Rear diff pinion seal shroud/guard/cover?

[Wiz.au]

Hello All,

Wanting to see how much demand there would be for an aftermarket rear diff pinion seal shroud/cover.

Given what just happened to me ;



That's a LOT of 8Ga fencing wire! And it was all wrapped around my pinion input shaft / 'Companion Flange' as Jeep/Mopar call it.

And the AUD$45-$50 cost of a seal, which except for Jeep/Dodge dealers this seal is unobtainable in Australia?
In the USA, seems no problem, aftermarket seals are USD$6 from Quadratec!

And I have a Timken part number '710480', but it didn't come up with anything here in Australia.
Others say the seal is made by SKF?
My new seal is stamped with a Chrysler logo and the Mopar part number: 52070339AC (supersedes 52070339AB)




But the problem is not really the cost of the seal.
It's the complicated process of replacing the seal, which to do 'properly' requires you replace the bearing loading crush tube, and use an in/lb torque wrench.
I have 4x different Norbar brand torque wrenches today, plus in my 35+ year career in the mechanical trade, I've owned many others, including a BluePoint(Snap-On) digital.
I have never owned an in/lb torque wrench!
My smallest torque wrench does 1-20Nm. I need 1-5Nm for this task.
Pinion Seal Replacement Procedure PDF

This is the 'Companion Flange' that fits in between the drive shaft and the pinion input spline.
As fitted to the KJ, KK, Grand Cherokee, and many others with the Chrysler 8-1/4in (8.25in) diff.
NO SHROUD!


Given that Wranglers, and many other brand 4WD vehicles have a protective cover like this over the pinion seal;



I've come up with two options

1. A 1x piece shroud (a pressed shaped 'cup washer') as in the image above, that presses over the rough cast circular step on the Companion Flange, just below the machined face that sits on the seal. Fitting requires Flange removal and the complicated reinstallation of the Companion Flange. Cheap, maybe $30-$40.
2. A 2x piece part that fits together to make one 'seamless' part (it will have a join line where the two halves meet that you can see) , that can be fitted without removing or undoing anything on the vehicle. Expect this option to cost @$100 due to the complicated CNC machining involved.

:

Once I have an idea of demand, I'll go to the KJ and Grand Cherokee forums too, as they have the same issue, and I have not seen any aftermarket solutions at all.

I cannot believe that a 'Trail Rated' vehicle with full underbody protection kit, has a completely exposed differential seal, with no metal cover over it. They put a cover on the Wranglers...

And then no aftermarket option from anyone either?? Seems like a marketing opportunity 'going begging' to me? I'm going to see if a guy I know who makes custom motorcycle parts with his own CNC milling machine wants to do it.

Do people just like changing pinion seals?