Superlift's eXtreme Rings...
Superlift's eXtreme Rings are constructed from laser-cut, 1/4-inch steel plate. The rings reinforce the seal area while providing valuable front and rear differential protection.
We recently installed a TeraFlex 4-inch LCG lift as well as an oversize set of Cooper Discoverer STT tires on Pro Comp Rock Crawler wheels on a '97 Jeep TJ. In doing so, this 4 Wheel Drive & Sport Utility staffer's ride transformed into a more capable trail rig. With the new lift, wheels, and tires, the rig can now attack increasingly difficult trials. During its last outing, we became convinced that the differentials were much too exposed to potential damage from rocks. The differentials on a 4x4 are the lowest-hanging components and diff covers usually made out of thin sheetmetal. They can be easily dented or deformed, resulting in leaks and even internal damage. We contacted Superlift, which sent us two eXtreme Rings for the front and rear diffs of an '01 Jeep Wrangler TJ.
The front eXtreme Ring went on with no problems. It took us about 15 minutes to remove the ten bolts holding on the front diff cover and install the new eXtreme Ring with the supplied hardware.
If left unprotected, the stock...
If left unprotected, the stock Dana 30 TJ front axle is vulnerable to damage.
During the installation of the rear eXtreme Ring is when we ran into some problems. The TeraFlex LCG kit's four-link rear suspension ties into the upper portion of the differential through the top diff bolts. Luckily for us, when TeraFlex designed the kit, it made the bolt holes slotted, allowing for some adjustment. This adjustment was just enough to allow the eXtreme Ring to be slid into place between the reinforcement tabs and the differential. First, we unbolted the upper four-link reinforcement tabs from the differential. Then, we placed the Superlift eXtreme Ring on and bolted everything back up. We used some of the new bolts that were supplied with the Superlift kit and some of the existing TeraFlex bolts. Because we now had the thickness of the eXtreme Ring and the brackets for the TeraFlex kit, it was necessary to swap some bolts.
All things considered, this was a simple installation and was completed in about an hour, even with the rear-differential problem-solving. The Superlift eXtreme Rings come in a weather-resistant, yellow/gold zinc-chromate paint and should ensure a longer life for our diff covers.
Per the directions, keep the...
Per the directions, keep the top bolt in the differential or your hand on the diff cover while you place the eXtreme Ring on. This is to prevent the unlikely event of the diff cover falling off and spilling oil.
The eXtreme front ring is...
The eXtreme front ring is on and bolted up. Now the bottom of the differential is completely protected from potential damage.
Here, you can see how TeraFlex's...
Here, you can see how TeraFlex's rear-suspension-truss mounting brackets are secured using four of the top five diff-cover bolts.
We removed all of the diff-cover...
We removed all of the diff-cover bolts.
The eXtreme Ring was bolted...
The eXtreme Ring was bolted in place using the top center and bottom five bolts. The truss brackets were then installed
Everything's all bolted up,...
Everything's all bolted up, and we're ready to hit the trail.