Today I installed the all-black PPE differential cover on my 2018 Ford F-150 3.0 Diesel with a 9.75" differential. The cover itself looks great and feels high-quality, but given the $350+ price tag, I had higher expectations for the overall product experience. Unfortunately, there were several areas where PPE fell short, particularly with the instructions and product information.
Installation Instructions
While the installation process is relatively straightforward, the instructions provided were minimal and lacked important details. For a product at this price point, I would expect PPE to include clear, comprehensive guidance that walks users through every step. For comparison, companies like Crutchfield, which specialize in car audio, provide excellent installation guides that set a high standard. PPE should strive to match that level of support for their customers.
Missing Oil Capacity Information
One of my biggest frustrations was the lack of information about the oil capacity of the new cover. Nowhere on the product page or in the instructions did it mention how much differential oil would be required after installation. As a result, I purchased what I thought was enough oil from Amsoil, only to discover I was short. Now I need to place another order, pay for more shipping, and wait for it to arrive, delaying the completion of the project. Including this crucial information on the product page and in the instructions would save customers time and frustration.
Bolt Issues
The installation also revealed some unexpected issues with the bolts:
Bottom-Right Bolt: The bottom-right corner bolt wouldn’t tighten all the way; it kept bottoming out and left the washer slightly loose. This could be due to a manufacturing quirk with Ford’s 9.75" differential or an oversight by PPE. If this is a normal issue with the 9.75" the product page should acknowledge this issue and include a shorter bolt to resolve it. I had to reuse the factory bolt for that spot (all black), which doesn’t match the new bolts (chrome) and is visible to anyone behind the truck.
Cable Management Bolts: Ford’s factory bolts on the top three spots of the differential double as cable management hardware. PPE’s product page didn’t mention this detail, leaving me to figure it out during installation. It would have been helpful if PPE had offered a matching bolt/cable management solution as an optional upgrade. I would gladly have paid extra for this feature. Instead, I reused the factory bolts for those spots, which, while not highly visible, feel like another missed opportunity for PPE to enhance the user experience.
Cleaning the Differential
Another area where PPE could improve is by providing guidance on cleaning the differential before installation. Cleaning the internals is an essential part of the process, but PPE didn’t include any information about it. I had to rely on YouTube videos, many of which recommended using brake cleaner. While this seemed reasonable, it left me wondering if this was the best method or just popular advice. Considering that I’m working on a $75,000 truck, guessing how to handle such an important component is less than ideal. A company like PPE, which specializes in premium differential covers, should include cleaning instructions to ensure customers can do the job correctly and confidently.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the PPE differential cover looks and feels like a high-quality product, but the lack of attention to detail in the instructions and product information severely detracts from the experience. People spending $350+ on a differential cover are typically those who take pride in their vehicles and want to do a thorough job. Good instructions and detailed product information aren’t just nice to have—they’re a basic expectation for a premium product. PPE has an excellent product in terms of design and materials, but improving the user experience would make it truly exceptional.
FYI: I do have pictures to upload but this feature is not working on both Chrome and Edge.
