alpinecrick
I'm Awesome
Yikes! What were you doing when it gave out? Burnouts?
If you could find another axle from the wrecking yard, that's probably the cheapest option. Not sure in Wisconsin, but around here these axles are around $100-$200 from parted out trucks. That's assuming you get the same ratio though.
Shop is probably going to be $400-$600 plus parts, depending on what blew. So it would from $800+.
At this point, it's already blown, so at least remove the cover to see the carnage. I think it's the spider gears and/or ring gears that blow on these?
From the looks of the fluid, it may not have been changed since the truck left the factory.
Plus, it's obviously been seeping lube--differentials don't like to be run low on lube.
This is how we (I) learn(ed) the value of maintenance........