Differentials: RTV or a Rubber Gasket

Post by **Mr.WJ** » Tue Nov 29, 2011 8:41 pm

I was looking at some options for when I do the Gear Oil for the Diffs.

I came across a product: http://lubelocker.com/products/products/2-dana

What do you think? Worth it?

Post by **Matt612** » Tue Nov 29, 2011 9:18 pm

Just throw some rtv on there before you seal it up...its cheaper

Post by **Mr.WJ** » Tue Nov 29, 2011 10:32 pm

Alright. It doesn't seem to be working though. I am pretty sure that is what we used before and the diffs are wet. Im sure its not the end of the world that they are wet either. Was just wondering.

Post by **BadAssEddie** » Wed Nov 30, 2011 12:55 am

Snobrdrkid07 wrote:Alright. It doesn't seem to be working though. I am pretty sure that is what we used before and the diffs are wet. Im sure its not the end of the world that they are wet either. Was just wondering.

Wet as in gear oil, not another fluid? Also is it coming out of the cover or the pinion?

RTV will work fine, sometime if my cover is banged up from wheeling I will use a paper Fel-pro gasket in conjunction with RTV. Make sure you are putting the RTV on the inboard side of the bolt holes and it is one continuous ring.

YouTube · Post by **TerryD** » Wed Nov 30, 2011 5:11 am

You also don't need much rtv to do the job. If you just lay about a 1/8"-3/16" bead it will seal. Much more and you run the risk of it oozing out from under the cover and if that should beak free on the inside, you can kiss your diff good-bye. I always try to use a paper gasket and a light coat of permatex form-a-gasket. It can be a pain to get off but it seals better and looks more professional IMHO. That's not to say that I haven't RTV'd my fair share of stuff.

If you still have the rubber plug in the rear differ, its a safe bet that it is deteriorating and beginning to leak. The PO of my XJ never checked the differ fluid on it and the pinion bearings wee toast on it when we bought it.

Post by **Mr.WJ** » Wed Nov 30, 2011 7:36 am

Im 99% sure it is the Diff oil. It looks like it is coming out between the diff and the cover. More so on the rear then the front.

The Diff plugs are metal bolts, to my knowledge, and there it is dry around that area.

Post by **willhf1011** » Wed Nov 30, 2011 9:03 am

I don't play with gaskets anymore, RTV works just fine. In fact, there are a number of axles that don't even have gaskets available and are factory sealed with Permatex. Terry is right on the amount, you really don't need much. It helps if you spread it around evenly with your finger to cover the whole surface before bolting the two together as well.

Post by **BadAssEddie** » Wed Nov 30, 2011 9:56 am

Snobrdrkid07 wrote:Im 99% sure it is the Diff oil. It looks like it is coming out between the diff and the cover. More so on the rear then the front.

The Diff plugs are metal bolts, to my knowledge, and there it is dry around that area.

Smell it.

Gear oil smells like stanky black dick. No other fluids smell like it.

Can you not see where it is coming from on the cover?

It's real simple, just clean off the mating surfaces with a wire brush on an angle grinder and put the ole RTV on and it wont leak.

Post by **Mr.WJ** » Wed Nov 30, 2011 4:49 pm

BadAssEddie wrote:Smell it.

Gear oil smells like stanky black dick. No other fluids smell like it.

Can you not see where it is coming from on the cover?

It's real simple, just clean off the mating surfaces with a wire brush on an angle grinder and put the ole RTV on and it wont leak.

The Jeep is sitting in your yard so it is a bit closer to you then me! ha. If we have the meeting at the house. I think we can get under there and take a quick look.

Its on the bottom of both diffs. Where the cover meets the housings.

willhf1011 wrote:I don't play with gaskets anymore, RTV works just fine. In fact, there are a number of axles that don't even have gaskets available and are factory sealed with Permatex. Terry is right on the amount, you really don't need much. It helps if you spread it around evenly with your finger to cover the whole surface before bolting the two together as well.

Will, I am assuming that black goo you put on Tom's Diff was the RTV? We must not have done it right last time or something.

Post by **BadAssEddie** » Wed Nov 30, 2011 4:55 pm

Snobrdrkid07 wrote:The Jeep is sitting in your yard so it is a bit closer to you then me! ha. If we have the meeting at the house. I think we can get under there and take a quick look.

Its on the bottom of both diffs. Where the cover meets the housings.

Will, I am assuming that black goo you put on Tom's Diff was the RTV? We must not have done it right last time or something.

I'm not going to go look at your pumpkin. That's your job.

You didn't do it right. Come over and reseal the covers. It will take you 30 minutes and you can even use our tools if you dress sexy like.

Post by **Mr.WJ** » Wed Nov 30, 2011 5:04 pm

BadAssEddie wrote:I'm not going to go look at your pumpkin. That's your job.

You didn't do it right. Come over and reseal the covers. It will take you 30 minutes and you can even use our tools if you dress sexy like.

LOL alright.

I believe I need to do the gear oil. It have over 50 thousand on them. Might as well kill both birds with one shot.

Edit: Looking through my records. The DEALER did the Diff's last... @75K... I rolled 98K on the way up.

Post by **BadAssEddie** » Wed Nov 30, 2011 5:27 pm

Snobrdrkid07 wrote:The DEALER

Why the annunciation? If you are going to crack open the diff just put new gear oil in it. Trying to save it and put it back in is dumb. It will cost you a grand total of like $20 for a big tube of RTV, 2 gaskets if you want them, and a gallon of gear oil.

You can get drunk while you are doing it for free as well and stumble home for consultation of me heckling you from inside the house and being generally unhelpful.

Post by **Mr.WJ** » Wed Nov 30, 2011 5:53 pm

BadAssEddie wrote:

Why the annunciation? If you are going to crack open the diff just put new gear oil in it. Trying to save it and put it back in is dumb. It will cost you a grand total of like $20 for a big tube of RTV, 2 gaskets if you want them, and a gallon of gear oil.

You can get drunk while you are doing it for free as well and stumble home for consultation of me heckling you from inside the house and being generally unhelpful.

Because you think whoever at the dealer did them, would know how to use RTV or a gasket so it wouldn't be leaking.

I'd like to do them. I just need to find some time to get over there!

Post by **BadAssEddie** » Wed Nov 30, 2011 6:04 pm

They know how, they were just being lazy. If people are gullible enough to pay like $500 at a dealership "axle service fluid replacement procedure", the mechanics are just going to slap the cover back on and call it good and not give two shits if it weeps a little bit in 5,000 miles.

Whenever you find the time, talk to Will and ask to borrow his wrench and grinder and come over.

Also, buy a can of Brake-clean in case the mating surfaces are ugly and you use the grinder. You'll want to clean out the carrier before you put the cover back on.

I will walk you through real quick and show you were to put your old fluid.

Post by **Mr.WJ** » Wed Nov 30, 2011 6:19 pm

I guess if you want something done right, learn how to do it, and then do it yourself!

I'll talk to Will.

Looking at a few fluid options from Advanced (need 4 quarts total)
- Mobile 1 Full Syn 75w-140 which was 18.99 a quart... yeah right (we use that in the Rubicon though)
-Either another synthetic 75w-140. Service manual calls for 75w-140 when used for towing trailers etc. So I guess I need to find some of that stuff cheaper...