Is my rear axle bent?

[Spazbyt]

I was replaceing the rusted out muffler on the JK today and noticed my rear axle may be bent. Its a factory 44. The rosset welds look cracked and both sides of the housing are weeping oil. Everything drives fine though. I will see if my local shop can straighten it and install a truss befor it gets worse. I'll clean it up so I can get a better look at the welds tomorrow. What do you guys think?

It doesn't look bent

 

[JT@623]

Looks like the tubes might have started to spin ?

 

[kevman65]

Is this like when the wife asks if the pants make their butt look big?

 

[kevman65]

Screw the angle finder, too many variables sitting on the garage floor.

Laser is self leveling and by eyeball on a vehicle that gets abused, it looks pretty damned good.

 

[Spazbyt]

Looks like the tubes might have started to spin ?

Can the rossets be re welded?

 

[JT@623]

Can the rossets be re welded?

Yes . cleaning them is the hard part degrease the best you can pre-heat to help burn any excess oil off also pre-heating the cast is a must before welding.

 

[Cousin Clyde]

Might be worth running a bead on the axle tubes too if you’re going to clean, prep and preheat the housing.

 

[OverlanderJK]

Might be worth running a bead on the axle tubes too if you’re going to clean, prep and preheat the housing.

This. I wouldn’t worry about trying to clean the plug welds too much especially if you do the tub weld.

Even if it is bent, I wouldn’t worry too much. Run it til it blows.

 

[DirtHeadDavis]

My front shaft leaked a few years ago and looked similar, when I pulled it I found it was just the seal.

 

[cozdude]

Might be worth running a bead on the axle tubes too if you’re going to clean, prep and preheat the housing.

This. I wouldn’t worry about trying to clean the plug welds too much especially if you do the tub weld.

Even if it is bent, I wouldn’t worry too much. Run it til it blows.

What these guys said ^^^^^^

 

[bobfriesenhahn]

My front shaft leaked a few years ago and looked similar, when I pulled it I found it was just the seal.

Maybe the tube welds were never oil-proof from the factory and the differential seals need replacing?

 

[OverlanderJK]

Maybe the tube welds were never oil-proof from the factory and the differential seals need replacing?

There’s no seals at the diff on the rear axle.

 

[Andy5160]

There’s no seals at the diff on the rear axle.

Who are you to question Bob?

 

[OverlanderJK]

Who are you to question Bob?

Sorry

 

[bobfriesenhahn]

Who are you to question Bob?

Ok, maybe I did not know.