Mag-Hytec rear diff cover 2007 Tahoe?

dross99_si · Jul 24, 2016

Is anybody using the GM 10-8.5 Mag-Hytec rear diff cover on their Tahoe? The only thing I'm concerned about is fitment really.. Does it fit with the factory rear sway bar in place? Doesn't look like there's too much clearance back there.
Thank you!

dross99_si · Aug 1, 2016

So I got under there this morning and was checking to see how much room there actually is. The Mag-Hytec cover is listed as being 3.25" tall. I cut a piece of PVC pipe to that exact length and tried to fit it between the stock cover and the bar going across (panhard bar I believe it's called). It's a no go.
I need to either find a cover that doesn't stick out as far or find a way to either modify that bar or find an aftermarket bar that provides more clearance. It would be cool to find one that is shaped more like a sway bar or strut tower brace with a slight curve towards the rear instead of being straight across. All it needs is maybe another 1/2" of clearance and it would be all good.
If you guys have any suggestions please let me know!

1992rs · Aug 6, 2016

You're not going to get a lot of answers because most just use OEM or a replica of it, so I'll help the best I can. I have a 2002 denali and I went through this same process about 6 months ago.

You've already found out theres no way a mag-hytec would fit. After I realized the Mag was a no-go, I looked at G2 covers, called them and was told there was no way any of them would fit it fit.
Although a few months later (After I was already done with my diff cover) I found this on an avalanche forum:

Its a G2 Torque diff cover with a qa1 panhard bar and clearance

After that I looked towards the PML cover which was heavily documented that it would fit our rigs but I couldn't justify spending that much money for it and I didn't like the way it looks.

I finally ended up at the TA performance girdle. The cover provides extra fluid capacity, actually has a drain plug (what a concept right?), has two load bolts that reinforces the bearing caps, and its hands down a work of art IMO. My research led me to the third gen forum and it received a lot praise claiming it helped their rear end live longer. As a third gen owner knowing how weak the rear ends are, that review was all I needed.
I bought the low profile one (TA_1807A) and was told it fits no problem...Well it didn't. I had to grind one of the fins a little bit and notch the panhard bar a little bit. No major surgery but to weekend warrior who wants a bolt-on affair this may not be ideal. Maybe I was the one unlucky one whose didnt fit, maybe I was sent the og depth one, maybe they don't know their ***** from...anyway, who knows. I am slightly concerned when I go low if it will clear a tubular panhard bar, but thats another day.

Sorry about the book, heres the cliff notes version:
- Expensive PML is the only 100% documented aftermarket diff cover to work with our rigs.
- I bought TA performance girdle, very minimal modification to panhard bar and girdle fin and it fits. Maybe QA1 wheel clear it?
- worth it? my diff stopped howling and I smile every time I'm walking to my truck.

dross99_si · Aug 6, 2016

Thanks for the reply and no worries about the novel. I really appreciate your time and effort.
It just pisses me off that:
A. Nobody makes a 100% guaranteed fitment diff cover with a drain bolt.
B. GM products are built so damn inconsistent that the companies that DO make a diff cover for GM 8.5/8.6 10 bolt always tell me that fitment depends on my particular truck. Including the email I received from PML earlier today.
When you order from PML you also have to choose the correct bolts because apparently GM decided to use 4 different types of bolts depending on how they were feeling on the day your truck was built. Who does that? I mean literally they want you to remove one of your existing bolts, measure it, determine how many threads per inch it has, metric or standard, if there's numbers or a line or something on the bolt head, I mean come on GM! I've never heard of such asinine shit.
I call the dealer and ask for a part for a 2007 Tahoe LT 4WD 5.3 flex fuel engine right.. and you know what the part guy tells me.. "Oh, well, um, yeah, I'm gonna need your VIN number to find you the correct part because not EVERY 2007 Tahoe LT black blah blah uses the same part". WTF? I call about parts for any other vehicle I've ever owned and have never received a response like this. It just blows my mind. I told the parts guy that every 2004 Pilot uses the same exact part number and he gets all huffy and says he finds that hard to believe. Well believe it my friend...
Make all the 2004 Pilot EX-Ls or 2012 Mitsubishi EVOs with the same exact parts and part numbers??? That just makes is so easy for vehicle owners. Wow, what a concept!
Why was this truck ever even built with a crummy paper-thin diff cover with no drain bolt in the first freakin place???
In any case, I will do my best to get to the bottom of this nonsense and get a nice cover installed sooner or later.
Again, I appreciate the time you took to reply and the good info you've given me.
Sorry about the rant. This is my first GM vehicle and don't get me wrong I like the truck and all, but this parts and fitment stuff is kid of aggravating.

1992rs · Aug 6, 2016

dross99_si said:
Thanks for the reply and no worries about the novel. I really appreciate your time and effort.
It just pisses me off that:
A. Nobody makes a 100% guaranteed fitment diff cover with a drain bolt.
B. GM products are built so damn inconsistent that the companies that DO make a diff cover for GM 8.5/8.6 10 bolt always tell me that fitment depends on my particular truck. Including the email I received from PML earlier today.
When you order from PML you also have to choose the correct bolts because apparently GM decided to use 4 different types of bolts depending on how they were feeling on the day your truck was built. Who does that? I mean literally they want you to remove one of your existing bolts, measure it, determine how many threads per inch it has, metric or standard, if there's numbers or a line or something on the bolt head, I mean come on GM! I've never heard of such asinine shit.
I call the dealer and ask for a part for a 2007 Tahoe LT 4WD 5.3 flex fuel engine right.. and you know what the part guy tells me.. "Oh, well, um, yeah, I'm gonna need your VIN number to find you the correct part because not EVERY 2007 Tahoe LT black blah blah uses the same part". WTF? I call about parts for any other vehicle I've ever owned and have never received a response like this. It just blows my mind. I told the parts guy that every 2004 Pilot uses the same exact part number and he gets all huffy and says he finds that hard to believe. Well believe it my friend...
Make all the 2004 Pilot EX-Ls or 2012 Mitsubishi EVOs with the same exact parts and part numbers??? That just makes is so easy for vehicle owners. Wow, what a concept!
Why was this truck ever even built with a crummy paper-thin diff cover with no drain bolt in the first freakin place???
In any case, I will do my best to get to the bottom of this nonsense and get a nice cover installed sooner or later.
Again, I appreciate the time you took to reply and the good info you've given me.
Sorry about the rant. This is my first GM vehicle and don't get me wrong I like the truck and all, but this parts and fitment stuff is kid of aggravating.

All good man. It's the gm part bin for ya. It's a double edged sword, it can make things difficult for maintenance and whatnot, but you can do some cool stuff out of it like decking out a base Tahoe with escalade parts. The gmc typhoon is the perfect illustration of the part bin, Astro van awd, corvette tranny, sunfire gauge cluster, electric assisted shocks probably from some Buick or whatever. Truly a Frankenstein.

Anyways, I bought new hardware regardless of what they sent me, so there wouldn't be any headaches and I know for a fact it's quality hardware that won't rust.

I'm guessing the qa1 panhard bar will give you more clearance to fit the ta, pml, g2, maybe even the mag-hytec. It appears to curve a little, but that's another thing to add to the list. I would give it a try but I'm gunna need an adjustable panhard down the road and I prefer Delrin bushings to poly anyways

Good luck with the diff cover, I'll be awaiting to see what you end up with!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

dross99_si · Aug 6, 2016

I do have a soft spot for hybrid stuff. Would be cool to swap in some stronger high performance hardware from a different model. Engine, trans, etc..
If I had the money I'd LOVE to do a Duramax swap through Duraburb but that's a pipe dream at this point, LOL
I will definitely look into the qa1 panhard bar though. Is it listed for 2007-2014 Tahoe?
Thanks again for the info!

sumo · Aug 6, 2016

What about Pml covers? I use their stepped trans pan and have this rear diff on my mods list

http://www.yourcovers.com/diffcover_gm85.php

dross99_si · Aug 6, 2016

Yeah the PML 10815 looks the most promising so far. I emailed them and they said some people have had good luck with this particular cover, but they don't guarantee fitment and charge a restocking fee if it doesn't fit and I try to return it.

dross99_si · Aug 6, 2016

It's funny, the PML is 3.2" tall and the Mag is 3.25" tall.
I looked up the qa1 panhard bar and I only see it for 2001-2006 Tahoe.

Mag-Hytec rear diff cover 2007 Tahoe?

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