derf

Best potion for getting it done.

third coast

Exactly.
Spencer - you might review posts 11 &13 and related references.

Spencer_P

Got it. I missed those.

third coast

If you are working away from anything with moving parts and are 100% certain that you can 100% clean up all abrasive residue from a cover then maybe, but you still have to be careful not to scratch the cover surface. A good rule is if you can feel a scratch with a fingernail the scratch is deep enough to be a potential for a leak.

I know, you are thinking ‘I can use an abrasive disc, etc. without causing a problem. Done it before'. For those of you who might remember a 1971 film about a San Francisco cop named Harry this might be appropriate:

“You've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do you …?”

If that quote is not familiar you might Google it and look for a related film clip. One of the most classic scenes and movie quotes of all time.

00t444e

I use wire wheels on differential gaskets all the time, a Roloc disc is fine also. Just clean it out good with brake cleaner when your done. Engines are a different story I don't use wire wheels on any part of the engine, only Roloc discs or a scraper.

5-Speed

I'm with 00T on this one. I always shove rags in the diff so whatever shrapnel I get, 95% of it lands on the rags. Roloc pads are designed to only remove gaskets and not any metal, assuming you are using them correctly. So if you can catch 95% of it, the last 5% comes out with brake clean. On top of that, say you did get gasket material in the diff, it's too soft to cause any damage.

tech

They also do make a spray on gasket remover that will help you clean it off

Spencer_P

I've never seen that before.

Ralph77

There are few rattle can gasket removers out there. I was going to post that earlier in the thread but figured you guys knew about them.
Never used one though.