Plastic Rear Diff. cover???

[harriw]

Just popped the cover to change the rear diff. fluid. Quite surprised to find the stock cover is plastic???

How do you clean off the old fluid and gasket from the plastic cover? Is brake clean safe on it (I'm pretty sure gasket cleaner is not?) Any thoughts on scraping off the old RTV gasket without gauging the plastic?

Thanks!

-Bill

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

I always just wire wheeled mine off when I had it, then I swapped it out for a steel cover. They are a composite material.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Yep, Ford put plastic composite diff covers on a number of axles...

I always used brake clean and a rag to clean off the cover and a gasket scraper to get the gasket material off.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

If the plastic gets gouged up a bit the RTV sealant will seal it up just fine anyway.

 

[Evan]

You can use brake parts cleaner on it.

But head to the yard and pick up a steel cover off an 80s F-150 or Econovan for a few bucks.

 

[harriw]

Thanks guys,

I never would have dared try a wire-wheel on the composite, but man - a tiny wheel on a rotozip does wonders on these things! Cover's all cleaned up now - I'll put it back on tomorrow.

Thanks again!

-Bill

 

[twinky]

Diff covers in JY have holes

 

[AKBroncoII]

I am fairly certain all second gen explorers also have steel covers. Maybe even a 93 and up deal as my neighbors 93 has a steel cover but my 91 had a plastic cover.

 

[Hahnsb2]

My 94 sport parts rig's 8.8 (in my B2 now) had a steel cover. Haven't even checked my 92 sport, I know my buddies 91 ranger 8.8 has a plastic cover.

 

[Evan]

I am fairly certain all second gen explorers also have steel covers. Maybe even a 93 and up deal as my neighbors 93 has a steel cover but my 91 had a plastic cover.

I think you're right. My 1991 had a plastic cover, and the 1995 rear end I got from the yard last year had a steel cover.