Diff Cover Brace

[tortuga]

Surfing around I've come across various folks recommending the install of a diff cover brace? Apparently the cover is stressed and is prone to failure? I'm making about 460 Rwhp (dyno), is this enough to worry about? No drag radials, sidestepping off the clutch etc...

Thanks
Steve H
1764

[eschaider]

Steve,

Diff cover braces are one way of protecting diff covers. Replacing the cover with one more suited to a high performance environment is the other.

This is a pic of the damage you can sustain with a stock 8.8 OEM Ford cover and also a Steeda brace for the cover to prevent the damage;



The Steeda brace attempts to take the force that destroys the cover, route it through their brace and deliver it to the main differential housing through the periphery of the cover and the cover bolts.

This is a pic of a billet cover built before Ford offered their upgraded rear cover. These are pricey, difficult to find and essentially indestructible.




This is a pic of Ford's current performance rear cover for the 8.8 IRS, M-4033-G3. It is well thought out, designed and available through Ford Racing Performance Parts (FRPP) as a stocking part.



While lacking some of the bling and brute strength of the billet cover it is none-the-less a very good solution to the tender OEM rear cover design. Not that it can not be broken but I have yet to hear of one breaking.


Ed

p.s. it is not HP that breaks diff covers it is torque, hooked up and accelerating the car combined with a poorly hung IRS center section that allows center section movement under acceleration.

[Jim Vander Wal]

In my years of owning a Superformance (04-17) and time on SCOF (05-10) I may have heard about 1 breaking. Also think that was more or less other than normal circumstances.

If not drag racing with high HP/TQE engines and slicks why worry. The new Ford part does look good though and IF I was taking the center section out I might consider that swap.

You're more likely to twist the 28 spline stub axle than break the diff case. Again if not running slicks the chances are low of breaking things.

BTW, I had about 425TQE at the wheels and wasn't shy about trying to break things.

Jim

[tortuga]

Wow, Thanks Ed for the detailed and informative response! And Jim, kind of what I was thinking, I know RT doesn't cry anything like it at Perf Unlimitted...just looking fro more stuff to mess around with I guess...

Cheers and Thanks again
Steve H
1764

[ACademic]

The Steeda brace is cheap insurance and easy to install. A one beer project.