Howdy!
I killed the rear axle on the moo-jeep a long time ago, and now that I am coming back to Texas my parents have finally (sort of) given me a green light to get it put back together.
But here's the deal:
I've got two weeks till I'm back
I'm in DC and the jeep's in Austin
It has to be fixed by a 'professional' (not my idea)
Sooo...anyone know of a shop in Austin that I might want to talk to?
Thanks for any input it's all appreciated.
Austin Drive Train The dealership I worked at sent all their work there and they've got a really good reputation for good work and fair prices...I mean, its in the name. They're @ 201 E. Anderson Lane. 512.454.1488 Good luck.
When Nikki's rear axle went out J&P quoted something over $1000 for a new one. Keep in mind, this "new" axle would only be the same or not as good as the stock one. Your parents should reconsider their choice to have a professional shop do it. I know someone kind of screwed you on the last deal when they angled the pinion too steep, but that mistake can be learned from. You should really continue to search for a 9" or something like that. You will end up spending less and getting more. You need a new housing most likely, and any pro shop is going to bend you over....
I'm not going with the same axle over again. I'm going with either a 44 or an 8.8...I'm hoping the 8.8. I REALLY don't want to have it done professionally, but it's not my choice. The quotes I've gotten haven't been that bad though...mostly under 1000. The best quote I've gotten is an 8.8 for 800. Is that too bad? Still a lot but the worst I've gotten was redo my 35 and add a superkit to it for about 2000....rediculous...
Oh yeah and that 2000 quote was from Austin Drive Train (I talked to David). Jeep masters said 800 for a 44 or 8.8, and Taylors Automotive said 800 for an 8.8 (I talked to Rory). In case anyone was curious...
did the price that you were quoted on the 8.8/44 include the 4.10 gears that you will need so that the rear will match the front. and did it include a complete axle, new or old stuff. If you can get a 8.8 with 4.10's installed for 800 i would be on that "like white on rice and a paper plate and a snowstorm"
You can get an 8.8 that already has 4.10 gears....I'm not worried about the 44 because I don't think I'll find one anyway
ok....but if they only want to charge you 800 to install it in the jeep, i would go to great lengths to check exactly whatthe intend on doing...that sounds extreamly cheap to me
Yeah it sounds cheaper than I thought it would be too, but since I got that same quote from 2 different places....and the guy at Austin Drive Train also said that if I found a 44, he would only charge me 175 to install it.
The price all depents on if the axle is included or not. It shouldn't be too hard to put the axle in if you supply it.
Jeepmasters is the place that Mike Cohn (writer of rockrawler.com) took his Jeep to when he was livin in Tx, so theyve already dealt with one cow patterned wrangler.
Why is your Jeep in Austin, I thought you lived in the same town as this guy
800 bucks if they are supplying the axle with the right gears and putting it in is a good deal. I am curious if it is new used or rebuilt, and if it has brakes etc. Any other details suzie?? Also that leaves you lots of options for building up as well.
Seth
You can get a new 8.8 ('98~'99 or so) with disc brakes for like $150 off exploders in the junk yards. That means that they are charging $650 to weld on spring perches, hook up the parking brake and regular brakes, and connect the driveshaft. If they keep the axle, they can sell the shafts for $75 a pop giving them about $700 profit after paying $100 in labor to do it.
someting to think about...
Like I said, not my choice.
:D
you could see if your folks would go for you buying the axle and then having them put it in -- that way a pro would put it in and see the product etc...
I was just saying that because the other guys thought that it was cheep. It's about what I would expect. Just explaining where they came up with their cost. I neglected spring perches, U bolts and U-bolt plates. That's another $100 easy.
I would expect a higher price for a "PROFESSONIAL" install. surely if a shop does it then they will completely rebuild the axle....Quote:
Originally posted by redcagepatrol
I was just saying that because the other guys thought that it was cheep. It's about what I would expect. Just explaining where they came up with their cost. I neglected spring perches, U bolts and U-bolt plates. That's another $100 easy.
I think is the shop "rebuilt" a '98 or newer axle, they would make it worse than leaving it the way it was from the factory. What would they do to rebulid it? Replace good bearings and redo gears that are already done. Sounds like a bad idea to me.
by rebuild i mean new axle seals, breaks, break hardware, and check he guts of the carrier.
it just seems like too good of a deal to be true...
It does sound like a good deal, and I bet the price will rise as the swap goes on because of unexpected problems like matching up brake lines, U-joints, U-bolts, etc...
that is one reason i said she should get more details about it and what all it includes before she lets them put it in their shop