Replacing part of an axle tube.

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DeCaff2007

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What is this part called and is there a replacement available, or am I going to have to patch up the old one? I'm about to pressure wash and sandblast this overweight piece of garbage, so I already know that the rot will be worse when I'm done.

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stutaeng

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Yikes! I was gonna comment on your other post about leaf springs that they looked kinda rusty, but this looks worse. It looks like this axle was chilling next to the Titanic on the ocean floor! :eek:

That's the pad for the rubber bump stops. What axle is that? Is the axle tube okay? You can't find an entire replacement axle that's not rusted out in your area? Maybe from a truck that's a bit further away from the rust belt area?

Otherwise, just get creative with some steel plate...fabricate your own.
 
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someotherguy

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That pad is simply welded on, easy enough to cut it off and weld on another.. providing you can find one near you that is in better shape!

Have someone from a non-rustbelt area chop one and send it to you in a flat rate box.

Richard
 

b454rat

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Is your truck 2wd or 4wd? if it's a 2 wheeler, then maybe replace it, but if a 4wd, it won't matter cause they don't reach anyways.....
 

DeCaff2007

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How about just finding another axle at a treasure yard or on Craigslist?
Well, about that, I had another axle sitting in my backyard... but it was for a GMT800. It's NOT a direct swap. Otherwise, it would have been a donor axle.

However, on THAT note, that GMT800 axle also has an Eaton Posi carrier that I installed years ago. Both axles are 8.5 inch 10 bolts, both are 28-spline, both are drum brakes, and both are 3.42 gear ratios. So explain why the axle shafts on the 800 are longer and carrier bearings were a larger outer diameter.

Is your truck 2wd or 4wd? if it's a 2 wheeler, then maybe replace it, but if a 4wd, it won't matter cause they don't reach anyways.....
It's a 4wd. No such thing as 2wd trucks around here.

Yikes! I was gonna comment on your other post about leaf springs that they looked kinda rusty, but this looks worse. It looks like this axle was chilling next to the Titanic on the ocean floor! :eek:

That's the pad for the rubber bump stops. What axle is that? Is the axle tube okay? You can't find an entire replacement axle that's not rusted out in your area? Maybe from a truck that's a bit further away from the rust belt area?

Otherwise, just get creative with some steel plate...fabricate your own.

Oh come on, it's not THAT bad! I had a Ford Ranger at one time that made this axle look new. With that, it's the factory axle from my RCSB, which is the only reason I'm trying to save it. What's the point of looking for another sh*tbox axle from a yard if it's going to give me the same problems? Besides, it's already sandblasted.

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Both sides are like this.

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Purpose of this pic wasn't for the numbers. It's to show the pinholes in that circle. The axle on my 76 Trans Am has the exact same ailment. I packed it full of RTV (this was the days before I could weld) and it's been fine ever since.
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Anyway, I have my answer now. Those pieces are nothing too critical. I will patch them up and move on.
 

454cid

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Wow the pitting on that is terrible! You can tell there is a lot of metal loss. I hope mine isn't that bad below the spring mounts.
 

DeCaff2007

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Wow the pitting on that is terrible! You can tell there is a lot of metal loss. I hope mine isn't that bad below the spring mounts.
Yeah, agreed. Unless it leaks when all put together, I'm running it.
 

RichLo

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That pinhole crack is in the factory plug weld holding the tube to the diff housing. That is what failed on my plow truck last year, I would recommend welding the tubes to the diff for added insurance.

That whole process is pretty well documented in my thread below
 

Schurkey

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Both axles are 8.5 inch 10 bolts, both are 28-spline, both are drum brakes, and both are 3.42 gear ratios.

It's a 4wd. No such thing as 2wd trucks around here.

it's the factory axle from my RCSB, which is the only reason I'm trying to save it. What's the point of looking for another sh*tbox axle from a yard if it's going to give me the same problems? Besides, it's already sandblasted.
Far as I'm concerned, an 8.5" axle isn't worth the labor, heartache, or hassle of "fixing" it.

Paint it, put it under a workbench in your shop. Wrap it in plastic or something if it makes you feel better, so it doesn't re-rust. But don't USE it.

Get a 9.5" 6-lug axle assembly in the correct gear ratio. Twice as strong, BETTER BRAKES, and if you select well, less rust that has to be dealt with. Since you already have 6-lug wheels, all you need is fresh gear lube, a conversion U-joint, and brake work as required.
 
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