Here is a pic of the damage I did to my rear D-35 yesterday. Anyone care to tell me how difficult and expensive the "fix" might be?

Just the bent cover? BFH is free

What's the second, smaller hole?

I peeled the lip of mine back once on my Xterra and Chris and I took it off and banged it down.
It was cool....but we were doing it laying in gravel with no lifts or anything.

I believe the second, smaller hole is the gasket peeling off. I'll definitely need a new gasket, but was wondering if I need a new cover. Would a BFH bend it back into shape enough to get a tight seal?

One other question: Is there any way to tell how much fluid I've lost, or I guess I mean how much fluid I have left. If possible, I'd like to drive it to Bullfrog's garage and let him "have at it."

OR . . .

Chris could drive up to my place to pick up the locker at a lower than agreed upon price and repair the dif for me. Huh! Huh! Huh!

That would work.

Fluid and some RTV sealent would fix it. I would not recommend driving too far with it loosing fluid. It only takes about 3 quarts to fill it. How bad is it leaking?

I'm guessing I lost a pint to a pint and a hlalf over night. But there's no telling how much might have been forced out during the 90 minute drive home.

This may or may not be relevant information, but remember I've got bad hearing and my top was off: Most of the way home I thought I heard a high pitched sound like tin flapping.

Seriously, if you'd consider driving up here to fix the diff (with me buying the seal and fluid) I'll give you the locker for half of what we agreed upon. Still payable as your wallet permits. My rental garage is not well equipped tool wise, but it would serve to get the back end in out of any inclimate weather. And its more level than my driveway. Or perhaps Dennis "Big D Ebersole would let us use his garage AND tools.

if you need help on it i could look at it. where do you live. im avalable between 9 am to about 2:30 pm
a bfh and some silicone and it will good as new.

Cheap fixes are good, but breakage is always a good excuse for an upgrade...HD covers are not very expensive...

Thanks for the offer guys. I am looking for a replacement cover, either used, new, or upgrade, but I'm limited to about $100.

My home is in Middletown (actually Lower SWatara Township -- about 1 mile from the Harrisburg East Turnpike interchange) but my garage is in Lemoyne, just on Harrisburg's west shore of the river. We could work either place, depending on the weather. My wife and I baby sit on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, but I can certainly break away for a few hours.

Let me know what works for you.

(717) 979-0838 (cell)
(717) 939-6586 (home)

just think i just threw away a chrome dana 35 cover yesterday.

I drove to Quadratec today and picked up sn SS diff over that comes with nuts, bolts, and I believe, a gasket. Or do you guys prefer silicone sealant?

should use silicone also with a gasket.

easy way to guage how much fluid is in your diff. pull out the plug and stick your finger in (to the first knuckle) you should get fluid on the tip of your finger if it's full enough.

Due to the fact that my YJ needed inspection and emmissions inspection soon, and due to the fact that I didn't want to get new rear brakes if I didn't have to; I bit the bullet and took it to a garage today for them to do everything. They fixed the diff (they said), I did new new brake shoes and pads, and I also needed a steering stabilizer (ouch). Anyway, I'm street legal till July 31, 2010.