Aftermarket diff cover options for stock height Dana 30

Hello all. Spring is here, and one thing I've yet to service on my awesome YJ is the axle fluids. I'm doing that now on my Wagoneer, and since it gets wheeled, I'm beefing the diff covers.

One thing I noticed about aftermarket options are the drain plug options.
I opted for the nodular iron OX cover for the AMC20 in the Wag due to this. That and the potential for a bash on a boulder if I'm trying to reposition for a better line.
I'm aware of the potential issues when wheeling, but the YJ will most likely see none of that as it is my coffee shop crawler/daily.
Most who have the drain plug and actually seen scrapes have reported no ill effects like many claim will happen as far as damaged threads.
What I'm mostly after is ease of serviceability.
The worst scenario I'd most likely see in the YJ is running over a sign post while dodging a deer on the way home from work. I do have retrobright headlights for a reason...

So, I know that the front diff is high pinion and needs a higher fill plug.
I'm also aware there can be clearance issues with the covers.
The track bars are long gone.

Of course, there's the lube locker gaskets for the 'keep it simple' crowd.

I'm most interested in this cover:

Now, here's my beef.
We all know how advertising and descriptions have went down the $#!++er as far as accuracy goes.
It's listed as TJ and later. But also showsAMC Eagle applications.

I mean, the morons at quadratic have this as the correct factory style cover:

C'mon! Really? That's a low pinion version for sure....

So, what I'm asking is, does anyone have any experience with an aftermarket unit with drain?
Or just a beefier cover in general?
Does the tie rod tend to interfere?
Keep in mind, mine is RHD and the drag link and box are all on that side and does not cross to the other side unlike factory LHD applications.
The ONLY interference can be the tie rod.

Yeah, I can just lube locker the stock one and be done. I know, I know...

machoheadgames said:

I’ve been down this road and I eventually settled on the stock cover. The one cover that has got my interest before is the same one you linked…I just didn’t really like the price and I didn’t like how the drain hangs down. People also said the included bolts are junk and I wasn’t sure if the stockers would be long enough, and I didn’t want bling grade 5 or 8. All the other covers seem to be at risk of hitting the tie rod (that seems to be the only risk on any of them, LHD or RHD…

The high pinion and low pinion cover thing is a big cluster. I have ordered numerous covers under the factory high pinion cover part number direct from spicer and received the low pinion cover. Very annoying. Not sure what I would get if I ordered the low pinion.

Overall it came down to price, the need (or lack thereof) for more strength, the clearance with tie rod, and eventually I settled on finding myself a stock cover from eBay (my original was gone for a few various reasons and I ended up with a new low pinion cover which I didn’t immediately realize was incorrect).

If it’s me, I’m sticking to stock and using the LL gasket and calling it good. I don’t think having a drain plug is that valuable. With the reusable gasket it basically becomes painless to drain the fluid aside from needing some paper towels to wipe up the oil and gasket before reinstall.

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That's similar to the dilemma I'm in. Do I really want the 'bling' factor. I think it is a very nice cover without the colorful 'bling' aspect. The $123 is a good deal compared to other nodular iron covers. The OX unit for the 20 was $180. But, I actually do off road the Wag and the factory cover is definitely at risk. Add to that, a LL gasket is no bueno on a 20 with the way the center section is specifically machined for a no thru hole style gasket, so I absolutely wanted the drain hole. It is nicely recessed, so the chance of mangling the threads are almost zero.

The drain hanging down, IMO is of no issue for my YJ.

But,the LL would do the job, and in reality, you don't even see the cover on the YJ, so the 'cool' factor (just for me) would be missed regardless.

Budget me says Lube Locker gaskets for both ends and say "screw it". Maybe do some stainless Allen head bolts for 'bling'.

Meh, looks like it'll be keep it simple with Lube lockers.
In reality, oil changes in the axles would be every 3-4 years with the YJ.

Have you had good luck with those gaskets?

machoheadgames said:

I have heard that the rock crawlers don’t like them because if they smack the diff cover on a rock, it flattens the gasket down and then leaks.

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Ooo! That makes a good point. I seem to notice people who do actually trail use their rides are pretty hard core about good covers and RTV alone. Didn't think about the correlation.

Yeah, technically, in general, both of my rigs are primarily pavement princesses, but the YJ is dedicated to that life. The Wag at a minimum is a dedicated weekend adventure rig that could inadvertantly smack a rock with a diff.