Mag Hytec Observations.

[Rosco]

I installed my Mag Hytec Rear diff cover today and I have a few observations I would like to share.



1. This product is of the highest quality but I don't know if it justifies the high price they seem to get for them.



2. It comes with very detailed directions.



3. However, there is one area of concern. My truck is a 2500 4X4 with the optional BFG tires and it appears that the cover may contact the spare tire while the suspension articulates. Using a straight edge, the cover seems to stick out about 1/4'' under the spare tire. Also, there is roughly 2 1/2'' inches between the top of the cover and the bottom of the tire.



I am not an expert on suspension travel, but if their is some kind of forward "arc" the axle follows as the spring's gets compressed this concern may be Moot. However, if the axle moves straight up and down I can see a potential interference issue.



Tomorrow, I will see if I can reposition the spare tire to cure this issue, but for now it is discouraging.



Finally, I don't think this issue will affect DRW trucks since there tire circumference is not as great.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I made a plate with two studs to go into two holes in the wheel and move the factory winch plate to one side of the center hole. This off-blances the wheel a bit while winching it up, but also swings it to the rear a couple inches.

 

[Sled Puller]

Originally posted by Rosco

I



I am not an expert on suspension travel, but if their is some kind of forward "arc" the axle follows as the spring's gets compressed this concern may be Moot. However, if the axle moves straight up and down I can see a potential interference issue.

.

Me neither, but I believe the axle moves in a backward arc.

So it would make it worse.

 

[Bill Stockard]

Originally posted by Rosco

... I will see if I can reposition the spare tire to cure this issue, but for now it is discouraging.



Finally, I don't think this issue will affect DRW trucks since there tire circumference is not as great.

Yes, it will interfere with the spare tire on heavily loaded 4x2 DRW trucks too. I hauled a heavy Lance slide in camper on my previous '00 3500 DRW. I made a plate to offset the spare tire similar to Joe Donnelly's after seeing a photo of his in the TDR, Issue 34, page 14. I used a short piece of 2" angle iron, 2 hex bolts, and 4 hex nuts.



When I sold my Mag-Hytec off that truck to another TDR member, I gave him the offset plate to use. I have checked at my '03 axle/spare tire clearance and it will need the offset plate too, so I'll have to make another one before I install the Mag-Hytec cover!



Bill

 

[Rosco]

Well men, old Rosco is not a happy camper . This morning I went under the truck to see if I could move the spare tire a bit to make some clearance and while under the truck I noticed the cover is leaking oil. This is after I followed the directions and filled the unused bottom bolt hole with with Mopar axle RTV and properly torqued the cover.



Also, I moved the tire toward the rear as much as possible and it does help. However, I imagine that if you hit a big bump the tire would move back to it's original position since the cable is under tension and wants to pull it forward anyway. As Bill and Joseph stated, the only safe way is to make a "relocation bracket" for the spare.



Another thing, Mag Hytec is selling the "GM" cover to us and although it does bolt up I think probably works better on GM trucks (From looking at a couple of GM dually's I think their pumpkin/housing is a little different than ours). For example, you get a little notice with the cover that say's " on Dodge trucks it may be necessary to fill the bottom bolt hole with rtv because the O-ring on the cover may leak". Apparently this leak is not a problem with the GM axle.



So, since I don't like this leak or the fact that I need to relocate the tire, the cover is going to be removed and I will kiss 4 quarts of fresh Amsoil good-bye.



Anybody want a slightly used cover ?

 

[fencebuilders]

Originally posted by Rosco

Well men, old Rosco is not a happy camper . This morning I went under the truck to see if I could move the spare tire a bit to make some clearance and while under the truck I noticed the cover is leaking oil. This is after I followed the directions and filled the unused bottom bolt hole with with Mopar axle RTV and properly torqued the cover.



Also, I moved the tire toward the rear as much as possible and it does help. However, I imagine that if you hit a big bump the tire would move back to it's original position since the cable is under tension and wants to pull it forward anyway. As Bill and Joseph stated, the only safe way is to make a "relocation bracket" for the spare.



Another thing, Mag Hytec is selling the "GM" cover to us and although it does bolt up I think probably works better on GM trucks (From looking at a couple of GM dually's I think their pumpkin/housing is a little different than ours). For example, you get a little notice with the cover that say's " on Dodge trucks it may be necessary to fill the bottom bolt hole with rtv because the O-ring on the cover may leak". Apparently this leak is not a problem with the GM axle.



So, since I don't like this leak or the fact that I need to relocate the tire, the cover is going to be removed and I will kiss 4 quarts of fresh Amsoil good-bye.



Anybody want a slightly used cover ?

I would be interested in the cover Roscoe,if you were serious

 

[curatchko]

What do you want for it and what axle do you have?





Heck I'll take the amsoil too... . nothing wrong with it.

 

[SRadke]

As loaded the axle will move (arc) toward the end of the leaf springs that the shackels are on. For the life of me I can't remember which end that is.



-Scott

 

[Tejasdge]

Large Spare Tire

I have the BFG 315's and the 315 spare barely fits with the stock setup. I would have liked the to get the Mag Hytek, but don't see how it would fit. I need to change out my diff lube anyway, so I'm going to investigate the offset concept while I'm there and look for rubbing.



Does Genuine Gear make a cover for the 11. 5 axle? They look like they are the stock profile, but are aluminum with fins. Would they make any temperature difference? Any other options? I had to replace the gears in my last Dodge and don't want a repeat performance.

 

[Elite1]

This is a great thread. I was about to order the MagHytec as well, but had the same concerns. I had problems with my 96' Ram with the Dana, and would really like to probe the rearend and monitor temps. The new AA seems beefier and holds more fluid than the old Dana, so maybe I don't need the Hytech. What are my options on How can I set up a probe ?

 

[RTWhitfield]

I just bought a cover from Geno's, but if it is going to hit the spare tire I am going to send it back. I am glad I read this before I went to the trouble of changing out the covers and buying fresh fluid, then finding out I had a problem, and had to change everything back.

I wonder if Mag Hightek is going to fix this problem, I also did not like the idea of not using one of the bolts, that had to put the cover in a bind, I am sure they designed the cover with that many bolts for a reason.

 

[Rosco]

I am not 100% sure the cover will contact the spare or not, it just appears that it may. What would be great is if their are some 3rd gen 2500 owners out there who already have the cover installed and carry a payload that could research this for us.

 

[LightmanE300]

Great thread. I was also considering getting one of these covers for my truck, but am going to hold off now to see whether or not this is the problem.



Rosco - just to be clear - when you talk about the BFG's, youre just talking about the factory on/off road bfg option, correct? Just wanted to make sure thats what we were talking about and not 315's.



Sure would be nice to be able to just open the drain plug on that thing, I hope there is an easy fix without having to rig some kind of bracket.

 

[Rosco]

Lightman,



I have the factory BFG Rugged Trails on my truck.



Also, I have another TDR member who is going to check the clearance for me later next week when he hooks up his fiver that has a 2000# pin weight. The only difference is his truck is a dually so the tire circumference is a little smaller than mine.



Rosco

 

[LightmanE300]

Boy this is sure generally crappy news if I've ever heard any.

 

[Briman]

I would like to know why AAM does not make one of the bottom bolts the drain, like on the NV5600 side covers? As far as putting a temp probe in the pumpkin without using an aftermarket cover... you could either drill and tap the case itself or weld a 1/4" NPT fitting to the factory cover in a position that would be down in the oil and not interfere with the inner workings of the dif.

 

[RTWhitfield]

I should have included my truck in my post. I have an 03 3500 DRW 2WD, and I pull a 28" enclosed race car trailer with it.



I think I will send the one I have back and wait until Mag Hytek

makes one to fit the Dodge truck. It is the missing bolt hole that bothers me as much as the spare tire clearance.



Yes this has been an especially helpful thread.



Thanks,

Tom Whitfield

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

AA uses 14 bolts and a thin stamped steel cover that isn't as rigid as the Mag Hytec cover. The Mag probably wouldn't leak if you used 4 bolts to hold it on, instead of 12. If you are really worried, do like I do--clean the cover and housing with lacquer thinner and put on a small bead of Ultra gray RTV.

You can't use the bottom bolt as a drain since it does not go into the oil reservoir like with the NV transmission.

I haven't had the cover ever do more than rub the tread even with 33" tires and off-road driving. I use the offset plate just to be sure.

 

[LightmanE300]

I"m not so mechanically experienced and dont have the tools or parts around my house to fabricate any offset bracket. This is pretty much halting my purchase at this point, arghh. Hope they come up with something.

 

[Grayhackle]

I have been planning to install the mag hytech covers when I change my diff oil. With this news, that plan is off. I am hoping some more 03 owners will ad their commets and hopefully come up with a fix other than having to build a bracket to move the spare. Why hasn't Mag Hy Tech solved this problem, they must be aware of it.