[plastiktoe]

Considering putting a PRG diff cover and breather kit on my Frontier. Worth it? Other covers better?

Seems like the stock cover leads to over heating and all sorts of doom. I'm 7000 away from the power-train warranty running out and just had a leak.

Thoughts & experience?

 

[BCBrian]

Do you go off road? The PRG cover is made of aluminum and some folks have broken fins off and worn the bottom edge down on rocks. The PRG does look very cool but for strength, the ARB nodular iron cover cannot be beat. The aluminum PRG cover will dissipate heat better so if you tow a lot, that is a consideration. I support PRG 110% but I went with the ARB (which I bought from PRG),

I get into some sketchy situations off road, sometimes very far from civilization, so I decided to go with durability over looks and cooling ability.

I recently saw a thread either here or on TheNewX that showed the PRG cover thrashed and the guy swapped it out for an ARB.

 

[whistler]

I agree,ARB. It is suppose to add strength to the whole axle. Only drawback,It weighs a ton.

 

[plastiktoe]

excellent and thank guys. i have only towed a few times, not my main thing. i do go offroad more. i guess in my head i was thinking an aluminum cover from a cooling standpoint and didn't fulling think how easy it will crack.

ARB 226 diff cover bolts right on?

 

[Nissan4Life]

Considering putting a PRG diff cover and breather kit on my Frontier. Worth it? Other covers better?

Seems like the stock cover leads to over heating and all sorts of doom. I'm 7000 away from the power-train warranty running out and just had a leak.

Thoughts & experience?

Do not think that overheating is a cause of doom with these diffs with or without the stock diff. If cooling is your primary concern the PRG or the ARB is not your best option. In fact the ARB would be less cooling (and fluid) than stock. I am sure you have read PRGs comparision of all the covers out there. It is not under the prg cover but the ARB one.
PRG Products

Here is Gregs comparison of various covers.
-weight...PRG is lightest, ARB heaviest, BTF and MHT in the middle
-Leaks proof...PRG, MHT, and ARB both have machined mating surfaces...no leaks welded cover, well..
-Capacity.....MHT is most, PRG second, BTF then ARB...this really is trivial as the extra capacity will get you and extra 30 sec before failure if there is ever an issue..but the ARB is less than stock.
-Cooling....Stock titan is best, then MHT, PRG, BTF, then ARB
-smash protection...ARB, PRG, BTF, MHT
-dragging over rocks protection....PRG and ARB tie, BTF and MHT can both bend and leak
-Price...BTF $130-ish, PRG $149, ARB $199, MHT $220-ish

Why is your diff leaking. Is it from damage from dragging over rocks? Unless you see active drips then I would not think it is leaking. Oil dribbling out the inspection hole will often make the rear diff look like it is mess.
I recently started a PRG diff cover thread. Some additional info
http://www.clubfrontier.org/forums/f62/prg-diff-cover-257978/

Finally regarding the diff breather. There is a thread discussing this. Gregs kit is nice and compelte. You can easier make your own. I popped the cover (1-way mechanism) off the stock vent and ran a hose to the tail light area with a small fuel filter. Cost about $5.

Do you go off road? The PRG cover is made of aluminum and some folks have broken fins off and worn the bottom edge down on rocks. The PRG does look very cool but for strength, the ARB nodular iron cover cannot be beat. The aluminum PRG cover will dissipate heat better so if you tow a lot, that is a consideration. I support PRG 110% but I went with the ARB (which I bought from PRG),

I get into some sketchy situations off road, sometimes very far from civilization, so I decided to go with durability over looks and cooling ability.

I recently saw a thread either here or on TheNewX that showed the PRG cover thrashed and the guy swapped it out for an ARB.

Do you have a link to the TNX thread? I would like to see that thrashed cover. The PRG cover is not made by PRG. I think Nitro makes it. I have seen several on jeeps with that cover and a different logo on it. Many have been quite abused but look like they are hold up fine.

 

[BCBrian]

Do you have a link to the TNX thread? I would like to see that thrashed cover. The PRG cover is not made by PRG. I think Nitro makes it. I have seen several on jeeps with that cover and a different logo on it. Many have been quite abused but look like they are hold up fine.

After some searching I found it - notice the crack at the mounting bolt on the right in the first picture.

jsexton's 07 - Now with HEFTYFabWorks Tube Bumper - Page 19 - Second Generation Nissan Xterra Forums (2005+)

This kind of damage would be very difficult to achieve on the ARB as nodular iron is much harder than aluminum.

 

[Nissan4Life]

After some searching I found it - notice the crack at the mounting bolt on the right in the first picture.

jsexton's 07 - Now with HEFTYFabWorks Tube Bumper - Page 19 - Second Generation Nissan Xterra Forums (2005+)

This kind of damage would be very difficult to achieve on the ARB as nodular iron is much harder than aluminum.

Thanks B.

This picture is seriously impressive. Look at the bottom of the diff. There is a drain plug somewhere in there. But still no leaks. By the time you are dragging this much you need a diff skid.

 

[BCBrian]

Thanks B.

This picture is seriously impressive. Look at the bottom of the diff. There is a drain plug somewhere in there. But still no leaks. By the time you are dragging this much you need a diff skid.

I agree totally but adding a diff skid that hangs down even lower reduces the clearance on the lowest point of these rigs. I do my best to avoid dragging the diff over rocks but in certain situations, it cannot be avoided. jsexton admits that he abuses his rig but if there is only one way to get out of a trail and it requires dragging the diff over rocks then that is what happens. I bet he had a very tough time removing those 2 lower bolts that were about half way ground off!

 

[Nissan4Life]

I agree totally but adding a diff skid that hangs down even lower reduces the clearance on the lowest point of these rigs. I do my best to avoid dragging the diff over rocks but in certain situations, it cannot be avoided. jsexton admits that he abuses his rig but if there is only one way to get out of a trail and it requires dragging the diff over rocks then that is what happens. I bet he had a very tough time removing those 2 lower bolts that were about half way ground off!

Funny, I too avoid hitting the diff. If I drive over a big rock that I decide not to put my wheels on. I will creep onto it to see if it hits my front skid right in the center. After I clear it I will shift right or left so that the rock will fit between the diff and the shock mount.

 

[Shootisttx]

Just a thought...and it may have already been covered, but wouldn't a skid plate for the diff solve this problem?

 

[plastiktoe]

Here is Gregs comparison of various covers.
-weight...PRG is lightest, ARB heaviest, BTF and MHT in the middle
-Leaks proof...PRG, MHT, and ARB both have machined mating surfaces...no leaks welded cover, well..
-Capacity.....MHT is most, PRG second, BTF then ARB...this really is trivial as the extra capacity will get you and extra 30 sec before failure if there is ever an issue..but the ARB is less than stock.
-Cooling....Stock titan is best, then MHT, PRG, BTF, then ARB
-smash protection...ARB, PRG, BTF, MHT
-dragging over rocks protection....PRG and ARB tie, BTF and MHT can both bend and leak
-Price...BTF $130-ish, PRG $149, ARB $199, MHT $220-ish

Finally regarding the diff breather. There is a thread discussing this. Gregs kit is nice and compelte. You can easier make your own. I popped the cover (1-way mechanism) off the stock vent and ran a hose to the tail light area with a small fuel filter. Cost about $5.

Funny I just finished reading the PRG info. Makes sense. I do not boulder the truck. The reason I say it is leaking because the dealer said it was. they put some die in it to find the leak. I am taking it back in 2 weeks before the warranty runs out, so if it needs a replacement its on them. I am thinking that maybe get the kit or DIY breather is maybe a better option to keep it cooler. I have read a lot of stuff talking about the stock breather getting gummed up with rust and/or dirt because of its location.

 

[Nissan4Life]

Die and rear diff leaking. Weird. Not something they would typically do. Are you sure they are taking about the rear diff. If I had a penny for every time a dealer told the customer some bullshit tale...
The cover itself really should not leak unless you drag it over something. The rear axle seals often leak in our trucks. Both of these are very evident and can be seen with the naked eye. This is were the diff breather/vent comes into play. The stock vent doesn't vent well and the axle and pressurize blowing out the seals. However the vent mod does not guarantee leak free axle seals. The vent does nothing for cooling of the diff fluid.

 

[whistler]

Dye.

 

[plastiktoe]

Dye.

haha yeah good old auto correct.

 

[PyroMedic]

Have mine and have gone to moab several times and wheel quite a bit here in Colorado, it has saved my diff several times. NO problems so far and it looks great too!