Product Reviews
Mag-Hytec
Differential Covers
(14-bolt 10.5)
After
swapping the 1/2 ton axles out of our test Blazer in favor of a
Corporate 14-bolt full-float and Dana 44, it was time to put the
finishing touches on the project. A considerable amount of time
and expense, including an ARB air locker up front and a rear Detroit
locker made it mandatory for some form of protection for our latest
investment. Added fluid capacity, aluminum construction for better
cooling and the ability to handle off-road abuse made the short list
of features while shopping for a differential cover. Mag-Hytec
differential covers not only accounted for the items on my short list,
they offered a drain plug to change gear oil without pulling the cover
and a dipstick for monitoring fluid levels. Because our Blazer
weighs between 5,000 and 6,000 pounds with 36" tires and sees quite
a bit of extreme trail use as well as mountain driving, Mag-Hytec
provided a logical fit. The first thing I noticed when I took the
14-bolt cover out of the box was the weight and depth of the unit, the mounting flange thickness is 1/2-inch and the cover is 1/4 to 3/8-inch thick.
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| Increased
Lubricant and Cooling Capacity |
Magnetic Dipstick
and O-ring Seal |
As
well as offering increased lubricant and cooling capacity (up to 45
degrees cooler), Mag-Hytec covers set your vehicle apart in both
aesthetics and function - cast in A356-T6 aluminum and textured
powdercoated black with machined cooling fins. Magnetic drain
plugs trap worn gear material promoting fluid integrity. Each unit
is fitted with ARP 568 O-rings for superior sealing. All hardware
is 303 stainless steel for years of trouble free operation.
Installation is a snap because the covers come with all
the hardware that you need, including the proper size allen wrenches and
very detailed instructions.
When installing the cover on a 14-bolt axle, the brake line bracket that
attaches to the cover via a cover bolt will have to be modified.
Simply remove the brake bracket and round the corners off with a grinder
until it fits into the cover bolt indentation.
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| Before Bracket
Modification |
After Bracket
Modification |
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| Easily Check
Fluid Level |
Beefy Mag-Hytec
cover |
After installing
the cover simply remove the magnetic dipstick and fill with the proper
fluid, I took Mag-Hytec's advice and went with LE (Lubrication
Engineers) 607 Almasol, SAE 90 / ISO VG 220 to protect my differential
gears and new locker. After dumping 5 quarts into the rear of the
Blazer I took it for a test drive around the block and drove it back
into the garage for a final inspection, no leaks and no problems at
all. The cover adds an aggressive look to the Blazer, makes it easy to check and
change the gear oil and offers the ability to check for excessive mechanical wear
without removing the cover.
Mag-Hytec
Differential Covers
(Dana 44)
When installing a Dana 44 cover on the front of a Blazer
or truck the tie rod will be fairly close to the cover due to its size,
but don't worry it will fit, just position the cover sideways and finagle it
in between the gears and the tie rod until it drops down into position. Under full lock (wheels
turned all the way in one direction) the tie rod is very close to the
cover but does not come in contact with it.
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| Everything You
Need |
Dana 44 / 14-Bolt |
Prepare to Drain |
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| Clean Gasket
Surface |
Stock Oil
Reference Plug |
Tie Rod Clearance |
As with the rear cover, I
was very impressed with the quality and workmanship of these Mag-Hytec
products, I needed functionality and they delivered, they also look great and should provide years of trouble
free service. -
Steve Fox CK5
| Source |
E-Mail us at: info@mag-hytec.com
Web
Site: Mag-Hytec.com
|
Mag-Hytec, Inc. Van Nuys, California
14718 Arminta St.
Van Nuys, California 91402
(818) 786-8325
(818) 786-0560 (FAX)
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