spmitchell86

Hey guys, first post, second JK... I just installed these diff sliders front and rear. (Dana44) The rear one contacts the fuel tank skid plate when the suspension flexes. Has anyone installed these and run into this issue? Would lifting the jeep make this worse or better? I think the trackbar would force the rear axle even more passenger? I reached out to Rancho but it's one email response daily and so far they've only asked for photos and part number... Any help or advice would be appreciated.

jadmt

I don't run the rancho diff skid but under max droop my drive shaft hits my gas tank skid. My axle is perfectly centered 2.5" rk lift

spmitchell86

Hmmm thanks for the input... Stock rear DS I assume? They are pretty wide. Any worries about friction on a container of flammable liquid? A buddy offered to grind the comer of the skid down. I'll prob do that and hope it doesn't compromise the rigidity.

Biginboca

Instead of grinding it I would pound it in with a bfh. I had to do a lot of reshaping to my fuel tank with a bfh because my driveshaft was rubbing it. The tank inside the skid is plastic and in the corners of the skid it doesn't even touch the skid some places. Reshaping is easy and safer than grinding too much heat you can melt the tank and sparks from a grinder near a tank even worse things can happen, lol

spmitchell86

Ok I hear ya... I was thinking of grinding the edge of the diff slider down, not the tank....I need to wait until the 2" AEV spacers go in so I can asses where the new impact zone will be....do you have any pics of where you dented in the skid plate?

Biginboca

It was more than a denting it was a major reshaping, lol. This pics shows most of it all along the bottom inside corner I probably lost 1/4-1/2 gallon, lol

spmitchell86

Haha I see what you did there.... I'll have to think about that I'm not so sure about taking a BFH to my gas tank... It's brand new 2015. I'm more upset at Rancho that they designed it like this and advertise as stock compatible. Maybe it's a manufacturing defect. Fingers Crossed.

jadmt

I have had no issues I have 43000 miles it only does it at max flex and when at those angles my ds is not spinning fast. I'm betting more touch than don't. Actually you are better off having the the skid to skid contact than the ds to skid contact. i noticed mine on the ramp and it's rare that in real world situations it will rub. It did not on the rubicon trail and in 4x in Moab the only time I had a witness mark was on golden spike and I've run most of the 6,7 and 8 trails. I would not fret about it.

spmitchell86

Any concern that lateral pressure would shift it and let diff oil leak out? Doesn't have much reinforcement left to right....

jadmt

Diff pumpkins are stout. I don't worry, although when I first started I would have. Know after seeing how much abuse these can take I no longer worry. I would post a photo showing my witness marks from golden spike but can not figure out how on my iPad and my pc is down for the count right now.