Bad Solid Diff. Covers for ford 8.8 axle

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Buyer beware of soild covers not fitting and bad customer Service

I bought the Solid diff. cover for my 94 Ranger on 01/16/2012 and finally had time to go out and install it, but to only find out that it wouldn't clear my ring gear. Clearance was about an 1/8 from bolting down and I tried calling Solid to see what was going on but only got to leave a voice mail with my phone number and then sent a E-mail to them to only get a reply back from Matt at Solid covers asking me what did the axle come out of that was over 2 weeks ago and no replies from solid and i have sent 2 more e-mails since then. So i would not reccomend buying from Solid covers

Inclosed are copies of the e-mails to Solid

If your not going to responde to my last e-mail, Then please send me a return order number to send it back. That way i can order a cover from another company like riddler, Ruff stuff, Blue torch fabb
Thank you, Steven Reed



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Matt Martin <matt@solidaxle.com>
To: [email]aahomerepair]
Sent: Mon, January 30, 2012 942 AM
Subject: RE: Website Contact Form


What is the rear axle out of?



Matt



SpynTec Industries LLC.

Phone: 234-759-3105

Fax: 234-759-3306



www.solidaxle.com

www.spyntec.com



-----Original Message-----
From: info@solidaxle.com [mailto:info@solidaxle.com]
Sent: Saturday, January 28, 2012 1:52 PM
To: matt@solidaxle.com
Subject: Website Contact Form



FNAME:
Steven

LNAME:
Reed

EMAIL:


PHONE:


attn:
info@solidaxle.com

countrycode:
US

COMMENTS:
I just bought a Ford 8.8 Differential Cover from your company and went out to install it this afternoon and it won't clear my ring gear. It's about at least an 1/8 inch from being able to bolt down my sales no. # is bought on 01/16/2012

image.x:
9

image.y:


here where the story starts with more information
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2905347#post2905347

 

you may have just got a weird one, i have a few friends running them and they are perfect.

 

No the cover is normal, they supplied info to 1 of the Mod's at the explorer forums that they don't fit the early rangers and Crown Victoria's. but never posted that info product spec's and Should be in this page:
http://www.solidaxle.com/productcart...gory=7#details

and is listed in another vendors web site
what's wrong with this picture i found listing the same solid cover from another vendors site (see bottom of page in Red)

http://www.polyperformance.com/shop/...er-p-2678.html

and finally got a reply from them that they where out at a race and there for they where short handed to answer the phones and the e-mails for 2 weeks. have to do better than that 1
If you going to go play, then you need to leave someone at home to answer the phones

 

I also have a friend running one front and rear. D44 front and 31 spline 8.8 rear with 5.13 gears. Both work fine, although the 8.8 is a newer one.

 

http://www.polyperformance.com/shop/...er-p-2678.html

Found this by chance. Is this the same one you bought? The big red letters got my attention.

 

^^ LOL WIN

 

So, HOW exactly, is the Ranger different from the "X" 8.8" other than the spring perches???

 

idk, i just found it. Maybe a sensor or something. Different indent....

Your first link is 404'd.

 

Wow i wish woulda seen this earlier. I bought one of these last year and just got around to putting it on today. Same problem. The crazy thing is the actual Solid Website says nothing about it not fitting rangers. Ill be taking it back tomorrow since the actual shop is only about 20 minutes away.

Link to cover on Solid's website.
Ford 8.8 Cover - Differential Covers - Spyntec Industries LLC.
Im running an early 2000s 8.8 with 4.10s with factory L/S

 

Im glad now that I didnt order this cover when I wanted it.

When I viewed the website earlier this year, there were no red letters indicating that the cover did not work for rangers.

A former member here on RF recommended it to me because he was also using it with the same 8.8 and gear ratio.

 

Interesting thread. Seems odd they would not design a cover that will work on all 8.8's.

 

I got one also and it didnt fit.

 

It just really pissed me off cause my old cover is rusted all to hell and leaking. So I have to go out and buy a new cover tomorrow.

 

sorry i didn't keep this post updated, but here is some reading and e-mails from solid on the cover and they even changed the wed addy to try to hide the problem as it was linked back to the site


Bad Solid Diff. Covers for ford 8.8 axle - Ford Explorer Ranger Enthusiasts "Serious Explorations"®

 

as for getting it to fit, if you can find a factory plastic cover you can cut out the center and grind down the mounting tabs on the outside edge and make a 1/4 spacer and it will fit without any clearance or grinding problems as this is what i had to do. just put RTV on both sides of the spacer.

It sucks that we are having to go though this because they know they don't fit the rangers and crown vic's and don't care, just sell them and screw them afterwards just get the money now.
and a qoute from the e-mail from soild ( The only axles that it seems not to fit are the early Ranger / Crown Vic 8.8’s.) and you say your ranger is a 2000 model ford must really had a stock pile of them laying around since my ranger was a 94 model

 

i dunno, a spacer with two gaskets seems like its gonna give you issues down the road.

there are also these options
PML Ford 8.8 Differential Cover, Patterned Fins
Ford #10-8.8 [Ford #10-8.8] - $250.00 : Mag-Hytec
Ford 8.8" 3/8" Differential Cover - RuffStuff Specialties

they range in price and have some options for draining and finish.

 

The whole situation is kinda crappy. I dunno about a spacer. Morris I may do that down the road but I had to buy a cheap repacement one for the time being just to get my truck back on the road. They original cover I had was junk so I couldnt wait for a new one to come in.

 

i think korey is running that mag one. i think i would just get the silver finish and have it powdercoated locally.

the magnetic drain plug is a nice feature to have.

the only thing i would be worried about is some tool stealing it "cus it looks purdy an is bettah den myne!"

 

Korey has the powdercoated PML cover. thats his video on the website lol. I need to pick up a new cover soon, definitely won't be going with the Solid one.

 

i really like that PML one, kinda outta the budget for right now. I got my bodylift, tires and wheel i gotta order this week.

dorman replacement cover was 17 bucks

 

I have had it on for 6 months now and have bashed the hell out of it and not 1 sign of a leak and i have even hammered the cover on rocks and the plastic cover shim hasn't cracked yet. knock on rocks

 

Mine fit without an issue on my 05's 8.8. I liked it enough to order a pair for my D60's.

 

I guess its kinda hit and miss then.

 

You just got lucky and have a newer style housing, as it seems early to late 90's housing have this problem

 

No like has been said the older housings are made differently.