TB has serious flaw when off road

[Stormin08]

since this relates more to the tin pan design hanging to low, the lower cost option would be to modify the pan. i dont see any reason one could not either trim the lip or reshape the lip. if done on the vehicle, distortion should not be much of a problem.

people grind on brake calipers daily to clear wheels....it would be much safer to trim your diff cover vs. your brake caliper and going to deep.

 

[GETGONE]

I forgot I was going to post these pictures after I installed the AFE Power rear cover on my truck about a month and a half ago. It doesn't hang down below the diff anymore. There is one edge that sticks past the diff but the cover is very thick aluminum so it would take quite a hit to make it break or crack and leak. I bought it used on ebay. It was an ugly pink color that I stripped and painted with Duplicolor red brake caliper paint because it's what I had around. I added the sight glass and extended magnetic dipstick. You can get it in raw aluminum or black with bare fins and logo from their website.

 

[Rolling_Dean]

I forgot I was going to post these pictures after I installed the AFE Power rear cover on my truck about a month and a half ago. It doesn't hang down below the diff anymore. There is one edge that sticks past the diff but the cover is very thick aluminum so it would take quite a hit to make it break or crack and leak. I bought it used on ebay. It was an ugly pink color that I stripped and painted with Duplicolor red brake caliper paint because it's what I had around. I added the sight glass and extended magnetic dipstick. You can get it in raw aluminum or black with bare fins and logo from their website.

View attachment 21630

That looks like a solid option. Thanks for the info and the pictures!!

 

[Stormin08]

i would not consider that area to hang BELOW the diff, that portion is fairly well protected by the axle tube.

 

[BigBlackie_'25TB]

I found this rear differential skid plate by AEV...

• Compatible with all 2019+ Chevy/GMC1500 trucks with the larger 9.76” ring gear (most off-road models).
• 2.5mm Hot-Stamped Boron Steel construction
• AEV Rear Differential Skid Plate protects your rear differential housing and pinion
• Please Note: The AEV rear differential skid plate is designed to work with the AAM 9.5/9.76 axles with RPO code SU7.

 

[GETGONE]

I found this rear differential skid plate by AEV...

• Compatible with all 2019+ Chevy/GMC1500 trucks with the larger 9.76” ring gear (most off-road models).
• 2.5mm Hot-Stamped Boron Steel construction
• AEV Rear Differential Skid Plate protects your rear differential housing and pinion
• Please Note: The AEV rear differential skid plate is designed to work with the AAM 9.5/9.76 axles with RPO code SU7.

I brought this up when this thread started and AEV hadn't released it as a stand alone part. It doesn't work with the non AAM rear and is detailed on the previous page by someone who bought it and it won't fit.

 

[BigBlackie_'25TB]

I brought this up when this thread started and AEV hadn't released it as a stand alone part. It doesn't work with the non AAM rear and is detailed on the previous page by someone who bought it and it won't fit.

I have the AAM (SU7) and was posting this for anyone who has this axle type.

 

[GETGONE]

That's what it was designed for by AEV since they built all the skid plates based on the standard ZR2 which when introduced only had the 6.2L and that has the AAM rear. I'm not sure what differentiates what trucks have them and what ones don't. I'm thinking probably the 4.3's and 4 banger trucks don't have them. The 5.3's might be a mixed bag. Pretty sure all the 3.0s and 6.2's will have the AAM.

 

[BigBlackie_'25TB]

Thanks for posting this!

Mine is the GMCH 9.5 SU8.

I can't get the added link to work, get OOOP's.

I spoke with and sent pics to a fellow at AEV yesterday. He was very nice in telling me I was doing something wrong.
Below is one of the pictures I sent him along with the VIN.
Adaman7 and I definitely have two completely different differentials. His fits like a glove. (Thanks Adaman7)

Just to be clear, my differential is NOT compatible with this AEV skid plate?

View attachment 19035

I have the AAM 9.5 (SU7) and I had to send the AEV skid plate back because it did not fit on my ride.

 

[BigBlackie_'25TB]

I put on a diff cover from PPE. There is no lip.

 

[Buschman]

That's interesting, I also installed the PPE diff cover and can confirm there's no lip on it. It seems like a good solution for avoiding issues with the stock cover hanging too low.

 

[NY3Wulf]

Probably has been mentioned, but couldn't that 1/8" rock-catcher lip on the diff cover be ground/filed down to be flush with the diff housing?