I have done a junkyard 60 swap on my jk. Couple of things 1) when I did it there was no cheap option. 2) I bought stuff in stages to break up the cost of doing it all at once. 3) it all depends on your situation and skills. If I had money to spend, I would buy spidertrax fabbed axles. If I couldn’t afford them I would just junkyard swap again.
What a great video topic! These days, my time is worth more to me than when I was younger and inexperienced. Purchasing a custom axle for such a little cost differential over a DIY axle is a no brainer for me.
For the time put in to do this at my pay scale the used axel would have been at least $250 MORE expensive. The only reason that doing an axel like this can pan out is it allows you to spread the parts cost out over time. However they can become a problem in itself. Finding out months later you got the wrong part ect. This video pretty much sums up why I’m leaving a D30 under my YJ and sinking as little money in it as possible for my build. I’d rather save for a custom D44.
I was thinking the same thng, pulling up a chair and grinding brackets off is not my idea of fun. It makes for a great instagram photo with all the sparks but that's about it.
Whether you go junk yard or aftermarket you need a few things you didn’t mention that going to cost money, sometimes a lot of money. Brakes, steering linkage, high steer arms ect. I’m sure you had a reason for the omission and this is the first time I’ve run across your channel. Good vid, I’m retired now and out of the business but I enjoy watching these kind of channels to see what new ideas are floating around. Back in the 1960’s and 1970’s all of the engineering was done around the campfire and a 6 pack.
I think the omission was based on, "those things should be new anyway" assumptions. The same reason the 8.8 is a waste of time. Buy the time you've added the "ultimate 8.8" package (locker, shafts and bearing retaining upgrades) and a complete rebuild with brackets. Your damned near at the same costs as a new custom d60 or d44 with factory geometry.
And the most important cost. You go the “cheap” junkyard fix spend the money then when you realize you should have bought new then you do so the price has doubled overtime. I apply this analogy in many aspects of life.
great information, and very true i thought i could build out my axles to save allot of money and by the time you get all the good parts your within a couple hundred bucks of an fully built after market axle...i will most likely be just be buying axles for my ton swap. thanks for the great information as always!!! if you ever come east let me know! FL here.
Great video. It is ridiculous that used parts with two hundred thousand miles on it are costing almost as much as new stuff. If people start buying more new parts, hopefully it will drive the cost of used parts down.
It depends on where you are too I got front and rear 1 tons ready to bolt under for 1,700$ that’s what I spent on axels spring perches for coils and 5:13 gears I did not go with moly shafts I figure they will be fine for what I’m doing
The short side axle shaft on the +05 was my “no go” I did decide on a 79 f250 D44 Carl at Jantz is setting me up and w/RCV 30s just under 4K . Bolt up SOA to my LS swapped J truck .
I was about to raise that same point - perhaps a good compromise would be to buy the junk-yard axle, remove the brakes, etc, that aren't supplied with the custom axle, then flick on the rest - might come out pretty close to even if the market's as strong as suggested. Overall, when buying new one avoids buying someone else's problem - and if one's dropping that sort of money on the axle, it's not unlikely they'll be happy(ish) to add a bit more for new brakes and stub axles so they KNOW they're all good.
You are completely right with the prices. But I believe this video is for more of the hardcore wheelers. More of an every weekend on Moab or rubicon type stuff. For someone like me who road trips with a camper and doesn’t hit a hard trails might want to go the cheap junkyard route with factory axles. Either way, you are right. Right now I’m rocking a factory 91 suburban with a 14 bolt and an 8 lug 10 bolt and 4:10’s. This is perfect for me bc the factory parts are cheap and readily available at any given time at auto parts stores where as a chromoly shaft from Yukon isn’t readily available. I like wheelin but not the hardcore stuf just because I am usually attached to a camper and have my family with me..... either way, I love your videos and appreciate your hard work and thought that goes in them. You’re very knowledgeable and highly experienced. Can’t wait to see what’s up with your jeep truck! I’m also looking at a new wrangler 6 speed as a daily driver and road trip stuff with my pups.
After you factor in every thing from the knuckles out that comes with a junkyard axle that you have to go get and the problem that you can't get a get off the shelf shafts for spare doesn't make it even close
Yep most do. Knuckles and hubs are certainly relevant to the conversation but I would never consider using junk yard brakes in a build. Safety is first, everything else second. Perhaps I should have tacked on 50 bucks for a set of junk yard Knuckles with the fusion 4x4 option
@@DirtLifestyle I got a set of 79 f250 axles from the junk yard in west New York and the Dana 44 has the big dual pistons and the rubber seals were fine. I reused them👌🏻
@@DirtLifestyle nothing wrong with junkyard brakes as long as you check the seals and piston movement. If you bought a used car you wouldn’t think twice about using the brakes on it...no difference
@@firstwordcar Not sure how I could be more clear about this with out sound like a d-bag. Here it goes... If you go to school to get an ASE certification there is one word that gets touched on repeatedly when these schools teach brakes... contamination. You can't compare a used car with junk yard brakes because an axle sitting out in the rain is completely exposed to the elements. How long was this axle and brakes sitting outside? 6 months? A year? Once you introduce contamination into the system how can you tell that there is no corrosion on the inside of the piston? If you are pulling the piston and actually rebuilding the calipers then we completely agree. In this instance junkyard brakes can be used but If you are saying that by looking at the outside of a caliper is "inspecting" it then we do not agree. Your brakes are the most important system you have in the rig your servicing and the stakes are sooooo high if they fail. I'm One of the few people I know that was actually trained on how to service and inspect brakes properly. And because of my understanding of these systems I use caution. My life (and yours) depends on it.
For WJ owners wondering, the WJ has a different setup than XJ's and TJ's. The track width is different and the spring perches are different as well. ZJ's do have complete axle compatibility with XJ's and TJ's.
Great video with lots of information for those of us that were debating junkyard axles vs new. One advantage I could see to going with a junkyard axle is being able to spread out the costs over a longer timeframe, for those of us with a limited monthly budget for upgrades. However, if someone doesn't have the ability or tools, the labor costs of building a junkyard axle also need to be factored in.
Haven't watched the video yet, after building my junkyard 8.8 I was within a couple hundred bucks of an east coast fully built. Considering my time and consumables used, it would have been way more cost effective to just buy new
Not that I'd ever do a one ton swap, but I've always enjoyed piecing parts together. Not to mention that buying them here and there is much better on my budget, but I think you're right that it would end up with an inferior results and no warranty. Good information to consider here👍👍🍺
I did consider building my own but Instead bought danatrac pro 60’s for my jku. Just rebuilt my old axles and installed them on my wife’s jku with the 4:56 trutrac gear set and 37” mud grapplers
I have a JK with 35’s and a truetrac. How does truetrac do with jump to 37’s. I heard it’s a little to much tire for truetrac and locker is now needed. Any first hand experience with??
Great observation. Time, effort badly spent energy. What’s it worth. Look at the DATA. The after market is very competitive with pricing and great products. Thanks Nate
Most of us would have to pay for the labour to install the locker & gears on a junkyard axle. Does the aftermarket axle come complete ? The price might be further apart
I appreciate that you make mistakes and realize that it’s just part of the process. Learning lessons shared with the community is money well spent. I hope you earn those funds back with TH-cam revenue...!
Biggest difference i see between new and used parts is, a) TAX, and b) when building a used axle and buying parts it is done in multiple smaller transactions, which can be more manageable for lots of people....and also easier to hide from your wife!!!!
You need a different wife if you have to hide $$ expense from her; also ive done both junkjard and custom axles and its WAAAY better to just save the money and wait until you can drop it on a custom build; its the little things that you get going custom that adds up and makes a HUGE difference in the end, trust me; oh !! also slap a warranty too =)
Nate, kudos on the new graphics during the intro. I was so excited to see this title come up in my "feed" that i couldn't even wait for the content before I just had to comment! Thanks for doing this! I can't tell you how relevant this topic is right now with everyone tossing themselves into the off road motorsport with such reckless abandonment.
One thing many ppl forget is your time to prep, weld everything and put all of the components into the axle is $$$. So for $200 more this is all done and you just add oil and mount into your TJ is WELL worth the $200 difference. Great vid!
@@BuffMyRadius I just picked up a rolled over super duty complete frame with suspension and axles for $800. I’m sure they would be expensive up in the PNW or wherever they salt the roads but in the south most of this stuff is rust free and cheap. With the prices Nate mentioned I’d be all for a road trip too
I’m a fan of buying aftermarket axles over junkyard axles every single time. Junkyard axles aren’t built for off-roading rigs. They’re built for on road trucks. Aftermarket axles are built with high clearance off-roading in mind. They come with a warranty. They can be completely custom made. They’re just better. And even if they’re more expensive they’re just plain better.
35 spline 1.6” axles shafts are 35 spline 1.6” axle shafts. No difference. The rocks and torque doesn’t know it is a spidertrack or a 79F350 front axle.
@@runningproblem big rock once asked me.."is that a spydertrax or f350?" I said "spydertrax" big rock said "you may pass" I shudder to think what might of happened if it had been a 350!!
F250's aren't used in the Oil Fields?.. So sloppy/muddy they have to get dragged into sites with Dozers? They are .. and while they are under warranty from Ford they endure this. Enjoy the fairytale "not made for offroad" cupcake sprinkles.
Big pro of a junkyard axle is parts availability. Chances are somebody you know, somebody on a Facebook group, etc. Will have what you need when something breaks. But when you go with a custom axle and you HAVE to order and extra set custom axle shafts or you're just screwed. At least upgrading stock shafts and keeping them in the tow rig can get you a bit more drive time
great video Nate , it has come down to supply in demand so everything goes up and people pay it they want to build stronger and its far from reality, I machine and heat treat steel of all kinds for a living and have gained tons of knowledge over almost 20 yrs experience, you got to think before you drop 4k on a used axle swap, sure you know what it came out of is easy, its the mileage , heat cycles the unit has gone through and most of all was it driven hard and serviced regularly or never serviced, if it has almost never been serviced, the whole unit is well under 50% of its usable service life, and is then put into a rig with big off road tires and like most guys don't bother to upgrade the gear ratios now you just upped the factor of your 4k axle breakage possibly your first trip out wheeling, so i agree with you the new custom axle price even if it is a $1000 more is the way i would go hands down, no messing around with used things when off roading people being penny wise and pound foolish, i have built heavy duty equipment of all sorts over the years and know what can go wrong and at times ,very wrong, buddy built a rig 7 yrs ago put in a 5.3 V8 low miles like 27k and old 1 ton axles out of a ford F350 it looked great when it was done and had a set of 37" KO2's on it before the end of the 2nd month boom broke something in the back fixed it, then 2 weeks later the front gave up the ghost and was almost 3k and he did all the work diff, axles ,knuckles, driveshaft so almost new really when you think about an some guy offered to sell him a new front axle for $3900 we couldn't talk him out of it doing it his way, thats ok though, new is not for everyone i would stay new thats just me 👍
Very true. Most folks don't think about what life that junk yard axle has seen before you got it. Was the passenger side tire hit by another vehicle in an accident? A 1° tweek in the inner c could be easily overlooked and make it chew through tires faster then normal. It could even cause some minor death wobble issues. I've actually had 2 close friends buy and build axles to find out they were bent 🤦♂️. But you are right new axles aren't for everyone
This video is absolutely the truth. It’s sad that used stuff has climbed up so much though. Takes the fun out of making something work that you wouldn’t normally see out there.
Great topic and I appreciate your "apples to apples" comparison. I believe all in (brakes, hubs, lockputs...), rebuilding your own junk yard axles is more cost effective. That said, custom certainly has some large benefits and something worth considering. Thanks Nate.
I did something similar when I was building my Chevelle. I rebuilt a junkyard rear end instead of ordering an out of the box 9inch. I payed almost as much and spent wayyyy more time piecing everything together.
A lot of good points made in the discussions. I did not have time to read all of it so maybe this point has already been made, the knowledge to do everything to a junkyard or aftermarket axle to get it to the bolt-in point. I do not have that knowledge or skill set so to me you should have added in a reasonable labor cost for the work that needed to be done to these axles. I went the junkyard axle route about 12-13 years ago. The initial cost of a set of matching front and back '77 Ford Dana 60's wasn't bad at $1250, but after buying all the parts and paying someone to put it all together, it really added up. I have not, however, broken a single u-joint or axle shaft on either axle in 12 years of wheeling since it was complete. I run a 5.3L Chevy, have 38.5 Boggers on a stretched TJ and don't shy away from very many obstacles. Probably should not have put that out there! lol I put all my gearing into the trans and t-case. I have a SM465 with a 7.2:1 first gear and a 5:1 Atlas so even with the stock 3.54 gears left in the axle (saved me money) my crawl ratio is up over 120:1. It works for me. Great video and good discussion point. I think if i was building mine today after watching this, I would go after market for the minimal cost difference.
I have started planning an off-road campervan build (tearing it down to the bones and doing a full custom rebuild by myself) and this video has really made me rethink the idea of buying and rebuilding an older axle. I'm going to do some investigations and get some quotes for a custom built axle and see the price difference. If it ends up only £300-£400 more then I'll just have it made. The time and labour I could save myself is more than worth that sort of money. Thank you very much for this information.
Nate! I love when you do information bomb video's like this one! I've already put alot of your tips into practice on my own projects and of course budget is always my primary concern. I'm the kind of guy that does what you do. When you release video's sharing information on projects I'm considering for my own rigs I can't help but be excited. THANK YOU for all of your outstanding content! Keep it up Nate! Because there may be a day you come across a Blue Dakota tearing up trails you've said we've gotta try.
Hey thanks for this. I really like your channel. I’m looking at solid axle swapping a 98 Chevy Tahoe. This gives me something to think about and not feel like I have to jump on the first Dana 60 that comes along at a halfway decent price.
Nate, another great video. My build is difficult and you make it more bearable. Don't spend a single breath on the haters. You have a great channel because you generate great content both on the trail and in the shop. Thanks from all of us.
This is definitely a hobby and fabrication is fun. That said, I don't have a lot of extra spare time at the moment, and also consider the time I am using to fab, as labor hours, cause if you didn't do it you would have to pay someone too do it. Thus, my time is valuable and the $200 difference is thrown out and it goes way into the favor of the custom axle from all the time you save. I love fabrication but if I only have enough time to be wheeling or building, I know which one I am choosing every time. Nice job on the video, this will be an eye opener for many including myself.
Great content Sir and greetings from Finland! You mentioned WJ when you listed suitable Jeeps for that bracket kit. What is your general opinion about WJ and would you build one to you self?
Nice job Nate. I like the content and the attitude of give the big picture and letting folks figure it out for themselves. Seeing both sides, used or new, is always the best practice to plan on what is best for the individual. Again, nice work!
Cool video with great comparisons. Downfall of the custom axle is you need custom axle shafts, if I break a SD axle I can run to an auto parts store and grab another and the stock SD axles can hold big power so moly isn't needed unless your really going to beat the crap out of it regularly and they can still hold up to that. The custom axles are cool, but still over priced imo, especially with the cheaper salvage and FB marketplace prices we have in the south.
That advice is right on the money with my experience.. I'm running modified OEM axles on my SAS'ed Isuzu Rodeo and I've broken the rear OEM Isuzu Dana 44 twice and the Toyota front axle once. Yeah i know, shoudda gone 60's) They have both been rebuilt with everything hardened now and are almost indetructible for 44's. But if I ever build them again I'll be putting in Custom Dana 60's. I really don't wheel that hard these last few years (7) because I've been busy fighting cancer, and shatterd both feet and had both legs fractured in that accident. (So not a lot of wheeling time) As I'm getting older (71) I find I just don't need to tear stuff up as bad as I used to.) Funny thing though I've been kicking around the idea of putting a custom Dana 70 front axle under my 37' FERD Motorhome..... Only I may need to go reverse portals because the old girl is pretty tall now, and I want it more for snow country than rocks. But that's crazy I know! Good Video!
The biggest reason I see for using a junkyard axle is I can get into a dana 60 and feasibly put it on my rig for 1500$. This starting cost is way lower than 4500$ for a custom axle. Then, later on, I can put lockers, axles shafts, and all the other goodies on it when I can afford it. It may not be cheaper in the long run, but I can spread 4500$ out over several months or years and make it more affordable. This is how I did my junkyard dana 44 swap into my Cherokee at 16.
Nate. Hallelujah brother on the figures ! That's why it's better to select all the proper go fast or go off-road gear new from a supplier like "Terrafirma" who specialize in Landy's and Jeeps too ? V.
I did a 1 ton junkyard swap on my 88 4runner back in 2004 and with prices of custom axles id go that route plus dont forget the added cost of going tons upgraded steering, ram assist, brake master cylinder/possibly booter and beefing up frame to name a few
Thank you for doing this comparison. I have done a junkyard swap with a Ford 8.8 but for the front I have looked at custom built Dana 44. Time is a big factor for me and for $200 more that is well worth it. There is always a risk with a junkyard axle, like is it straight or bent? The argument some may have about reusing stuff, I would advise against is. You already have the axle tore apart and you a building a project then might as well replace the wearable parts. I also agree with upgrading to Chromoly, again it is worth the upgrade. I think I saw someone say brakes too, well I like new pads and rotors as well. Great video and I appreciate the true apples to apples comparison.
Awesome video, bug once & cry once not to mention the time it takes to get to some places to wheel and have a break down will really ruin the trip… just make it stronger then you think you need !
Very true, depends on the rig. When you're broke and time isn't a huge priority it can be better to spend a bit more in the long run (potentially with spare parts). Find a cheap housing, work on it, buy some gears and take your time, use leaf springs and OE axle shafts and roll until you want to upgrade (4 link? Cromos?) Then find a front and repeat.
Maybe I’m just not well informed on this topic but I went with 2012 super duty axles. I love your videos and this is probably helpful for jeep swaps but when you get a used axle you get the whole thing and usually more. Steering box,hubs, brakes, sway bar, tie rods, drag link… etc. I got all this and more when I found mine. It took a few months to find a decent deal though.
In the last 6 months I've been through this same thing. I ended buying my first set of new axles ever. After looking at costs for used and making them work in my wj project the price point wasn't that much more for new. Don't get me wrong it hurt a bit🤣 I've always used junkyard or used parts in my builds to keep costs down. Your point that we just don't live in that time anymore is true and will only get worse as time goes on as parts are used up. The mental struggle is real but long live the aftermarket!
ty this helped me a ton bc i was trying to figure out the cost of a dana 60 swap. I wouldnt be able to do all the stuff necessary to truss an axle, i dont know how to weld, i dont have a grinder, and i definitely dont trust myself cutting things off the axle, so having a shop do all that stuff for me would add to the expense. however i can do the axle swap myself so this makes things far more appealing when it comes to $$$
One thing is up front costs. I you can dump 5k all at once or do it over a few months or years. You can still wheel on basically stock superduty axles. Then upgrade as time goes on.
Very very good points here, but to truly compare apples to apples, we need to consider the cost of the outer assemblies that usually come "free" with that initial junkyard axle. If you can get away with using stock parts there, we can count some significant savings. Knuckles, unit bearings, locking hubs, brake calipers, mounting hardware, etc can add up pretty quick. Fusion of course offers a kit with all the outers, but the price jumps a few grand. You could scrounge junkyard outer assemblies and save some money, but at least at our local u-pull-it, you'll pay almost as much for all the outer stuff once they bend you over line-by-line as you would have paid for an "axle assembly" at a single price. Just more stuff to consider when making this choice. The other thing to highlight here is that with custom width axle comes custom width problems. I have run custom width before when the build required it, and I have more than once been annoyed waiting for a replacement custom shaft when something breaks. Certainly not a deal-breaker, but it is another bonus of sticking with stock widths. In-stock replacement parts can be handy. Great points in the video though! Keep up the amazing content!
This is why I went crate axles when it came time for my front end. Now my rig isn't going over 38" tires, but if it did- I'd still choose crate axles. Literally plug and play. Time is money
Nate first I would like to thank you and Jessica for the swag. Your Dirt Lifestyle sticker looks awesome on my, wait, wait a minute, that's right, my GLADIATOR! I went to Fusion's website and I must not be following doctors orders and keeping up on my fruit and vegetables because my apples didn't come out the same pricewise as your apples. I find interesting that Fusion, Rockjock, Dynatrac all have some physical uniqueness about them. Prices seem to be similar so I would go for customer service. But, I'm afraid it is a little late for me for I have purchased a junkyard 14 bolt and kingpin 60 for my LJ build. Nate love following you and love your videos and I have to say, I'm 61 years old and when I grow up I want to be just like you.
My 08 superduty axles cost me $6000 or so after gears, lockers, trusses, balljoint deletes, and a rebuild with 1550 shafts. A majority of the cost was on the front axle. Just throwing out my personal experience.
Dude. Your are truely an awesome content creator. Your open minded thinking and constantly learning and helping us. 100percent love your work. Hope to one day shake your hand and maybe wheel with you
Nate what did you do before becoming a full time You tube broadcaster. Did you say you were a pipefitter or plumber? you definitely have a great knowledge of building and fabrication very impressive. Look forward to this show every week. Thanks for another interesting topic.
but is putting a couple D60's under a cj-7 worth it vers a set of D44's? as in weight? the cost is about close enough to be a wash. (about $1K or so). daily driver? it gets driven to the trails and "other things" but NOT a mall cruiser. as for a cj-7 these axles would be cut down quite a bit. less than 62 in wms-wms. a rear 8.8 is easy to do such, maybe at my place. (lack of proper working space). or a built up corp 20 out of a waggy? (reuse the guts i have now). a built up 9in for weight (front and/or rear). just a fi amc 258, T18, dana 300.
Custom built axles have been the quick "easy button" for a long time now. Cost and time management wise plus a warranty, but some people like "rolling their own" axle. Now days you can get on net price out from a few company's find best option "al cart" for you and know upfront the cost and it will fit. Twenty plus years before there was only a very few choices for built axles custom custom 9 in or Dana patterns 44 and 60 and it could take quite a bit of time to just figured out what and where to order many was set as this is what we offer take it or not. Heck you can about log in and watch it being built for you, just pull out your C.C. which is different then too and shows the changes. Off-roading was more of a hobby/ weekend thing or for work now it's alot more people income stream now.
I completely agree about the breakdown regarding the junkyard axle. Where I disagree is the cost of new axles. Everything I’m seeing is $10,000 plus. Is the fusion axle representative of the new typical price point?
I'm on the fence about building my 85 toyota pickup front axle. I want to widen it with ifs hubs. Truss it. And knuckle gusset it. I could do all that work to that housing or I could get a trail gear rock assault housing setup for tacoma width. It'd probably be a lot stronger and I'd get the width I'm after. I can still use the 3rd member I plan to use plus all the outer stuff. Decisions are hard lol. I love the feeling of building up a stock junkyard axle but it makes more sense going with an aftermarket housing that would cost the same if not a little more than modifying the stock housing. I could also sell the 85 housing to cover some cost.
Definitely similar pricing when built to the hilt. If I were to spend 5K I would definitely go aftermarket. But in my area, a 05+ D60 is about $400 at multiple yards. No need for an ARB for me, just a Spartan. As far as a truss and mounting it I have a few tools and know how to use them. Personally around $1500 for a swap on my XJ.
When you consider your blood, sweat,and tears not to mention shop supplies you are actually ahead in dollars using the new setup. The warranty should be considered as well though I'm not sure what would or would not be covered.
I have done a junkyard 60 swap on my jk. Couple of things
1) when I did it there was no cheap option.
2) I bought stuff in stages to break up the cost of doing it all at once.
3) it all depends on your situation and skills.
If I had money to spend, I would buy spidertrax fabbed axles. If I couldn’t afford them I would just junkyard swap again.
Makes a lot of sense! With a custom made, Save time and a lot of work and headaches. Just plug and play!
What a great video topic! These days, my time is worth more to me than when I was younger and inexperienced. Purchasing a custom axle for such a little cost differential over a DIY axle is a no brainer for me.
Time is something to consider as well. It takes a little while to just cut the brackets off a super duty axle.
For the time put in to do this at my pay scale the used axel would have been at least $250 MORE expensive.
The only reason that doing an axel like this can pan out is it allows you to spread the parts cost out over time. However they can become a problem in itself. Finding out months later you got the wrong part ect.
This video pretty much sums up why I’m leaving a D30 under my YJ and sinking as little money in it as possible for my build. I’d rather save for a custom D44.
That ALONE makes the new option totally worth it!
Time is a huge one to concider. We all want our builds done. Not sitting in the garage.
I was thinking the same thng, pulling up a chair and grinding brackets off is not my idea of fun. It makes for a great instagram photo with all the sparks but that's about it.
HP Dana 30 + 40” tires = leaving me in peace and let me destroy my axle my way. 😁😆
Lol
Win!
I went the crate axle route and loved it! ordered from ECGS a month or so later a fully built Dana 60 showed up ready to bolt in!
That's the ticket lol. I've always wanted to order an axle that is complete to bolt in. 👍
What was the price point for it
@davidbrunner4413 from what I have looked into about 10k
Whether you go junk yard or aftermarket you need a few things you didn’t mention that going to cost money, sometimes a lot of money. Brakes, steering linkage, high steer arms ect. I’m sure you had a reason for the omission and this is the first time I’ve run across your channel. Good vid, I’m retired now and out of the business but I enjoy watching these kind of channels to see what new ideas are floating around. Back in the 1960’s and 1970’s all of the engineering was done around the campfire and a 6 pack.
I think the omission was based on, "those things should be new anyway" assumptions. The same reason the 8.8 is a waste of time. Buy the time you've added the "ultimate 8.8" package (locker, shafts and bearing retaining upgrades) and a complete rebuild with brackets. Your damned near at the same costs as a new custom d60 or d44 with factory geometry.
Many aftermarket come complete with updated disc brakes as an almost drop in unit.
And the most important cost. You go the “cheap” junkyard fix spend the money then when you realize you should have bought new then you do so the price has doubled overtime. I apply this analogy in many aspects of life.
...including marriage.
Yeah but you have more fun and learn a lot diy
great information, and very true i thought i could build out my axles to save allot of money and by the time you get all the good parts your within a couple hundred bucks of an fully built after market axle...i will most likely be just be buying axles for my ton swap. thanks for the great information as always!!! if you ever come east let me know! FL here.
Thanks! I've always used junk yard stuff. But recently I've discovered the cost of used parts have exceeded the value.
Great video. It is ridiculous that used parts with two hundred thousand miles on it are costing almost as much as new stuff. If people start buying more new parts, hopefully it will drive the cost of used parts down.
My thoughts exactly. An axle with 200k miles that might be bent? OR a brand new custom housing with a warranty. It's a no brainer to me
I paid 1500 bucks for front axles with 40,000 on them shipped to my house from across the country😅
@@jaboff-road1776 u should have watched the video first 🤣
It depends on where you are too I got front and rear 1 tons ready to bolt under for 1,700$ that’s what I spent on axels spring perches for coils and 5:13 gears I did not go with moly shafts I figure they will be fine for what I’m doing
The short side axle shaft on the +05 was my “no go”
I did decide on a 79 f250 D44
Carl at Jantz is setting me up and w/RCV 30s just under 4K . Bolt up SOA to my LS swapped J truck .
But the custom axle didn’t come with knuckles, hubs or brakes ect, so you need to factory that into the price.
You are absolutely right. Add another 50 bucks for some junk yard knuckles 👍
@@DirtLifestyle Don’t forget unit bearings. That’s another $250-$400 per side.
I was about to raise that same point - perhaps a good compromise would be to buy the junk-yard axle, remove the brakes, etc, that aren't supplied with the custom axle, then flick on the rest - might come out pretty close to even if the market's as strong as suggested.
Overall, when buying new one avoids buying someone else's problem - and if one's dropping that sort of money on the axle, it's not unlikely they'll be happy(ish) to add a bit more for new brakes and stub axles so they KNOW they're all good.
You are completely right with the prices. But I believe this video is for more of the hardcore wheelers. More of an every weekend on Moab or rubicon type stuff. For someone like me who road trips with a camper and doesn’t hit a hard trails might want to go the cheap junkyard route with factory axles. Either way, you are right. Right now I’m rocking a factory 91 suburban with a 14 bolt and an 8 lug 10 bolt and 4:10’s. This is perfect for me bc the factory parts are cheap and readily available at any given time at auto parts stores where as a chromoly shaft from Yukon isn’t readily available. I like wheelin but not the hardcore stuf just because I am usually attached to a camper and have my family with me..... either way, I love your videos and appreciate your hard work and thought that goes in them. You’re very knowledgeable and highly experienced. Can’t wait to see what’s up with your jeep truck! I’m also looking at a new wrangler 6 speed as a daily driver and road trip stuff with my pups.
After you factor in every thing from the knuckles out that comes with a junkyard axle that you have to go get and the problem that you can't get a get off the shelf shafts for spare doesn't make it even close
What about knuckles, spindles, hubs, and brakes? Most junkyard axles will have a lot of that stuff already?
Yep most do. Knuckles and hubs are certainly relevant to the conversation but I would never consider using junk yard brakes in a build. Safety is first, everything else second.
Perhaps I should have tacked on 50 bucks for a set of junk yard Knuckles with the fusion 4x4 option
@@DirtLifestyle I got a set of 79 f250 axles from the junk yard in west New York and the Dana 44 has the big dual pistons and the rubber seals were fine. I reused them👌🏻
@@austinandannah5357 cool! Personally I will never reuse old brakes from a junk yard. But I'm glad it work out in your case 👍
@@DirtLifestyle nothing wrong with junkyard brakes as long as you check the seals and piston movement. If you bought a used car you wouldn’t think twice about using the brakes on it...no difference
@@firstwordcar
Not sure how I could be more clear about this with out sound like a d-bag. Here it goes...
If you go to school to get an ASE certification there is one word that gets touched on repeatedly when these schools teach brakes... contamination. You can't compare a used car with junk yard brakes because an axle sitting out in the rain is completely exposed to the elements. How long was this axle and brakes sitting outside? 6 months? A year? Once you introduce contamination into the system how can you tell that there is no corrosion on the inside of the piston? If you are pulling the piston and actually rebuilding the calipers then we completely agree. In this instance junkyard brakes can be used but If you are saying that by looking at the outside of a caliper is "inspecting" it then we do not agree.
Your brakes are the most important system you have in the rig your servicing and the stakes are sooooo high if they fail. I'm One of the few people I know that was actually trained on how to service and inspect brakes properly. And because of my understanding of these systems I use caution. My life (and yours) depends on it.
For WJ owners wondering, the WJ has a different setup than XJ's and TJ's. The track width is different and the spring perches are different as well. ZJ's do have complete axle compatibility with XJ's and TJ's.
Apparently I invested in precious metals when I bought my '08 Super Duty axle set almost 7 years ago. They've doubled in price.
Lol 100% ROI😂
I’m just saving up for Currie 60’s. I’ve weighed out all the costs, including my time. The clearance & higher pinion is a bonus.
Thanks for this info, I would never have thought it would be that similar in price.
Good stuff, best four-wheel-drive channel on TH-cam!
Great video with lots of information for those of us that were debating junkyard axles vs new. One advantage I could see to going with a junkyard axle is being able to spread out the costs over a longer timeframe, for those of us with a limited monthly budget for upgrades. However, if someone doesn't have the ability or tools, the labor costs of building a junkyard axle also need to be factored in.
Haven't watched the video yet, after building my junkyard 8.8 I was within a couple hundred bucks of an east coast fully built. Considering my time and consumables used, it would have been way more cost effective to just buy new
What about shipping cost? I could see that axle costing $500 to ship
Just finished installing my Fusion axles. Don’t forget upgraded hubs!!
Not that I'd ever do a one ton swap, but I've always enjoyed piecing parts together. Not to mention that buying them here and there is much better on my budget, but I think you're right that it would end up with an inferior results and no warranty. Good information to consider here👍👍🍺
I did consider building my own but Instead bought danatrac pro 60’s for my jku. Just rebuilt my old axles and installed them on my wife’s jku with the 4:56 trutrac gear set and 37” mud grapplers
I have a JK with 35’s and a truetrac. How does truetrac do with jump to 37’s. I heard it’s a little to much tire for truetrac and locker is now needed. Any first hand experience with??
I put ecgs 60 rear 44 front in my WJ and it works fine
Great to see some Fusion love. They make great stuff!
Great observation. Time, effort badly spent energy. What’s it worth. Look at the DATA. The after market is very competitive with pricing and great products. Thanks Nate
Most of us would have to pay for the labour to install the locker & gears on a junkyard axle. Does the aftermarket axle come complete ?
The price might be further apart
Yep. And their labor cost for a gear/locker install is actually super cheap. It's all on the website
I bought a unit bearing dana50 for like $250, they have the same outers as a dana60...then go buy a fabricated 9" housing and build from there.
I appreciate that you make mistakes and realize that it’s just part of the process.
Learning lessons shared with the community is money well spent.
I hope you earn those funds back with TH-cam revenue...!
Thanks for the info. You answered a lot of my questions. Thinking about a future direction for my WJ. This helped a lot.
Biggest difference i see between new and used parts is, a) TAX, and b) when building a used axle and buying parts it is done in multiple smaller transactions, which can be more manageable for lots of people....and also easier to hide from your wife!!!!
Lol great perspective 👌
Classic
You need a different wife if you have to hide $$ expense from her; also ive done both junkjard and custom axles and its WAAAY better to just save the money and wait until you can drop it on a custom build; its the little things that you get going custom that adds up and makes a HUGE difference in the end, trust me; oh !! also slap a warranty too =)
@@yepitsme431 ok bud! Saving works for some. Others buy and upgrade over time. Whatever floats your boat big man
👍😂
Nate, kudos on the new graphics during the intro. I was so excited to see this title come up in my "feed" that i couldn't even wait for the content before I just had to comment! Thanks for doing this! I can't tell you how relevant this topic is right now with everyone tossing themselves into the off road motorsport with such reckless abandonment.
Don’t forget the time and skill required to build a junkyard axle the way you want it..great video, thanks for the upload
That’s what I was thinking that’s a major difference between a junk yard and crate axle
One thing many ppl forget is your time to prep, weld everything and put all of the components into the axle is $$$. So for $200 more this is all done and you just add oil and mount into your TJ is WELL worth the $200 difference. Great vid!
$1000 or more for a used donor axle is ridiculous. I’d just move 😂
Or take a vacation to someplace in the Midwest where axles are cheaper.
Okay, vacation might be a strong word.
@@BuffMyRadius I just picked up a rolled over super duty complete frame with suspension and axles for $800. I’m sure they would be expensive up in the PNW or wherever they salt the roads but in the south most of this stuff is rust free and cheap. With the prices Nate mentioned I’d be all for a road trip too
@@mihcael174 we salt our roads like 2 days a year. Not a rust belt around here
250 each with a choice of 4 types here on FB marketplace. Shhh
I’m a fan of buying aftermarket axles over junkyard axles every single time. Junkyard axles aren’t built for off-roading rigs. They’re built for on road trucks. Aftermarket axles are built with high clearance off-roading in mind. They come with a warranty. They can be completely custom made. They’re just better. And even if they’re more expensive they’re just plain better.
They come already made, that’s a big deal. No squaring or truing.
35 spline 1.6” axles shafts are 35 spline 1.6” axle shafts. No difference. The rocks and torque doesn’t know it is a spidertrack or a 79F350 front axle.
@@runningproblem big rock once asked me.."is that a spydertrax or f350?"
I said "spydertrax"
big rock said "you may pass"
I shudder to think what might of happened if it had been a 350!!
F250's aren't used in the Oil Fields?.. So sloppy/muddy they have to get dragged into sites with Dozers? They are .. and while they are under warranty from Ford they endure this. Enjoy the fairytale "not made for offroad" cupcake sprinkles.
Loving my East coast gear axles and the price was very reasonable 😉
I am in the process of doing a 05+ Dana 60 in my tj and now you got me thinking but I got the axle for 300$ which now I know it’s a steal
Good show👍 your right.
Axle's w/ .500 wall thickness tubes are available, and you can get custom caster angle, stock width, better ground clearance.
Big pro of a junkyard axle is parts availability. Chances are somebody you know, somebody on a Facebook group, etc. Will have what you need when something breaks. But when you go with a custom axle and you HAVE to order and extra set custom axle shafts or you're just screwed. At least upgrading stock shafts and keeping them in the tow rig can get you a bit more drive time
great video Nate , it has come down to supply in demand so everything goes up and people pay it they want to build stronger and its far from reality, I machine and heat treat steel of all kinds for a living and have gained tons of knowledge over almost 20 yrs experience, you got to think before you drop 4k on a used axle swap, sure you know what it came out of is easy, its the mileage , heat cycles the unit has gone through and most of all was it driven hard and serviced regularly or never serviced, if it has almost never been serviced, the whole unit is well under 50% of its usable service life, and is then put into a rig with big off road tires and like most guys don't bother to upgrade the gear ratios now you just upped the factor of your 4k axle breakage possibly your first trip out wheeling, so i agree with you the new custom axle price even if it is a $1000 more is the way i would go hands down, no messing around with used things when off roading people being penny wise and pound foolish, i have built heavy duty equipment of all sorts over the years and know what can go wrong and at times ,very wrong, buddy built a rig 7 yrs ago put in a 5.3 V8 low miles like 27k and old 1 ton axles out of a ford F350 it looked great when it was done and had a set of 37" KO2's on it before the end of the 2nd month boom broke something in the back fixed it, then 2 weeks later the front gave up the ghost and was almost 3k and he did all the work diff, axles ,knuckles, driveshaft so almost new really when you think about an some guy offered to sell him a new front axle for $3900 we couldn't talk him out of it doing it his way, thats ok though, new is not for everyone i would stay new thats just me 👍
Very true. Most folks don't think about what life that junk yard axle has seen before you got it. Was the passenger side tire hit by another vehicle in an accident? A 1° tweek in the inner c could be easily overlooked and make it chew through tires faster then normal. It could even cause some minor death wobble issues. I've actually had 2 close friends buy and build axles to find out they were bent 🤦♂️.
But you are right new axles aren't for everyone
This video is absolutely the truth. It’s sad that used stuff has climbed up so much though. Takes the fun out of making something work that you wouldn’t normally see out there.
Great topic and I appreciate your "apples to apples" comparison. I believe all in (brakes, hubs, lockputs...), rebuilding your own junk yard axles is more cost effective. That said, custom certainly has some large benefits and something worth considering.
Thanks Nate.
I definitely should have added in 50 bucks for a set of junk yard knuckles. 👍
Finally my sunday morning content
I did something similar when I was building my Chevelle. I rebuilt a junkyard rear end instead of ordering an out of the box 9inch. I payed almost as much and spent wayyyy more time piecing everything together.
A lot of good points made in the discussions. I did not have time to read all of it so maybe this point has already been made, the knowledge to do everything to a junkyard or aftermarket axle to get it to the bolt-in point. I do not have that knowledge or skill set so to me you should have added in a reasonable labor cost for the work that needed to be done to these axles. I went the junkyard axle route about 12-13 years ago. The initial cost of a set of matching front and back '77 Ford Dana 60's wasn't bad at $1250, but after buying all the parts and paying someone to put it all together, it really added up. I have not, however, broken a single u-joint or axle shaft on either axle in 12 years of wheeling since it was complete. I run a 5.3L Chevy, have 38.5 Boggers on a stretched TJ and don't shy away from very many obstacles. Probably should not have put that out there! lol I put all my gearing into the trans and t-case. I have a SM465 with a 7.2:1 first gear and a 5:1 Atlas so even with the stock 3.54 gears left in the axle (saved me money) my crawl ratio is up over 120:1. It works for me. Great video and good discussion point. I think if i was building mine today after watching this, I would go after market for the minimal cost difference.
I couldn't agree with you more, I'm going with ECGS for their custom 44's, Detroit Lockers front and rear.
I have started planning an off-road campervan build (tearing it down to the bones and doing a full custom rebuild by myself) and this video has really made me rethink the idea of buying and rebuilding an older axle. I'm going to do some investigations and get some quotes for a custom built axle and see the price difference. If it ends up only £300-£400 more then I'll just have it made. The time and labour I could save myself is more than worth that sort of money.
Thank you very much for this information.
Nate! I love when you do information bomb video's like this one! I've already put alot of your tips into practice on my own projects and of course budget is always my primary concern.
I'm the kind of guy that does what you do. When you release video's sharing information on projects I'm considering for my own rigs I can't help but be excited.
THANK YOU for all of your outstanding content! Keep it up Nate!
Because there may be a day you come across a Blue Dakota tearing up trails you've said we've gotta try.
Really I think it all boils down to being an educated consumer. Some times junk yard stuff works and some time it don't. Thanks for the education.
Hey thanks for this. I really like your channel. I’m looking at solid axle swapping a 98 Chevy Tahoe. This gives me something to think about and not feel like I have to jump on the first Dana 60 that comes along at a halfway decent price.
I got my HP dana 30 ($200 I think) and tj Dana 44 ($100ish after selling the tires and rims that came with it).
Now I've heard with some aftermarket axles they kind of mix match if you will the brake rotors and pads has any body else seen or heard of this?
Custom axle also comes assembled eh? No extra time into stripping that Super Duty thing and stuffing your new parts in there.
You can definitely order them assembled
Nate, another great video. My build is difficult and you make it more bearable. Don't spend a single breath on the haters. You have a great channel because you generate great content both on the trail and in the shop. Thanks from all of us.
This is definitely a hobby and fabrication is fun. That said, I don't have a lot of extra spare time at the moment, and also consider the time I am using to fab, as labor hours, cause if you didn't do it you would have to pay someone too do it. Thus, my time is valuable and the $200 difference is thrown out and it goes way into the favor of the custom axle from all the time you save.
I love fabrication but if I only have enough time to be wheeling or building, I know which one I am choosing every time. Nice job on the video, this will be an eye opener for many including myself.
Great content Sir and greetings from Finland! You mentioned WJ when you listed suitable Jeeps for that bracket kit. What is your general opinion about WJ and would you build one to you self?
Good video and information..get my Fusion Kingpin Elite 60’s front and rear installed next week can’t wait..
Nice job Nate. I like the content and the attitude of give the big picture and letting folks figure it out for themselves. Seeing both sides, used or new, is always the best practice to plan on what is best for the individual. Again, nice work!
Cool video with great comparisons. Downfall of the custom axle is you need custom axle shafts, if I break a SD axle I can run to an auto parts store and grab another and the stock SD axles can hold big power so moly isn't needed unless your really going to beat the crap out of it regularly and they can still hold up to that. The custom axles are cool, but still over priced imo, especially with the cheaper salvage and FB marketplace prices we have in the south.
That advice is right on the money with my experience.. I'm running modified OEM axles on my SAS'ed Isuzu Rodeo and I've broken the rear OEM Isuzu Dana 44 twice and the Toyota front axle once. Yeah i know, shoudda gone 60's) They have both been rebuilt with everything hardened now and are almost indetructible for 44's. But if I ever build them again I'll be putting in Custom Dana 60's. I really don't wheel that hard these last few years (7) because I've been busy fighting cancer, and shatterd both feet and had both legs fractured in that accident. (So not a lot of wheeling time) As I'm getting older (71) I find I just don't need to tear stuff up as bad as I used to.)
Funny thing though I've been kicking around the idea of putting a custom Dana 70 front axle under my 37' FERD Motorhome..... Only I may need to go reverse portals because the old girl is pretty tall now, and I want it more for snow country than rocks. But that's crazy I know!
Good Video!
The biggest reason I see for using a junkyard axle is I can get into a dana 60 and feasibly put it on my rig for 1500$. This starting cost is way lower than 4500$ for a custom axle. Then, later on, I can put lockers, axles shafts, and all the other goodies on it when I can afford it. It may not be cheaper in the long run, but I can spread 4500$ out over several months or years and make it more affordable. This is how I did my junkyard dana 44 swap into my Cherokee at 16.
In short Junkyard axle= build your rig around the axle, Custom Axle: Built for your rig haha
Nate. Hallelujah brother on the figures ! That's why it's better to select all the proper go fast or go off-road gear new from a supplier like "Terrafirma" who specialize in Landy's and Jeeps too ? V.
So true! It’s crazy how much people are asking for used parts here in PNW!
I did a 1 ton junkyard swap on my 88 4runner back in 2004 and with prices of custom axles id go that route plus dont forget the added cost of going tons upgraded steering, ram assist, brake master cylinder/possibly booter and beefing up frame to name a few
I bought a pair of jy 08 superdutys for $350 and it was already geared to what I needed.
Thank you for doing this comparison. I have done a junkyard swap with a Ford 8.8 but for the front I have looked at custom built Dana 44. Time is a big factor for me and for $200 more that is well worth it. There is always a risk with a junkyard axle, like is it straight or bent? The argument some may have about reusing stuff, I would advise against is. You already have the axle tore apart and you a building a project then might as well replace the wearable parts. I also agree with upgrading to Chromoly, again it is worth the upgrade. I think I saw someone say brakes too, well I like new pads and rotors as well.
Great video and I appreciate the true apples to apples comparison.
Awesome video, bug once & cry once not to mention the time it takes to get to some places to wheel and have a break down will really ruin the trip… just make it stronger then you think you need !
Very true, depends on the rig. When you're broke and time isn't a huge priority it can be better to spend a bit more in the long run (potentially with spare parts). Find a cheap housing, work on it, buy some gears and take your time, use leaf springs and OE axle shafts and roll until you want to upgrade (4 link? Cromos?) Then find a front and repeat.
Maybe I’m just not well informed on this topic but I went with 2012 super duty axles. I love your videos and this is probably helpful for jeep swaps but when you get a used axle you get the whole thing and usually more. Steering box,hubs, brakes, sway bar, tie rods, drag link… etc. I got all this and more when I found mine. It took a few months to find a decent deal though.
In the last 6 months I've been through this same thing. I ended buying my first set of new axles ever. After looking at costs for used and making them work in my wj project the price point wasn't that much more for new. Don't get me wrong it hurt a bit🤣 I've always used junkyard or used parts in my builds to keep costs down. Your point that we just don't live in that time anymore is true and will only get worse as time goes on as parts are used up. The mental struggle is real but long live the aftermarket!
ty this helped me a ton bc i was trying to figure out the cost of a dana 60 swap. I wouldnt be able to do all the stuff necessary to truss an axle, i dont know how to weld, i dont have a grinder, and i definitely dont trust myself cutting things off the axle, so having a shop do all that stuff for me would add to the expense. however i can do the axle swap myself so this makes things far more appealing when it comes to $$$
One thing is up front costs. I you can dump 5k all at once or do it over a few months or years. You can still wheel on basically stock superduty axles. Then upgrade as time goes on.
Good video that really filled in some questions I had about an axle swap for my LJ.
Very very good points here, but to truly compare apples to apples, we need to consider the cost of the outer assemblies that usually come "free" with that initial junkyard axle. If you can get away with using stock parts there, we can count some significant savings. Knuckles, unit bearings, locking hubs, brake calipers, mounting hardware, etc can add up pretty quick.
Fusion of course offers a kit with all the outers, but the price jumps a few grand. You could scrounge junkyard outer assemblies and save some money, but at least at our local u-pull-it, you'll pay almost as much for all the outer stuff once they bend you over line-by-line as you would have paid for an "axle assembly" at a single price. Just more stuff to consider when making this choice.
The other thing to highlight here is that with custom width axle comes custom width problems. I have run custom width before when the build required it, and I have more than once been annoyed waiting for a replacement custom shaft when something breaks. Certainly not a deal-breaker, but it is another bonus of sticking with stock widths. In-stock replacement parts can be handy.
Great points in the video though! Keep up the amazing content!
This is why I went crate axles when it came time for my front end. Now my rig isn't going over 38" tires, but if it did- I'd still choose crate axles. Literally plug and play. Time is money
Nate first I would like to thank you and Jessica for the swag. Your Dirt Lifestyle sticker looks awesome on my, wait, wait a minute, that's right, my GLADIATOR! I went to Fusion's website and I must not be following doctors orders and keeping up on my fruit and vegetables because my apples didn't come out the same pricewise as your apples. I find interesting that Fusion, Rockjock, Dynatrac all have some physical uniqueness about them. Prices seem to be similar so I would go for customer service. But, I'm afraid it is a little late for me for I have purchased a junkyard 14 bolt and kingpin 60 for my LJ build. Nate love following you and love your videos and I have to say, I'm 61 years old and when I grow up I want to be just like you.
Are the custom axles recycled axles or brand new axles? If they are brand new then it's totally worth the extra $250ish bucks.
My 08 superduty axles cost me $6000 or so after gears, lockers, trusses, balljoint deletes, and a rebuild with 1550 shafts.
A majority of the cost was on the front axle.
Just throwing out my personal experience.
Dude. Your are truely an awesome content creator. Your open minded thinking and constantly learning and helping us. 100percent love your work. Hope to one day shake your hand and maybe wheel with you
Great job on comparison!
Thanks!
I'm way late coming to this but, now I have tons of questions. Hopefully see you at KoH this week. Great content.
Nate what did you do before becoming a full time You tube broadcaster. Did you say you were a pipefitter or plumber? you definitely have a great knowledge of building and fabrication very impressive. Look forward to this show every week. Thanks for another interesting topic.
Cool stuff man
Have you ever tryed rcv axle shafts just curious
Great video Nate. I like your unbiased opinion.. I agree makes more sense to go with new/custom. Thanks
Thanks for the vid. I plan to build my OEM 2019 Dana 44's on the Rubicon. Should be a fun adventure!
but is putting a couple D60's under a cj-7 worth it vers a set of D44's?
as in weight? the cost is about close enough to be a wash. (about $1K or so).
daily driver? it gets driven to the trails and "other things" but NOT a mall cruiser.
as for a cj-7 these axles would be cut down quite a bit. less than 62 in wms-wms.
a rear 8.8 is easy to do such, maybe at my place. (lack of proper working space).
or a built up corp 20 out of a waggy? (reuse the guts i have now).
a built up 9in for weight (front and/or rear).
just a fi amc 258, T18, dana 300.
Custom built axles have been the quick "easy button" for a long time now. Cost and time management wise plus a warranty, but some people like "rolling their own" axle. Now days you can get on net price out from a few company's find best option "al cart" for you and know upfront the cost and it will fit. Twenty plus years before there was only a very few choices for built axles custom custom 9 in or Dana patterns 44 and 60 and it could take quite a bit of time to just figured out what and where to order many was set as this is what we offer take it or not. Heck you can about log in and watch it being built for you, just pull out your C.C. which is different then too and shows the changes. Off-roading was more of a hobby/ weekend thing or for work now it's alot more people income stream now.
Well said. I agree, from experience. Rebuilding a D60 is not cheap anymore.
I completely agree about the breakdown regarding the junkyard axle. Where I disagree is the cost of new axles. Everything I’m seeing is $10,000 plus. Is the fusion axle representative of the new typical price point?
I'm on the fence about building my 85 toyota pickup front axle. I want to widen it with ifs hubs. Truss it. And knuckle gusset it. I could do all that work to that housing or I could get a trail gear rock assault housing setup for tacoma width. It'd probably be a lot stronger and I'd get the width I'm after. I can still use the 3rd member I plan to use plus all the outer stuff. Decisions are hard lol. I love the feeling of building up a stock junkyard axle but it makes more sense going with an aftermarket housing that would cost the same if not a little more than modifying the stock housing. I could also sell the 85 housing to cover some cost.
Great video and i Iike the idea of being able to custom order it in different wms lengths.
Definitely similar pricing when built to the hilt. If I were to spend 5K I would definitely go aftermarket. But in my area, a 05+ D60 is about $400 at multiple yards. No need for an ARB for me, just a Spartan. As far as a truss and mounting it I have a few tools and know how to use them. Personally around $1500 for a swap on my XJ.
Where are you at that those axles are that cheap?
@@matthewmurray5168 like 6 pick and pulls in Tulsa OK. Just have to know people who call when they come in.
I’ve been saying the same thing for a couple of years now. But I’ve also been tempted by some deals on jy axles haha!
When you consider your blood, sweat,and tears not to mention shop supplies you are actually ahead in dollars using the new setup. The warranty should be considered as well though I'm not sure what would or would not be covered.
would I be able to put 60 gearing in a 44 housing with a custom cover
No, the ring for a 60 is around 9" the ring on a 44 is around 8". It wont fit.