Rotten Axle Brackets

[E_train]

Also found this axle all done up

[smichaelR22]

swaping gears from the old axle shouldnt be to bad, an install kit at the very worst.

[E_train]

I purchased the axle from Todd on monday and now I am in the process of taking out the differential. I have posted some pics of the progress. I think that not only is the control arm bracket bent but also the passenger side part that holds the spindle seems to be out of shape slightly.

[Wingman]

Time to get the level out, and maybe an angle finder.  Get the main housing level then check the spindles (while facing forward) where the wheel bearings mount.

Did you get to see the Jeep?  It looked like it took a pretty good roll.  Was there a back story?

I\'m still interested in the axles.

[MrMindless]

that left inner C certainly looks bent in your photo.  if that\'s the case I\'d call that axle scrap.  and the brackets on it are bent too, so there\'s not much point in salvaging them....

[E_train]

I already bought it so I guess I\'ll have to try and bend it back into place. I really can\'t afford to buy another one, and the rest of it looks good. It got Hit on the passenger side and the control arm twisted bending the bracket and apparently the inner C as well.

[MrMindless]

Talk to a collision repair shop about straightening that C, maybe there are tricks I\'m not aware of.

[smichaelR22]

you have a nice TJ, your going to be burning up tires.  Not sure what to do man.

[E_train]

I have gotten the knuckles off of the axle and took some measurements I used the inside top of the inner C as reference for both measurements.

A rough measurement would give 8.375\" to the bottom of the inner C for the bad side and 8.0625\" for the good side the difference is 0.3125\" or 5/16\".

Below are some pics from today\'s activities.

Any suggestions for

[MrMindless]

yeah, that inner C is really, really bent, and needs to be straightened _properly_ otherwise you will be eating ball joints, have poor alignment, and probably poor tire wear with a side of possible handling and braking issues....

[E_train]

Maybe I could have the end cut off and straight inner C welded in its place

[MrMindless]

Yes you could replace the inner C but if you need to have someone else do that for you it may cost as much as a cheap axle.  I\'d also be very concerned that this housing may be bent, and I\'d suspect that knuckle and bearing as well but at least you have those off your axle.  it takes a LOT to bend an inner C like that.

[E_train]

Sort of good news to report I just talked to Ed Rosin at Hawk Frame and Axle Inc over in Fairport. he told me to bring my crappy axle in on Monday to take a loo at it and told me that he will likely be able to bend the axle back into shape. I am cautiously optimistic hopefully he\'ll work some magic.

In the mean time I am pulling off the steering components to freshen them up with some paint along with whatever chassis components I can get to.

[MrMindless]

be sure that they will make the tubes straight and true to the housing too.  alignment could be the least of your issues if the housing is bent too.

[ExplorHer4x4]

They are good guys over there at Hawk.  They only do it right, I\'ve seen them bent axles on semi\'s into alignment!  They advised me on my cut-turn ttb project.  Smart guys, in case you were wondering