Seems to me since they drove out there...and opened the diff... that they might as well of replaced the axle and driven it out. Seems like I'm constantly seeing Dana 35 OEM castoffs on CL and FB marketplace...I kept my originals...not that they'll do any good on my Super 35 carrier.
All depends on parts on hand I guess...and we all know how hard getting parts can be.
Glad they had pig mats... everyone should have a spill kit!
-Mac