Axle shaft help

[birdie2000]

So I'm swapping rear ends in my car because the one that came with it has pretty good noise that no one can easily identify. I happen to have another LS1 rear end with the same gear ratio and only like 12k miles on it sitting around so it made sense to just swap it for free instead of diagnosing it for which any solution would cost money. Only problem is, the replacement is a 3-channel rear and the car needs a 4-channel, so I have to swap the axles and backing plates as well. When I pulled the axles, I saw this on one of them. One theory of the noise was that it had a bad wheel/axle bearing. Is this cause for concern when swapping the axle into the new rear, or should I not worry about it?

IMG_20140802_174233195_HDR.jpg

For reference, here is what the other axle looked like when I pulled it:

IMG_20140802_174244367_HDR.jpg

[1BADAIR]

I wouldn't use it

[hoogiesngrinderz]

If the pitting is on the ride surface of the bearing, it's junk.

[nascarnate326]

Are you looking for a long term solution or just something to get you by? You could use it but your going to be revisiting that rear end in the future.

[birdie2000]

Definitely long term. Was really hoping to not have to spend money on this since I have a complete rear end that's perfectly fine sitting here but I didn't know about this 3 vs. 4 channel crap. Really don't care if the ASR works but I do want functional ABS. Does anyone know if I can reuse the axles out of the 3 channel rear end or are the axle shafts themselves different? I seem to recall reading that they were.

[nascarnate326]

I have a 3/4 hybrid in my car.

I believe you can use any axel you want, but its going to be a PITA to get the reluctor ring off one and onto another one without bending or messing something up.

I just left the sensor in the middle of the pumpkin, put in my axels with rings, my diff cover and called it good.

[birdie2000]

Yeah, that's what I intended to do too, but now that one of the 4 channel axles is bad I'm not sure how to do this cheaply/quickly. I'm sure new is expensive and I really don't have the time to scour junkyards to find a suitable rear end to steal an axle from.

[mcalus]

Just get new axles. Guys usually have them for 20 bucks a piece.

Make sure the new ones aren't worn out like that. Get 2 new bearings for 8 bucks each and your all set. You won't have to swap rearends either.

My 99 had a goofy noise and no one could point it to one thing. Finally stumbled along a thread about axles bearings. It's pretty easy to swap them out too.

[nascarnate326]

I've got moser axels and they fit perfect.

Could your our axels be polished out? Was it making noise or leaking before you took it apart?

Are v6 axels the same?

[birdie2000]

No leaks, just making noise. Haven't ruled out that some/all of the noise wasn't coming from the pinion either, that's what it sounded like but noise tends to travel in these situations. Rear end is still getting swapped because the other one has weld-on relocation brackets, less miles, and is already painted. Plus I know all the bearings in it are quiet.

[farmington]

Saw some 4 channel axles on craigslist today

[birdie2000]

Link by chance? I'm not seeing them.

[mcalus]

Not sure if its the same ones Don is talking about.

http://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/pts/4499261715.html

[farmington]

Don't know how to get link on phone but search 10 bolt axles on detroit craigslist auto parts. He wants. $50 for them

[birdie2000]

They're not 4 channel axles