Ford 9" center - use a gasket or just silicone sealant?

[Gandalf]

Rebuilding my 9" for the season. Currie aluminum 9" center section going back in the Moser housing. Have heard varying opinions on wether to run a gasket at all as well as the bead of silicone I will use anyway.

Car sees mostly auto-x and roadcoarse action but of coarse I have my road trip back east starting next month so there's 10k road miles too if that matters.

Thoughts?
Gregg

[Motorcitydak]

Ive never used a gasket, just good orange RTV. Just clean the mating surfaces and make the bead inside (or just completely around) the bolt holes. It is easier to lay out the RTV on the housing I have found. If you plan on pulling that 3rd a lot, you can get a reusable gasket to make it all easier to do

[red67camaro]

I agree. Silicone will work just fine. I've used it on 9" rears many times with no issues.

[Ron Sutton]

Silicone works fine if you're not removing the diff often, otherwise silicone is time consuming to clean up.

Because we pull the diff occasionally for inspection, we use the Felpro gasket #2302. It has a steel core & seals well with no silicone, making changes easy & quick.

[Flash68]

I'll be running that steel Felpro 2302 gasket as well. Roush Yates sent it to me with the Locker I got from them.

Not as many street miles planned as you Gregg but road course and autox--- yes please. :)

[TheJDMan]

Silicone works fine if you're not removing the diff often, otherwise silicone is time consuming to clean up.

Because we pull the diff occasionally for inspection, we use the Felpro gasket #2302. It has a steel core & seals well with no silicone, making changes easy & quick.


Do you install this gasket dry or use high tack?

[Ron Sutton]

We make sure both surfaces are super clean, flat & smooth & install it dry.

If either surface is not flat, you'll need silicone.

[CRead01]

I used a sealant last time but was finding i was having a small leak. probably try gasket this time.

[coolwelder62]

I put down a small bead of RTV then felpro 2033 gasket then a small bead of RTV on the 3rd member and never any problems.

[sccacuda]

Silicone works fine if you're not removing the diff often, otherwise silicone is time consuming to clean up.

Because we pull the diff occasionally for inspection, we use the Felpro gasket #2302. It has a steel core & seals well with no silicone, making changes easy & quick.

This is the only way to fly. The third member is too much a bitch to remove with silicone.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/06/file_zps8041f9ca-1.jpg (http://s1060.photobucket.com/user/340cuda/media/file_zps8041f9ca.jpg.html)

[Heavymetl]

I've always just used Copper RTV, and had great success. That being said, why on earth aren't LS engine style o-ring gaskets being made for everything? Re-usable, leak free, and simple.

[badazz81z28]

I have always had better luck with gaskets with a very light film of RTV Ultra Black on it. I find that RTV only especially the ones that are not resistant to oil will eventually leak.