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Sun Jun 24, 2012 1:20 am

ok, as im looking up parts and getting a pricelist together, im noticing that HD side covers are sold individually. this got me thinking, if the idea of the hd sidecovers is to keep the ring gear from deflecting away from the pinion, why do i need two?

the pinion is going to want to force the ring gear (in my mid engine rail) up and to the left. thats going to put alot of axial loading on the left cover, but none on the right. the left cover will also see the highest radial loading, as the bearing is closer to the ring gear teeth (the loading point) than the right.

so, therefore shouldnt i only need one hd cover or is there a good reason to run two? im not against running two, but if not needed, then why spend extra cash?

Edit: this is one of the pictures the prev. owner set me before i had it. stock transaxle is split in half and notice the lug nuts on the rear wheel? yeah... one of those guys.

Sun Jun 24, 2012 1:37 am

I see you are turboed and running heavy rear wheels to plant the rear. For the extra couple of dollars, it's cheap insurance. Run two.

Sun Jun 24, 2012 6:02 am

On an off road or sand car where your jumping and using full suspension travel I would use two HD side covers. On a street car one on the thrust side is plenty.

Sun Jun 24, 2012 9:59 am

vwracerdave wrote: On an off road or sand car where your jumping and using full suspension travel I would use two HD side covers. On a street car one on the thrust side is plenty.

i was kinda thinking that, but wanted to make sure. so, my next order will be two hd side plates, and hardened keys. then i can get a trans built for this beast and drive it for the first time. :D

Sun Jun 24, 2012 10:13 am

I use 2 side covers on my single sided case, just to be sure the little china kids have good shoes on thier feet. :roll:
my new rancho rino superstreet pluss has hd covers on both sides of it. I did just get another new side cover and it is solid in the back side where the others that look the same as it were not solid, but scaloped out.I dont remember if they were machined that way or if that was the casting.the outer side is identicle.maybe I should fin it more to keep the trans cooler,since it is so thick. :roll:

Sun Jun 24, 2012 3:46 pm

vwracerdave wrote: On an off road or sand car where your jumping and using full suspension travel I would use two HD side covers. On a street car one on the thrust side is plenty.

+1

The original HD side covers were made not because of ring gear deflection, but rather because swingaxle buggies axletubes were leveraging against (and breaking) stock side covers.

They're still useful in dragrace cars for ring gear deflection, but really only when tied to a cover on the other side.

(This photo illustrates the superiority of full-circle side covers. The through bolt would do little good for a mid engine set-up.)

Sun Jun 24, 2012 6:28 pm

gears wrote:
The original HD side covers were made not because of ring gear deflection, but rather because swingaxle buggies axletubes were leveraging against (and breaking) stock side covers.

leveraging, as in too much droop or compression causing binding between the axletube and side cover? ive heard (and may be wrong) that you end up binding the end of the axle shaft in the fulcrum plates/sidegears with too much travel. so what binds first, the axle or the housing? this buggy is limited to 6in. of travel. lets say if im not really going to exceed the stock travel, will i really need the hd diff covers at all?

now, please note i will be ordering two hd covers, i just want to know the porpous behind the parts. its like the boost bottle that so many swear by on the banshee... most everyone that bought one has no idea what it does. those who know what it does never buy them and stick with a stock balance tube. knowledge is power! (literally in engine building)

Sun Jun 24, 2012 7:45 pm

So I gather this is a swingaxle buggy .. I couldn't tell from your photo.

If your buggy is limited to 6" travel, I can't imagine you having any binding or leveraging issues.

With your trans, a couple 8mm through-bolts in the right location (replacing the studs) and a single HD side cover would suffice .. or just use the stock covers, if they're still holding the side bearings snug.

If you have another swingaxle trans built in the future, use a Rhino case. The early case doesn't have enough webbing for upward/outward thrust of mid engine.

Mon Jun 25, 2012 3:56 pm

gears wrote: So I gather this is a swingaxle buggy .. I couldn't tell from your photo.

If your buggy is limited to 6" travel, I can't imagine you having any binding or leveraging issues.

With your trans, a couple 8mm through-bolts in the right location (replacing the studs) and a single HD side cover would suffice .. or just use the stock covers, if they're still holding the side bearings snug.

If you have another swingaxle trans built in the future, use a Rhino case. The early case doesn't have enough webbing for upward/outward thrust of mid engine.

the next build will be a rhino case, i currently have one. this is just a temporary trans that im expecting to break at some point, but dont want to break first ride. so, im going to tear it apart and do some standard beef up mods to it to address the weak spots, then drive it while i build the other.

now, as for the lack of ribbing, can i gusset the case in any way? we have a bunch of 1/4 inch aluminum kicking around. can i just cut out some ribs and weld'em on without distorting the case too bad?

Mon Jun 25, 2012 4:03 pm

I wouldn't bother trying to weld gussets on the top of what is likely an old, worn out case. Don't think it's worn out? Measure the pinion bearing bore.