Sometimes you win.....

[Hedgehog]

I dropped by Willys Works and picked up my complete '76 axle. Good or bad I paid $300 for the axle. So what did I get?

The axle came from a guy that was doing a complete rebuild and ran out, I don't know exactly what he ran out of, enthusiasm, time, money who knows. But one thing for sure, he did a great job of what he worked on. As it turned out the rear axle was a complete rebuild, new bearings, slave cylinders, brake guts, seals paint. A steal for $250. I had purchased mine before knowing this.

As soon as I got home the axle apart started to con apart for a gear change from 3.54's to 3.31's. I found a complete paint job on the axle, new bolts, new grease, new bearings, new seals, shinny spindle. new brake pads, remanufactured calipers that haven't seen fluid yet, rotors that are rusty but appear to be new and an unacceptably rusty rotor shield. So far I've only looked at the right side, but I'm sure the left will be the same ....... at this point I most certainly feel like a WINNER, ohhhh yesssss a winnneeeerrr! Now I need to find a new rotor shield. Probably both will be bad.

A good day in Jeep land.

 

[Hedgehog]

Hmmmm this morning I'm not really sure why I posted about getting a decent deal on a replacement front axle. It wasn't meant to be bragging, it was more about the relief of not wasting my money on old used junk. And that may be the point. I know a lot of people are nervous about buying used parts, kind of like buying someone else's trouble. In real life just the opposite has been my experience. With a little research and some careful shopping the used parts market can be a great way to go for those hard to get parts we all need from time to time.

 

[Saddle Tramp]

Hmmmm this morning I'm not really sure why I posted about getting a decent deal on a replacement front axle. It wasn't meant to be bragging, it was more about the relief of not wasting my money on old used junk. And that may be the point. I know a lot of people are nervous about buying used parts, kind of like buying someone else's trouble. In real life just the opposite has been my experience. With a little research and some careful shopping the used parts market can be a great way to go for those hard to get parts we all need from time to time.

Hey, sometimes you do win. Don't feel bad. Think of all times you've come up on the short side.

 

[Petescj]

Heck ya. Always nice to come across a good deal. It also gives others who are searching an idea of whats out there.

Hey, sometimes you do win. Don't feel bad. Think of all times you've come up on the short side.

 

[Hedgehog]

Considering I fully expected to do bearings all the way around, new rotors (or getting them turned), pads and possibly rebuilt calipers. This was a pleasant surprise and a few hundred left in the bank. It rarely gets any better than that, at least for me.

 

[rocmoc]

Rob at Willyworks is one guy you can trust!!!!!!!!!! I have sourced/purchased used parts from him in the past and never been disappointed. Also has a great new parts supply and completes rebuild work himself. I will be picking up an item Tues or Wed this week.

rocmoc n AZ/Mexico

 

[Hedgehog]

rocmoc - Yes sir we need to keep this man in business. He gets frustrated when he talks to a guy for a half hour and they go home and order the part on the internet. But once you buy from him and he knows your a real customer he will bend over back ward for you. Even referring you to another vendor that has better parts than he has. I needed new hubs, he had some but I asked if these were the ones he's use. Rob didn't blink and picked up the phone to call another shop to make sure they had the hubs in stock before sending me over there. That's Rob in a nut shell.

If you know his business the way I believe you do, this was one of Vic's axles. Rob looked at the gears and carrier, he knew those were in good shape, but didn't know about the hubs and rotors, but after selling the rear axle with all new brake components he mentioned that the front might be the same, but didn't know for sure. I didn't expect brand new rebuilt calipers. The beyond repair dust shields are no big deal at all. Actually the exposed portions looked good. The rust is down in the center where you wouldn't know it was there until it was taken apart.

Yes, Rob is someone a Jeeper can trust.

 

[ThisGuyUKnow]

Hmmmm this morning I'm not really sure why I posted about getting a decent deal on a replacement front axle. It wasn't meant to be bragging, it was more about the relief of not wasting my money on old used junk. And that may be the point. I know a lot of people are nervous about buying used parts, kind of like buying someone else's trouble. In real life just the opposite has been my experience. With a little research and some careful shopping the used parts market can be a great way to go for those hard to get parts we all need from time to time.

Hey I know how you feel. That 4.0 I just bought came from a XJ with 85k miles on it. When I started to clean it up, it turned out to be a crate motor. So that means that I ended up with a motor that has much less htan 85k on it. I mean it still has an undetermined amount of mileage but its somewhere between 0 and 85k which is still childhood for a 4.0.

 

[Scooter402]

I need to come across some deals like that. Little did I know when I was stripping my CJ down to turn into a mud racer (now I'm trying to get most the way back to the way it was....go figure), a friend of mine/fellow CJ enthusiast got a steal of a deal on all kinds of parts...price? FREE... Now I'm having to source all kinds of junk to put back on my jeep. I didn't know back then that these parts, while not exactly impossible to come by, are not exactly cheap. Maybe one of these days I'll find someone giving stuff away...or at least almost giving it away.

 

[Hedgehog]

Craigs list it the place to get decent prices on stuff. It seems like I see deals come up almost every day.