Rear Axle gasket

[LandyLight]

I just got through replacing rotors and calipers on my 95 D1 while i was reinstalling the axle shaft i noticed there should be a gasket in between. How important is this gasket, b/c when i pulled it off it appeared to be just a piece of very thin plastic.
they have them for sale in british atlantic for .95 cents for one, Should it be replaced?????????

 

[Sergei]

It is important-ish.

It is made of thin paper-like material, but you can cheat and use permatex gasket maker with same result.s. Me like high-temp ones, seeing that hub can heat pretty seriously.

 

[LandyLight]

Is that gasket there essentially to keep the grease from spewging out from the wheel bearings cause thats all i can see it good for OR does allow the axle and shaft to be easily sepaerated after being or getting hot after hard use.

 

[Sergei]

All above and:
- prevents elements to get into the hub easy
- prevents oil leaking away if your seals becoming bad
- prevents grease from leaking away, as it does when things getting hot

While you at it - repack bearings with good grease btw. Not crappy black generic one.

 

[Moose]

Can't remember the name, but there is a marine-grade grease that works really well for that too...

 

[Sergei]

Can't remember the name, but there is a marine-grade grease that works really well for that too...

Marine grease smokes, stinks and evaporates when things heating up.. I hate it. May be i was not that lucky, but i wont touch that stuff ever again (after having me Disco smoke like train)

B&G and Lucas both got very good high temp greases that got pretty impressive wash-out characteristics..

 

[LandyLight]

Already repacked the bearings with a red hi-temp grease no cheap stuff i think it was Penzoil hi temp wheel bearing grease.
Thanks guys for the input