Do I really need to use the OEM locking nuts on the diff?

[jc1000]

The Bentley manual says to use an OEM self-locking nut for the bolt in the picture securing the differential in place as well as for where the diff connects to the driveshaft (I think).

Do I really need these? Can I just use locking nuts from a hardware store instead? Or just reuse the existing one?

[Panici]

I've reused them in the past with blue loctite added for good measure.

[82eye]

same as Panici.

i've swapped original locking nuts with generic replacements in the past as well.

[TobyB]

Just as long as you don't use some 4.8 nuts from Horror Fright, it'll be OK.

I reuse the originals, myself, because I trust them more than most of the
hardware I can easily buy...

t

[Vincenze]

You can get all kinds of nuts and bolts from https://belmetric.com/
Even yellow-zinc plated, which are similar to the original cadmium plated.