8 3/4 axle question

[texas69bee]

I had my axle rebuilt by a reputable company in the area but I just recently noticed a small puddle on the garage floor. I checked the service manual and it says that the carrier to axle housing bolt nuts are to be torqued to 45 ft/lbs. I checked mine and they were around 20 ft/lbs.
If I torque this down to the required 45 ft/lbs, Is there anything I should be worried about far as axle alignment?? My reason for worrying is that I am adding double the torque and I am actually compressing the gasket even more thus allowing the carrier to travel inward.
Or am I over thinking it?

 

[kb67mopar]

You'll be fine. That is not enough to matter and your wheel bearings won't care about it. I personally never used a torque wrench on mine.

 

[Pistol Pete]

There may not be a gasket on there anyway. A good number of people (myself included) have moved to just using silicone or a variant thereof, in place of a gasket.

 

[texas69bee]

I can actually see the gasket.

 

[kb67mopar]

There may not be a gasket on there anyway. A good number of people (myself included) have moved to just using silicone or a variant thereof, in place of a gasket.

I run the felpro gaskets, they work great and don't leak. The problem with the RTV is it tends to glue it on there and then clean up sucks.

 

[texas69bee]

Well my thought is that I get it torqued to spec and the leak quits. Hasn't even been on the road yet but is installed.

 

[RT K_line]

It shouldn't matter, I use a 3/8 impact when I change pumpkins and just silicone it on. Never had a problem or leak.

 

[coloradodave]

Torque them to 45 ft lbs. in a cross pattern, like you do to a wheel. It'll be fine.

 

[Bb70charger500]

Let it rip tatter chip