First off Riffraff blows through orders second to none. Always my first choice as I start to look for new goodie’s for the OBS 7.3, hats off to you.
The Banks diff cover for a 97 7.3 12 bolt Sterling (10.25/10.5) is just that and bolts up perfectly. Banks web site states it will not fit a dwd truck the nomenclature has been transcribed over to the many dealers carrying this Banks product. On the Banks site they reference the m275 14 bolt Dana and Superduty w/rear swaybar. Obviously the 97 is not a SD and the rear swaybar is forward of the pumpkin and does not interfere with the rear cover. Not all OBS duallys rolled off the line with a 14 bolt Dana. Mine has a second gen 10.25 12 bolt and the Banks cover fit like a glove.
After I torqued her down and topped her off with my favorite cologne I fast gunned down the AF 992 loaded and hitched up the trailer and took off on a 1885 mile pull up the Columbia George over the Blues into and through Southern Idaho and pulled into Northern Utah. From there we ran back up through Idaho on into Montana, across into Washington State churning up the high desert. We continued up and over Snoqualmie pass and back down to home in SW Washington.
I had installed some isspro gauges prior to rolling (rear axle temp and transmission temp) and learned much about the fluid temperature under various driving conditions all while under heavy load and tow.
The rear axle ran at an average of 135/140 daytime runs, pulling some of the longer 6% grades I saw a buck 60 once in the heat of the day. At night on the final pull home she never capped 130. Although I never ran a gauge on the rear axle prior to my spiffy new cover, the temperatures I observed were all way below expected temps I researched on the swamp we refer to as the net.
If you have a 12 bolt dwd this cover fits perfectly. I was apprehensive even after she bolted up, thinking maybe the fin design or something other gremlin lay in wait, but it appears a 12 bolt is a 12 bolt regardless of dwd. I would say yes pull the trigger on this one, and don’t live your life in fear of Dave Selesky. S

After an initial servicing of the rear diff years ago, I realized I didn't want to pull it all part every time. Thankfully Banks came up with the option of a drain plug. Time will tell if this will prolong the life of my fluid or gears. But the ability to see the fluid and not have to pop open the fill hole and stick a finger in it is an added bonus.

I do Hotshot trucking and after 384,000 miles on my truck my rear end started making a whirring noise. Well it was the rear end starting to wear out, so after the new rear end was installed I decided on a diff cover just for extra measure on cooling, after doing extensive research I went with the Banks cover as it is the only one on the market that Actually will help cool your gear oil because of the lower scoops on the lower left and right side of cover. All other covers on the market, all they do is give you extra oil capacity, even though they have fins on the back of the cover they do literally nothing to help cool...nothing. The air behind the cover is dead space with no movement, with Banks air scoops the air is caught and driven straight up behind the cover and though the fins. Also, which is pretty impressive with a Banks cover is the inside has ribs which direct oil flow to sling the oil to the pinion as well as ribs to direct oil flow to the axle bearings. For a little over a hundred dollars more for the Banks over all other covers it is money well spent on something that actually performs extremely well. Also you use the same amount of oil capacity as before. It has a Viton O-ring for sealing, sight glass window, tapped for a temp probe, and fill plug at top which make filling a breeze and a magnetic drain plug. You will not be disappointed going with a Banks Cover.

perfect fit 2002 f350 4wd, excellent design, love all the features, fill ports etc.

Fast delivery as usual, Clay is great. Install is pretty easy. instructions have to be looked up as they do not come with the cover. But that is easy enough to do. The cover looks pretty good on the super duty.