Next Venture Motorsports Rear Diff Cover Advantek Dana 44/M220 - Bare

These are heavy duty differential covers ready for the next generation of Jeep, and whatever the trail can throw at it! Upgrading to heavy duty covers is a must for "heavy users" or anyone looking to protect their axles while playing near rocks. Next Venture Motorsports focus on having the best product to market rather than the first to the market, but this product happened to be both! They pride themselves on these because of the (not so) minor detail of machining the mating surface flat unlike many of the other fabricated covers we've seen out there. Good hot welds will leave covers like these warped unless machined post-welding.

CAD designed using 3D models for a precise fit, and to maximize clearance to the trackbar/suspension. These are constructed from a 3/8" steel laser cut flange, and 1/4" steel laser cut and CNC formed body. These are beautifully hand welded inside and outside for the utmost strength.

These are decked flat/drilled in one of the in-house CNC mills *after welding*. This ensures that the mating surface is flat, and the bolt pattern is a precise match, regardless of any heating/cooling/warping that would be the result of the welding process. Because of this, RTV sealant is optional, and a factory style re-usable gasket can still be used.

Hardware kit and fill plug are included. Made with pride in the USA.

This differential cover can be used standalone but is also designed to work with the NV JL/ JT Rear Diff Skid for even more coverage and to provide your axle with a smooth surface to slide over rocks/obstacles.

We now stock these in zinc plating silver, textured black powder coat, and a smooth red powder coat. If you want a different color, please call us for a quote and lead time.

Note: *Some photos may be of early prototypes; actual product may differ slightly visually - but are functionally the same* Current units ship with the stainless steel NV Trail Eagle badge.

We have all heard this conversation on the trail:

Driver:"What am I stuck on?"

Spotter: "A rock!"

Driver: "No, what part of the Jeep?!"

Oftentimes, the answer to that question is the lowest hanging part of your Jeep - your differential. The factory covers do a great job of keeping fluid inside where it belongs, and dirt/debris outside. Where they don't always excel is rock crawling... where a factory cover flange can be peeled away from the cover and break the seal. Not only is cleaning that gear oil up off the trail time-consuming, the damage done to your ring and pinion or bearings due to lack of lubrication can ruin your day too!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the torque spec for the included M8 class 8.8 bolts? It is 18 ft lbs as measured on a torque wrench.

Where is the drain plug on this thing? Do you have to remove the diff cover to drain it?

Removing the cover/pumping is unnecessary. Unlike the old Dana 44, these new axles already have a drain plug/boss cast into the pumpkin. Removing the cover for a thorough inspection and wiping down any residual used oil may be beneficial though.

Do I need to use the factory gasket?

Yes. The reusable factory gasket is quite thick and this cover is designed for use *with* it. Clearance to internal components may be decreased without it.

Is this available with a raised fill hole?

Yes, please just give us a call! A raised fill plug is not necessarily recommended for most configurations. There is some simplicity to using the bottom of the fill plug as the "full level" like the factory covers; but we can certainly build them with a raised fill plug for those of us with pinion angles that have been rotated significantly. Most JL's running 0 to 3" of lift will not have a significant rotation of the rear pinion angle and therefore will have a "fill level" that is very close to factory.

Additional Details

Products are designed and fabricated to fit vehicles that have varying tolerances from the factory, minor hand fitting may be required.

Products are shipped bare metal unless otherwise specified by the customer. Bare metal products may have scratches or surface imperfections as a result of raw material handling, manufacturing, and fabrication. However, these imperfections are easily covered up with a textured powder coat finish. Additional finishing, sanding, and prep work may be required if you wish to also have them finished with a smooth powder coat or paint.

Projected lead times are estimates only, and are subject to changes due to production realities, including material and labor availability and sudden variability in order volume. Lead times are not guaranteed, but we do guarantee that we are hard at work trying to get the best product we can produce and into our customers’ hands as quickly as possible.