Your Opinion

War-Jeeper · May 31, 2006

What kind of gasket do you prefer to use on your Differential covers? Paper gasket, Or RTV style gasket (that stuff that comes in a tube and you make yer own gasket)? Let me know im trying to decide what to use. Give me life expectancy of the gasket and ease of use please

NotMatt · May 31, 2006

Just RTV. The paper gaskets never seal completely for me, and using both the paper gasket and RTV just makes a big mess. I've never had a problem with RTV as long as both surfaces are nice and clean and free from oil (use some brake cleaner or laquer thinner on a rag).

CrustyJeep · May 31, 2006

Paper gaskets are soooo last century

Ultra Gray for me. Others prefer Ultra Black. Either is fine.

I think I'm gonna try some anarobic next time, I got some leakage on the rear cover that I think is from landing on rocks and shearing the sillycone. Anarobic is supposed to be better for that type of situation. We'll see.

Oh and ditto what Matt said; everything's gotta be squeaky clean.

KarlVP · May 31, 2006

I use both. I prefer to use a paper gasket with a thin layer of RTV on each side. It makes cleanup when you change your fluid MUCH easier.

PORTER · May 31, 2006

RTV it. 99% of the time at my shop thats what we use.

War-Jeeper · Jun 1, 2006

Okay well i used some RTY on my rear today and i think i might just suck at using that stuff i made a large mess hehehe

i think i might try the paper and RVT up front and see what is better

Nobody answeredd which has lasted longer for them yet though

MJK · Jun 1, 2006

Never had a problem with RTV.... lasts as long as the next diff fluid change.

Comet · Jun 1, 2006

CrustyJeep said:
Paper gaskets are soooo last century Ultra Gray for me.

x2!

typing to make 15 charactersssssssss

JACKED944RUNNER · Jun 1, 2006

I use both on my toyota 3rds. seem to hold up just fine my DD is 3yrs on the same gaskets..

zig80toy · Jun 1, 2006

RTV all the way.

CrustyJeep · Jun 1, 2006

Oh BTW, the poll is farked... Paper gaskets are OK, but cork is THE DEVIL!!!

boxboy · Jun 1, 2006

I use a paper gasket with RTV on one side and nothing on the other so I can remove and reinstallâ€¦ I use the RTV on the cover side so the paper gasket stays with the cover i can get a couple reuses out of the gasket... But I will also use just RTV if I don't have to go to the store for other parts and the last gasket is not reusable.

MarcW · Jun 1, 2006

eh war jeeper, you're laying to big of a silicon bead if your makin a big mess, al you need is 1/8" evenly laid bead to make most diffs seal.

JOOP · Jun 1, 2006

When I use RTV only, I really have to make sure the mounting surfaces are clean of gear oil. Otherwise the crap will just leak.

When I use a paper gasket, I usually glue one side and not the other, the paper will soak up any oil on the otherside and create a seal, maybe.

The thing I hate about changing my gear oil is it takes for ever to get all the oil out.

War-Jeeper · Jun 1, 2006

MarcW said:
eh war jeeper, you're laying to big of a silicon bead if your makin a big mess, al you need is 1/8" evenly laid bead to make most diffs seal.

Ya i relized that but im not too good with relative size of things so i thought it was about1/8"-1/4" but i think it was more like 3/4 but its all good i think i have learned somthing from the mistake, doing the front tomorow

CrustyJeep · Jun 1, 2006

Don't ever follow the directions on a tube of sillycone.

Smear a nice layer of sillycone over the entire gasket surface with your (clean) finger. Make sure it isn't too thin. Thickness will depend on the flatness of the gasket surface, and a diff cover usually isn't all that flat, so be somewhat generous.

Assemble and torque immediately.

War-Jeeper · Jun 2, 2006

I dont know about comletely torqueing it down immediatly though i was told to wait a bit for it to harden up then finish torqueing it down

kyle1 · Jun 2, 2006

think of silicone as glue or caulk. the little bead thing never worked for me, i like to stick a nice thick layer in the right places with my finger. i can never run a consistent bead with the little applicator tube.

War-Jeeper · Jun 2, 2006

kyle said:
think of silicone as glue or caulk. the little bead thing never worked for me, i like to stick a nice thick layer in the right places with my finger. i can never run a consistent bead with the little applicator tube.

I know i hate that dang applicator thingy its so retarded