Gen 3, which diff guards?

I'm considering to install diff guards and, at the moment, I'm undecided on which one to choose (I know that a welded plate or reinforing the whole axle would be better but at the moment I have to go to this "poor" way).
Here are the two types:
Fronts

Rears

The blacks are 4mm thick, the yellows are 6mm. Leaving aside the thickness, and therefore the hardness and resistance, which shape/fixing is preferable?
Experiences in this regard?

Hi, are you sure you need them? If not really needed, they will reduce ground clearance, add weight etc. Had my car 7+ years and only use it for camping / laning and only needed the transfer guard.

Most people don’t need diff guards, the diffs are really quite strong, however, if you are driving down a rutted track and a large stone is in the middle, it can do some damage if you hit it at speed.

Rather than diff guards I would buy ‘Radius Arm’ protectors and a Transfer Case protector first, you are more likely to hit and damage a radius arm mounting point before one of the diffs. A transfer case protector is worthwhile, if you hit the TC, it is much more easily damaged than a diff and will end your day very quickly, plus it is expensive.

Long story short I have the 4mm black diff protectors on my Jimny, they look like Jimny Bits ones, they fit close to the diffs and provide a reasonable amount of protection. I only have them as I go to a trial in my Jimny and there can be a lot of concrete blocks in the path.

The front diff protector does have a couple of battle scars, but no where near as many as the radius arm protectors. I am not sure the rear diff protector has any marks on it and I think the TC protector only has a mark on it as I pushed a concrete block/large stone down a hill when it got stuck underneath. I wasn’t going to get a rear diff protector, then thought whilst ordering and fit the others I might as well.

The axles don’t need protecting, there is plenty of other things which hit before the axles, unless you are really unlucky.

Robin

me101 post=263259 userid=26024
Hi, are you sure you need them? If not really needed, they will reduce ground clearance, add weight etc. Had my car 7+ years and only use it for camping / laning and only needed the transfer guard.

I know they reduce ground clearance but I don't want to find out their usefulness when it's too late. 

DrRobin post=263262 userid=27291
Most people don’t need diff guards, the diffs are really quite strong, however, if you are driving down a rutted track and a large stone is in the middle, it can do some damage if you hit it at speed.Rather than diff guards I would buy ‘Radius Arm’ protectors and a Transfer Case protector first, you are more likely to hit and damage a radius arm mounting point before one of the diffs. A transfer case protector is worthwhile, if you hit the TC, it is much more easily damaged than a diff and will end your day very quickly, plus it is expensive.

Long story short I have the 4mm black diff protectors on my Jimny, they look like Jimny Bits ones, they fit close to the diffs and provide a reasonable amount of protection. I only have them as I go to a trial in my Jimny and there can be a lot of concrete blocks in the path.

The front diff protector does have a couple of battle scars, but no where near as many as the radius arm protectors. I am not sure the rear diff protector has any marks on it and I think the TC protector only has a mark on it as I pushed a concrete block/large stone down a hill when it got stuck underneath. I wasn’t going to get a rear diff protector, then thought whilst ordering and fit the others I might as well.

The axles don’t need protecting, there is plenty of other things which hit before the axles, unless you are really unlucky.

Robin

The transfer case and radius arm protectors are on the shopping list yet.
I consider differential guards a sort of insurance: you pay for them without using for a long time, but when you need them they will save you from a big expense.

At the moment I'm oriented to the 4mm black ones. Even if they are thinner (and expensive), they stay closer to the diffs, leaving a good amount of ground clearance.
 

I agree with the above. Much more important with the transfer case bash plate and radius arm protectors. 
But I would go further. 4mm sounds just plain stupid to me. The frame of the car is 2mm and the axle diff housing is maybe a bit less even.
I have bashed in the diff bell/dome on my SJ but the jimny one is less protruding and stronger. 
My radius arm mounts are bent and curled and so out of shape. Had to dismount the arms to straight them and used a very large hammer on them many times. And ripped off the sensor cable on the transfer a few times too. My axles are ok though. 
The design of all these bolt on stuff look like it is made to promote sale more than anything practical. .Just the added weight make me turn away.

If you have time to take it easy and not in a race you can place your wheels on top of stuff too instead off raming into it and you will get alot further. 

Radius arm, fuel tank and transfer imo
I had front diff guard for a while then removed it 
It's been in the shed for a couple of years now if you're close to NG18 2LY 
25 quid if you want it. jimnybits one