Differential Cover Bolt Torque

[RideSlow2004]

Searched thru, found one that said 30 ft. lbs. , but cautioned may be too high. The link to the manual download didn't work for me, so, what do I torque them to?

 

[MMcConnell]

Per the factory service manual, the front 9. 25 AA differential cover bolts torque to 30 ft. lbs, and the rear 11. 5 AA cover bolts torque to 30 ft. lbs as well. I recently changed the fluid in my diffs and torqued all the bolts to 30 ft. lbs and had no problems. Hope this helps.

 

[Prairie Dog]

I don't think it really matters. The bolts just bottom out at the correct crush point and forcing them beyond that point will probably just bust them off and not compress the gasket any more.

 

[RideSlow2004]

Thanks... ... ...

 

[rbattelle]

I would urge you to avoid that 30 ft-lb value. There's been no small number of people around here who snapped heads with that value.

Personally, I wouldn't go over 20. In fact, I don't even torque them - I just snug them by "feel".

Ryan

 

[zman]

I just changed the gear oil in both axles a couple weeks ago. I tightened the bolts to 20 lbs and used some loctite.

 

[WCPoe]

I would urge you to avoid that 30 ft-lb value. There's been no small number of people around here who snapped heads with that value.



Personally, I wouldn't go over 20. In fact, I don't even torque them - I just snug them by "feel".



Ryan

I agree as well. I don't think 30 ft lbs is necessary on a stamped metal cover with a reuseable o-ring gasket. Heck, the o-ring will crush down at a lot less torque than that. I have never had a diff cover loosen up and the only leaks I have experienced were when I damaged a cover when a jack caught the edge of it. Just my 2 cents.