How can I tell what year axle I have?

The yard I'm getting it from claims it's an '85, but is there any solid way of telling for sure?

Here are the pics that they sent to me.

 

a couple of more pics.

 

84-85 has a trussing on the long side of the lower section of axle housing other than that they are the same. Cant tell inthe picture cause of all the snow, hope they dont want much they look all rusted shut gonna need a case of PB blaster to crack it open for a rebuild.

 

*edit* Dangit Bob you typed the exact same thing as I did, only faster

84-85 axles (the most desirable) have a truss that runs thebottom length of the long side of the housing. Thats the surest way to tell.

I'd like to be able to help ya, but all I see is snow.

Btw, i hope they don't plan on charging you more than $100 for that thing sitting open and exposed like that. You can typically find axles on CL for around 2-400 in MUCH better shape, and complete with the hubs. Those hubs are very expensive and very hard to find. Like i said, unless its really cheap, i wouldn't go for it.

 

[QUOTE=DeathCougar;51092277 Btw, i hope they don't plan on charging you more than $100 for that thing sitting open and exposed like that. You can typically find axles on CL for around 2-400 in MUCH better shape, and complete with the hubs. Those hubs are very expensive and very hard to find. Like i said, unless its really cheap, i wouldn't go for it.[/QUOTE]


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the axle is in NB, Canada which was hit with a ton of snow this year. Sorry for the not so clear of pictures.

It's suppose to be here tomorrow or monday, so I guess i'll see then. The junkyard is saying that it is from an 85 so im crossing my fingers that is correct.

The axle is costing me $200 CAD. up here, they are much harder to come by, and go for quite a bit more than they do down in the states.

I'm not too worried about the hub assembly or condition of the inerts of the axle because that will all be replaced with new parts. Probably going to use the 27/30 spline longfields so that I can use my IFS manual locking hubs.

 

Wow, I'm going to start shipping SFA's to the east coast. If all you need is the housing why did you pay $200. It can't be that much to ship a n empty housing from somewhere. There are all kinds out here for less than $50

 

I've done searches across Canada. the majority of them are going for $350-$500 for exactly what I bought.

If I had have found something cheaper or better shape for the same money, I would have bought it.

And yeah, if you want to start shipping them down here, I'm sure I can find buyers for them! lol

 

Who cares what year that axle is...it is a rusted worthless piece. Pass.

 

Ya dude that axle is going to end up costing you more than $350 - 500 just to get it up to snuff. Hope you have a good sandblaster. From the looks of it probably only the housing is worh keeping. Maybe.

 

Sandblasting required. good luck.

 

is it free?

 

not all of us are fortunate enough to live in areas that road salt is not needed 8 months of the year.

 

Yep, sucks to be where you live.

Regardless, that axle IMO is worthless.

 

Looks like only the housing would be salvageable...and that's after blasting

hope its dirt cheap...

 

axle arrived today, and it does infact look to be an '85.

Here are some updated pictures. The axle sat for quite a while outside, so it does have quite a bit of surface rust, but as soon as I hit it with the sandblaster, it will be gone in no time. the metal is still very solid.

Also found out, it's equiped with 4.30 gears. I know that doesn't much matter since I am swapping them out anyways, but that was interesting to find out, because I've only ever seen 4.10's in them.

 

Well I think you paid to much regardless of where you live but good luck anyway. I hope it works out for ya. It looks a little better in those new pics. Have fun doing the swap. It was one of the best mods I made to my truck.

Oh BTW there is a guy in BC4x4 selling some good knuckles and such pretty cheap. I would get on that if I were you.

 

thanks for the heads up, checking on them now!

 

4.30 is auto of an automatic
4.10 is usually 5spd

 

Dude that looks as rough as mine was. I got mine from a guy who had it sitting in the woods behind his house. Salt sucks. Just get a good sand blaster and it will clean up nice. My only advantage was I got mine for free.Good luck with the sas