Differential cover bolt torque specs

[adventurenali92]

Hey guys! 2006 Yukon XL Denali AWD is what I’m working with.
Searched around and couldn’t find precisely what I’m looking for. Lots of other models year specs but can anyone provide proper torque specs for the bolts holding cover to rear differential to housing? Mine were loose today and a small amount dribbled out, maybe less than a 1/4 of a quarts worth over I’m guessing the last few days. Cranked the bolts down but wanna torque them proper so they don’t come loose again. And waiting for it to cool down so I can pop the fill plug and top it off.

 

[Big Mama]

I think @swathdiver just did a rear gear swap so he may know off hand.

 

[gooffeyguy]

30 ft lbs torqued in a criss cross pattern

 

[swathdiver]

I've seen specs all over the place in GM manuals depending on the year and how much coffee the engineers had that morning. 20-30 foot pounds.

My 2009 calls for 29 foot pounds and the 2013 calls for 20 foot pounds for the same bolt on the same axle with the same gasket. Pick one or split the difference and call it good.

 

[adventurenali92]

@gooffeyguy @swathdiver I had a feeling it was somewhere in that neighborhood. Thanks gents!

 

[West 1]

I choose to use silicone on the differential covers. Tighten the bolts snug and call it good. The silicone works like a thread lock so they never come loose. In 30 years only one leaked and that was because I hit the cover with the edge of my floor jack and bent the cover. Duh. Should have been more careful. I have the Fel Pro Gasket on my shelf, I prefer the silicone to seal differentials. The factory did it for years. It works. I hand torque the bolts using my 3/8" ratchet. Tightening a thin Metal Diff cover I see no reason to torque it. Chris cross pattern to tighten, absolutely, you never want to tweak or bend the cover. Having torqued hundreds of other jobs I would guess I am close to 20 ft pounds final torque. I would be afraid to go to 30 pounds with those small bolts. If it was a cast aluminum cover I would have my Torque wrench out using it.

 

[swathdiver]

Tighten the bolts snug and call it good. ...I hand torque the bolts using my 3/8" ratchet. ...Chris cross pattern to tighten, absolutely, you never want to tweak or bend the cover. Having torqued hundreds of other jobs I would guess I am close to 20 ft pounds final torque.

Don't recall ever using a torque wrench on them; just a good yank on each one. Probably about 20 foot pounds too.