but also smooth bottom half and thick as hell.

[TacoCrawler]

Originally Posted by Polaris425

I had the HR ones and didn't like them. They were thin and would dent really easy. I ended up painting the factory covers, and putting them back on.

Originally Posted by slowmethinks

This on the HR covers. Fully regret buying thm. I replaced mine with the SSD HD covers for the front of my Wraith and Bomber and I love them! Nice look, but also smooth bottom half and thick as hell.

I'll agree with them being thin and not being able to take a hit...

But they hold up fine if they have protection

[mooman]

okay thats about what i figured ill just keep the stock ones. Thanks

[1st pass tommy]

For me good covers like arb are necessary as I've worn thru a few sets and housings as well, I guess it would depend on how much rock crawling you do??

[altd896]

I had the VP smooth covers, 2 reasons, I'd broken the stock plastic at the screw holes by over tightening so needed to replace with something, the VP covers were smooth.
I don't care that much about the scaleness of ribbed or "XYZ" branded covers, not catching anything extra on the front was more important to me.
Axial Wraith Differential Cover Clear Anodized - Vanquish Products
HD Diff Cover for Wraith / RR10 (Black)
RC4WD Ballistic Fabrications Diff Cover for Axial Wraith (Wraith, Ridgecrest)
RC4WD Poison Spyder Bombshell Diff Cover for Axial Wraith (Wraith, Ridgecrest)

[TacoCrawler]

^^^^ all made of aluminum tho' ...and could become friction anchors at the most inopportune moment.

I'd probably retain the stk plastic cover rather then spend coin on aluminum.
I could think of other more pertinent Hdwr. to spend one's coin on

[altd896]

Originally Posted by TacoCrawler

^^^^ all made of aluminum tho' ...and could become friction anchors at the most inopportune moment.

I'd probably retain the stk plastic cover rather then spend coin on aluminum.
I could think of other more pertinent Hdwr. to spend one's coin on

You must have some particularly aggressive rock to crawl on (as opposed to that rather smooth bit in your previous pic) if the approx 1/16" of aluminium at the bottom of the cover is going to catch by friction, cos neither the angled smooth face on mine or the lower edge ever caught on anything, inopportune or otherwise.

Personally I do feel that add some small measure of stiffness to the center of the housing also, though that is only a feeling, I can't measure or prove it.

You are correct though that if on a tight budget $20 spent on a spool or saved for a decent knuckle set or drive shaft is a better option than just splurging on bling for a diff cover

[TacoCrawler]

Originally Posted by altd896

Personally I do feel that add some small measure of stiffness to the center of the housing also, though that is only a feeling, I can't measure or prove it

I'd agree in your theory... plus the extra weight on the axle is a plus IMO.

But installing the DMG skids and adding beef tubes to the axle tubes...
does more for axle strength/weight... at least IMO.

I do crawl on the rocks more so then not.

[Natedog]

Originally Posted by slowmethinks

SSD HD covers for the front of my Wraith and Bomber and I love them! Nice look, but also smooth bottom half and thick as hell.

Originally Posted by altd896

I had the VP smooth covers, 2 reasons, I'd broken the stock plastic at the screw holes by over tightening so needed to replace with something, the VP covers were smooth.
I don't care that much about the scaleness of ribbed or "XYZ" branded covers, not catching anything extra on the front was more important to me.
Axial Wraith Differential Cover Clear Anodized - Vanquish Products
HD Diff Cover for Wraith / RR10 (Black)
RC4WD Ballistic Fabrications Diff Cover for Axial Wraith (Wraith, Ridgecrest)
RC4WD Poison Spyder Bombshell Diff Cover for Axial Wraith (Wraith, Ridgecrest)

That's what I had for same reasons, but SSD are now available and nicer and thicker.

Originally Posted by TacoCrawler

^^^^ all made of aluminum tho' ...and could become friction anchors at the most inopportune moment.

I'd probably retain the stk plastic cover rather then spend coin on aluminum.
I could think of other more pertinent Hdwr. to spend one's coin on

Not much and still better than the ground clearance reducing skidplates under your AR60 pictured.

[TacoCrawler]

Originally Posted by Natedog

Not much and still better than the ground clearance reducing skidplates under your AR60 pictured.

The kinetic friction of 6061 aluminum on rocks is more then you might believe... But it's your money.
I'll suppose they'll be durable enough for an RC toy.

How come 1:1 vehicles don't use aluminum when building their axles ?
Most big trucks could use a diet.
Suppose you could say material cost... but there's more to it then solely that.

Put a Ford aluminum bed up against a steel bed...
Which will survive more abrasion and impacts over the years ?

Do you really think the DMG skid(s) rob the differential's center chunk of it's vital ground clearance ? ( Have you ever installed or used one ? )

seriously ? ( don't compare it to all the other obtrusive skids sold in the RC market )

The thickness of the DMG's steel plate is hardly a concerning restriction to the center chunk's travels.
And the DMG skids protect the axle(s) pinion outputs as well.

I'd personally stick with using the plastic axle housing before spending my money on costly aluminum axle housings just for their cool look factor.
Unless maybe it were a shelf queen and I had money to burn.

My money would be spent on better internal components to strengthen the axle as the plastic axle housing slides in the rocks just fine.

$ 12. for a replacement plastic axle housing is dirt cheap IMO.

On 1:1 rigs the axle's center chunk is mfgr'd of cast steel...
survives a good grinding, impact on most rocks that I know of.

Yet everyone that I know whom regularly abuses their junk on the rocks...
still employees a decent quality steel skid for diff. protection.

Why is that ?

~ skid plates are probably not necessary for cast steel protection against rock abrasion or impact... but they can still rust when the painted surface becomes abraded ~

^ ( excluding the commonly thin center chunk cover that can occasionally become dented from rock impacts )


But you can believe whatever you want, it's your money.

[BigBlokBoi]

I broke the rear on my yeti and the front on my bomber. So I buy aluminum diff covers, To me it's money well spent.

[gottorque]

i crawl chunky nasty rock and have never had an issue with the "increased drag" of a metal diff cover when combined with a plastic housing. The front diff cover sees most of the abuse, but honestly I am not afraid to really scrap or drag anything on any of my rigs if its where the line is. The most ive seen happen to the plastic diff cover in the back is getting it ripped off, but thats a go fast Yeti problem mostly.

VP F9 housing in the rear is a bigger anchor than an diff cover will ever be (if you have them you know)