Hey guys I was wondering if anyone has any good advice on an economical front axle build. I have one about to a take it a part to rebuild. I would like to go back with a locker of some sorts, but that seems to require heavier birfs and or axles. Can you get away with marfields and stock inner axles with a locker? Is there anyone out there running a setup like this? Thanks in advance for any input!

 

Welcome to YT.
Who are you? Where are you from? What kind of wheeling are you planning on doing?
I am assuming you have an '85 or older Yota?

 

The single most important thing when building a SFA is the knuckle ball gussets - everything else, you can kind of build as you go, but once the housing is bent (and it's not that hard), you're kinda done.

IMHO, any outer-only Birf replacement is money wasted. All it does is move the weak point from the joint to the neck down of the inner shaft. Save up the extra month or two and get full 30 spline replacements.

Damage is more related to driving style than locker or not. The instances where a locker multiplies damage (tire wedged) are avoidable. The rest of the time, it helps PREVENT damage by spreading the torque over both wheels.