Power transfer assembly with gasket having magnet

A drive axle assembly, comprising:

• a housing;
• a pinion shaft rotatably supported by said housing;
• a differential assembly rotatably supported by said housing and driven by said pinion shaft;
• a differential cover;
• and
• a gasket assembly including a body portion positioned between said housing and said differential cover and a magnet positioned within a cavity defined by said housing and said differential cover, said magnet in communication with a lubricant located within said cavity.

A gasket assembly for a power transfer assembly having a housing, a gearset rotatably supported in a cavity defined by the housing, a cover pan coupled to the housing for providing access to the gearset, and a lubricant located within the cavity, the gasket assembly comprising:

• a body portion having a first planar surface adapted to engage the cover pan and an opposite second planar surface adapted to engage the housing;
• an elastomer coupled to one of said first and second planar surfaces;
• and
• a magnet coupled to said body portion, said magnet adapted to attract metallic particles suspended within the lubricant located within the cavity of the housing.

A power transfer assembly, comprising:

• a housing defining a cavity;
• a gearset supported for rotation in said cavity of said housing;
• a cover adapted to be secured to said housing to enclosed said cavity;
• and
• a gasket assembly disposed between said housing and said cover to define a fluid-tight seal therebetween and maintain lubricant in a sump portion of said cavity, said gasket assembly having a body portion and a magnet secured to said body portion, said magnet is in communication with said lubricant within said sump portion of said cavity.