Help with used axle purchase

[thuddles]

What’s up everyone! gonna go take a look at some used axles right now. it’s a dana 30 w/ 4.56 and a Dana 44 w/ 4.56 and a lunchbox locker. the guy
only wants a $1000 with no brakes. My only concern is the photo shows the front axle with tubes and no shafts, he says he has them but idk how long they’ve been sitting. how much rust is too much? if any at all inside the tube?

really want these for the gears, i’m still in 3.07 on 31s so i never see 5th gear.

should i get it just for the Dana 44?!

 

[thuddles]

here’s a pic

 

[TRE3TOP]

I would go for it if you’re looking to regear. Swapping your current axle shafts and knuckles out isn’t that hard of a job then they should bolt right in. You may have to modify the driveshaft, but if you haven’t done a SYE now would be as good a time as any. Fwiw it will cost nearly double that to regear your current axles.

 

[jazngab]

You need both axles if you want the gears. That being said I’d buy the set for $1000. Regearing alone is $2000.

 

[03coloradowrangler]

I see no rust other than very light speckled surface rust.

they appear to be at that "warning" stage where you can easily get away with some degreaser and a scotch pad to clean them off then hit it with some rustoleum.

but the axles are thick and even if they were terribly rusty they would still be structurally fine. I think the only concern for used axles is whether or not they are straight and true.

only thing I see which I question a little is whether or not the welds for the front axles passenger upper control arm mount have been welded on a little or came from the factory like that. its a bit blurry to tell.

 

[thuddles]

that’s exactly what i was thinking. i just wanted some reaffirm my decision. i’ll bring some tools and open em up to make sure gears look good.

 

[JeepingNet]

What is going on with that rear axle in the top left on the picture.. Is that the one you are getting? Something not stock next to the shock hanger..

The only issue with axles like this is you don't really know how they were setup or what condition the jeep is they came off. I'd maybe see if I'd let you open the diff cover to inspect the gears.

 

[Vtx531]

What is going on with that rear axle in the top left on the picture.. Is that the one you are getting? Something not stock next to the shock hanger..

Good question I'm wondering the same thing

 

[Gollywomper]

Looks like shock mounts on the axles have been reworked a bit.

 

[eastbloc]

Isn't that how JK Dana 30 mounts its shocks?
Something with google tonight, I am trying to find image of stock JK Dana 30 but only getting irrelevant image results

 

[thuddles]

they came off of an LJ the guy was going to 1 tons.. they were kinda rough round the edges but the tubes looked strait to the eye. the front shafts were removed and they looked nice and strait as well. although a bit of surface rust. i opened the diffs and the gears looked better than when i recently changed the fluid in my Dana 30/35. the 44 did have some extra beefing up of some mounts. nothing looked cracked or bent, just reinforced. it was def wheeled with a couple of scrapes here n there but overall it looked worth the $1000. i made the purchase, now they’ll sit in my backyard for 10 months before i get to swapping

gotta upgrade to disk in the rear to make this work right but i’m confident it should line up good with my adjustable control arms and sye

any recommendations for storing axels like this? full with fluid? i was planning on taping them as i don’t have a garage...