Ford Performance vs. ARB vs. Other Rear Differential Cover

[Hockey13]

About to change my rear differential fluid and would like to replace the cover with one that I can drain and fill via plugs.

Ford Performance: ~$187 and has drain out the bottom plug and fill plugs. Also, allows the brake line bracket without modification/etc.

ARB: ~$187 and has drain out the back plug and fill plug. Also has a dip stick. Have to find a way to affix brake line bracket.

Doesn't see much use of the dip stick unless there was a leak and needed to check until the lease was fixed.


AFE: ~$375 and has bottom drain plug, top fill plug, and side accessory plug such as a window. Have to find a way to affix the brake line bracket.

Window would be neat simply to see the color of the fluid but changes would be determined by milage and use not color of fluid.

Other notable coveres?

I'm leaning towards Ford Performance and ARB but Ford Performance due to the easy of brake line bracket and bottom drain.

I don't see the use/need for the dip stick on ARB unless there was a leak and needed to check until the lease was fixed.

Again, the AFE window would be neat simply to see the color of the fluid but changes would be determined by milage and use not color of fluid. Also, the cost is quite high.

With that said, comments? Suggestions?

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[Smocaine]

The Ford Performance one says Ford Performance on it, which is big ups in my book.
One forum user (don't recall who) had an issue with the FP cover leaking through the casting of the housing around the logo.

 

[Ninjak]

I have the Ford cover and love it. I did notice though while I was up on the lift, around the Ford logo I had the silver paint chip a bit. Not a big issue, but I was a little surprised.

 

[adam1991]

The Ford Performance one one says Ford Performance on it

+10hp right there.

 

[Deano Bronc]

About to change my rear differential fluid and would like to replace the cover with one that I can drain and fill via plugs.

Ford Performance: ~$187 and has drain out the bottom plug and fill plugs. Also, allows the brake line bracket without modification/etc.

ARB: ~$187 and has drain out the back plug and fill plug. Also has a dip stick. Have to find a way to affix brake line bracket.

Doesn't see much use of the dip stick unless there was a leak and needed to check until the lease was fixed.


AFE: ~$375 and has bottom drain plug, top fill plug, and side accessory plug such as a window. Have to find a way to affix the brake line bracket.

Window would be neat simply to see the color of the fluid but changes would be determined by milage and use not color of fluid.

Other notable coveres?

I'm leaning towards Ford Performance and ARB but Ford Performance due to the easy of brake line bracket and bottom drain.

I don't see the use/need for the dip stick on ARB unless there was a leak and needed to check until the lease was fixed.

Again, the AFE window would be neat simply to see the color of the fluid but changes would be determined by milage and use not color of fluid. Also, the cost is quite high.

With that said, comments? Suggestions?

If you ever think you might get a diff skid, it might make a difference which one get. I got the Ford Performance cover but I had to modify my DV8 cover to work with it.

 

[JT58Bronc]

I have the Ford performance cover. I have not yet installed it- bought it with points I had accrued and had to be used. It's heavy though as it's cast iron. Not sure how much weight it adds over the stock one.

 

[SierraBronco]

The Ford Performance one says Ford Performance on it, which is big ups in my book.
One forum user (don't recall who) had an issue with the FP cover leaking through the casting of the housing around the logo.

On the other hand, the Ford Performance cover says “FORD PERFORMANCE” on it, which is big ghey.

The drain is nice but with the beefy skid we have it won’t be of much use. So we went with Next Venture. (Cut the logo off and carved in our own out of principle)

 

[Bikeric]

I went with the Dana 44 AdvanTek rear cover and was disappointed to find it didn't have a true drain plug, so I made my own (SAE-4 ORB). Body color matched it to Velocity Blue and refilled diff with Synthetic 75W/140 gear oil.

 

[B22-2023]

I went with the Dana 44 AdvanTek rear cover and was disappointed to find it didn't have a true drain plug, so I made my own (SAE-4 ORB). Body color matched it to Velocity Blue and refilled diff with Synthetic 75W/140 gear oil.

About to change my rear differential fluid and would like to replace the cover with one that I can drain and fill via plugs.

Ford Performance: ~$187 and has drain out the bottom plug and fill plugs. Also, allows the brake line bracket without modification/etc.

ARB: ~$187 and has drain out the back plug and fill plug. Also has a dip stick. Have to find a way to affix brake line bracket.

Doesn't see much use of the dip stick unless there was a leak and needed to check until the lease was fixed.


AFE: ~$375 and has bottom drain plug, top fill plug, and side accessory plug such as a window. Have to find a way to affix the brake line bracket.

Window would be neat simply to see the color of the fluid but changes would be determined by milage and use not color of fluid.

Other notable coveres?

I'm leaning towards Ford Performance and ARB but Ford Performance due to the easy of brake line bracket and bottom drain.

I don't see the use/need for the dip stick on ARB unless there was a leak and needed to check until the lease was fixed.

Again, the AFE window would be neat simply to see the color of the fluid but changes would be determined by milage and use not color of fluid. Also, the cost is quite high.

With that said, comments? Suggestions?

I went ARB for it’s feature of added cross-strength, and the usual drain and capacity gain. The drawback is it’s harder finding a diff skid to fit.

 

[Glenjafett]

I for one, am not a fan of the FP or ARB cover for the Dana 44 AdvedTek. Once you take the cover off to drain you'll see about 10+% of the fluid is still under the diff in the recessed cavity that would not drain with any of the drain plugs. Taking the cover off is the right move here.

If you're worried about damage/rolling the lip, the Spicer cover is half the price, and is occasionally even cheaper on Amazon.

I'd bet the FP is made by Dana/Spicer.

 

[Hockey13]

I for one, am not a fan of the FP or ARB cover for the Dana 44 AdvedTek. Once you take the cover off to drain you'll see about 10+% of the fluid is still under the diff in the recessed cavity that would not drain with any of the drain plugs. Taking the cover off is the right move here.

If you're worried about damage/rolling the lip, the Spicer cover is half the price, and is occasionally even cheaper on Amazon.

I'd bet the FP is made by Dana/Spicer.

Is it possible that this is a designed so if something happens it doesn't fully drain. Ie of there's a leak (obviously depending on the location of lead) it won't run completely dry?

 

[Cobrafang]

I went with FRP because I am lazy and I have a good rep at local ford dealer and they did the install.

 

[5GENIDN]

 

[Beach_Bum]

I have the same shop rug - though mine is cleaner.

 

[HP11]

I went with ARB for price, strength, ease of install and follow-on drain and refill maintenance.

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