I Bought a rear end the other day and the guy knew I was just lookin for the housing and axles. Just stuffing new guts into it. He even pulled an axle out a little to show the beating wasn't chewed up. Well...pull the axles and it looks like they have been sitting in water for a few years... would you use these axles? I'm putting an Eaton posi with a 3.73 gear into it. Street car, a little over 300hp to the wheels through a manual trans

 

I wouldn't be worried about the rust, but how do the splines look? Is there any indication of twisting or distortion? If not, you are probably good to go.

 

In my opinion those are compromised. If it was just a little surface rust I wouldn't worry about it, but that is some deep pitting, and not on just one small area of the shaft.

 

JMO but I would clean them up and have them magnafluxed for fractures/cracks before attempting to use them... Better to be safe then sorry, spend a little extra now instead of a whole lot more later...

 

Unfortunately, a Magnuflux would probably exceed the cost of a new axle at $85. I'm trying to get a feel about how to go about this with the guy I got the rear end from. I would not have driven 400 miles round trip for this had I known the condition of the axles themselves. I was told it needs to be rebuilt, which I expected, but this is beyond throwing new bearings into...

 

If axels are only $85.00, as cheap as I am, I myself would buy new ones rather than use them . Yes they do look like they came from a flood victim area.

 

At that HP level I think they would be fine if a cleanup shows no real problems. Your call

 

I think if the surface where the bearing and seal rides is good and splines are not twisted, go for it.

 

If you're not confident in the condition of those axles, replacing them for $85 is cheap insurance.

 

why not get new and sell those to someone with much less HP? A daily driver would be easily ok with those ancient relics.

 

looking at those axles.... I would not trust anything inside that rear...

MAunal trans - you can have a 100hp motor and snap an axle with stick shift trans.

Mag flux - do not bother.... as stated not worth the money on those parts. I sell NEW axles for 145.00 each.

Very heavy break down of the axle shafts look at the bearings they are massively pitted also.... these indicate break down of the axles...they are only case hardened metal surface - spend the money and can those shafts.

AGAIN- it is your car and diff. I am sure the axle seal surfaces are more what I would worried about as they will never seal with that kind of rust on the axles. YOUR LOOKING at major headaches there.

Jim
J D RAce