Axle rusted, need advice

[rangerkip1]

Is my axle toast? This is the pax side. I am worried this might need replaced. It's an 8.8 4.10 open rear. I have a 3.73 rear to toss under. But I'm 4wd unfortunately.

Thoughts?

 

[pjtoledo]

right under the label?

that is a severely weakened tube.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I'm so tired of rust...

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Oof. Rust sucks. That tube is probably about rotted through there, they aren’t super thick on these trucks. Technically probably repairable but probably not worth the effort.

 

[rangerkip1]

right under the label?

that is a severely weakened tube.

Yup, truck has 177k miles and I'm doing frame repairs. I got a whole 2007 parts truck for $350 with a good 3.73 rear as a temp. Might swap the diff gears since they are both 8.8 rears. Or do a front diff swap from the parts truck

 

[scotts90ranger]

If you have a welder I'm sure it's salvageable but would take a lot of rod or wire... With a 4L and staying at 31" tire or shorter you'll be fine with 3.73 gears though but you'll need to swap the front too which is actually pretty easy, I did that between my Explorer and Mountaineer in about 2 hours... the trick is just undoing the upper balljoint to get room for the Cv's to disconnect...

 

[rangerkip1]

This is prob the route I'll be going, i won't be doing the front axle swap for a few months tho. I rarely need 4wd in a beater, I have my 89 f150 for farm work if I need to get out to the middle of the field.

I might try to salvage the old axle. Idk yet.

Thanks for the tip on the upper ball joint!