I don't have a torque wrench but the diff covers are supposed to be torqued.
Roughly, what does 20 ft/lbs feel like? I'm only worried becuase it has a rtv gasket and don't want to make a bad seal.

 

I just tighten mine down and left it at that..

 

x2, just tight, not crazy.

 

smidge more than finga tight

 

so finger tight and like +1/4 turn would be ok?

 

Should be just make sure ya let the RTV set before adding oil.

 

exactly, just did my front and rear. just made sure all the bolts werent gonna be able to work out too easy, and that i had a nice bead of rtv all around the covers. gave the covers a nice coat of black spray paint as well, looks great and covers up the squeezed out rtv

 

If you are planning to do very much of your own work you need a torque wrench, even a Harbor Freight one is good for occasional use.

 

That or Craftsman has some nice 3/8" and 1/2" clicker torque wrenches for fairly cheap. Plus you can hit them with that "lifetime warranty on all Craftsman hand tools" thingy...

 

X2 craftsman torq wrenches work great i have one thats probally 10 or 15 years old (passed down) not a a single problem other than having it recalberted i think they go for around 60 or 70 bucks
mines a half inch drive

 

Diff covers aren't picky. I used to drain and fill my axles on a weekly basis with all the muddin i did with the TJ. I experimented with tightness and never got a leak, whether it was REALLY FRIGGIN TIGHT, or just tight-enough (1/4 past finger tight). RTV holds fine either way. I never used a torque wrench.

 

x2 on the habor freight and x3 on the craftsman, got both and they both have their uses

 

20 ft/lbs in layman's terms. Attach 1 end of a 1 foot long wrench to the bolt and hang a 20 pound weight to the other. When the bolt quites turning it is torqued to 20 ft/lbs.

 

put your palm on the center of the wrench and tighten...thats what i always do on little things like that.