General vehicle thread

[MrPrena]

FCP Euro. Cost 1-10% more than ECS Tuning, but offers life time parts exchange.

[Irving]

Because all the after market complete axles come with that tri-pod style inside axle cup. I'm having a hell of a time locating an OEM style one. I asked my contact that can still get factory parts and he's telling me that a new able from factory is over $900! That's ridiculous.

[Erni]

So is the tripod worse than oem style?

[Irving]

According to some people sure. That's not really the issue though. The issue is that to replace a whole axle, you have to drop the diff completely, which is an hours long job which should never really have to be done. When you buy a half shaft, it just comes with the inside joint exposed. You fill it with grease, slid it into the cup, and zip tie the boot. So the problem is that any half shaft you buy comes with the OEM style inside joint because those inside cups don't really wear out. So if I ever broke an axle again, I'd have to buy a complete aftermarket and just throw away the cup every time. Also, I'd have to carry both styles of axles with me on wheeling trips as spares in case I break one. I might have rambled a bit, let me know if that didn't make sense.

[Erni]

Catching up with you. I would probably swap to what is most widely available. Take a hit now, swap both axles to aftermarket, heck buy 3 of them. Put 2 in, keep the half shaft as a spare, call it done.
I get trying to keep it stock and oem, but at some point the ocd is not worth it.

[Irving]

That's the rub. All half shafts are OEM style. It's just finding the OEM inside cup that is elusive. Think I might head to the junk yard and see how difficult it would be to drop the axle in the dirt. Probably a lot easier when I don't care about it and can leave all the parts off. Hell, that Trooper I just took to the junkyard will probably be the one.

[Erni]

Ok with you now. Let me know if you want to borrow the HF trans jack I have. It should prevent the axle from dropping on your head.

[Irving]

Thanks. Axle is out already because I decided to do the diff drop and install the lunchbox locker while I'm at it. I forgot about the part where you gently Jack it down. Can't use Jack's at the junkyard anyway.

[ray1970]

Can't use Jack's at the junkyard anyway.

Well, that's a dumb rule.

[whitewalrus]

I haven't known any junkyard to allow jacks to be used. Guess they do not want people dropping things on themselves. You have to use their pickers and such.