<html><body><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; color: #000000"><div>Hi Steve,<br></div><div><br></div><div>I don't think you need to make that particular gasket more pliable. It's sandwiched between two machined, flat surfaces that would probably contain 99% of oil without a gasket (plus, you have an O-ring for good measure).<br></div><div><br></div><div>Next to oil and tires, the question of when and what to use to seal gaskets or surfaces probably generates the most discussions and opinions. I'm curious about it myself--having been a chemistry major at one time--and have, well, experimented a lot. For paper gaskets, I swear by Permatex Aviation Form-A-Gasket (the gooey brown stuff). It sets up to a non-sticky glaze-like surface that makes gaskets easy to remove, as well as adding the 1% of necessary sealing. I've used it on water pump gaskets and the old gaskets peel off completely intact; leaving chunks of the old gasket on a surface is a surefire way to create a leak, and scraping can damage a smooth surface.<br></div><div><br></div><div>Almost always, using just the paper gasket on a smooth surface is sufficient, but I usually smear a really thin coat of the Form-A-Gasket because, well, just because (if nothing else it makes later removal easier). If a gasket isn't available I use a silicone like 'Right Stuff;' newer cars use this instead of oil pan and differential cover gaskets. Hylomar is often recommended, but I think it's as much tradition as anything and there's at least two types, and I'm never sure which is the one you're supposed to use (IIRC, Roger Moment did a write-up for it once).<br></div><div><br></div><div>Bob<br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><hr id="zwchr"><div style="color:#000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;"><b>From: </b>"Steve Gerow" <steveg@abrazosdata.com><br><b>To: </b>"healeys" <healeys@autox.team.net><br><b>Sent: </b>Saturday, January 24, 2015 8:42:11 PM<br><b>Subject: </b>[Healeys] Rear axle gasket question<br><div><br></div><style><!--
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--></style><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal">Am replacing the paper gasket and o-ring on one of my axles. Did I read here the gasket should be soaked in water in order to make it more pliable?</p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">I’ve always installed these with hylomar and never had any leakage problems from the gasket or o-ring, but the gaskets do tend to tear.</p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Would appreciate any informed comments.</p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">--</p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Steve Gerow</p><p class="MsoNormal">Altadena, CA, USA</p><p class="MsoNormal">BN6</p><p class="MsoNormal">Check out my galleries:</p><p class="MsoNormal">http://www.pbase.com/stevegerow/</p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><br>_______________________________________________<br>Support Team.Net http://www.team.net/donate.html<br>Suggested annual donation $12.75<br>Archive: http://www.team.net/archive<br>Forums: http://www.team.net/forums<br><div><br></div>Healeys@autox.team.net<br>http://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/healeys<br><div><br></div>Unsubscribe/Manage: http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/healeys/bspidell@comcast.net<br><div><br></div></div><div><br></div></div></body></html>