Used axle vs new gears

[Jeremy_C]

84 swb chevy...auto, 350. 12 bolt rear...3.73 gears. I'm gonna need new rear axle gears in the very near future.

This truck is my daily driver, with no wheeling.

Stock rear axles in this area are going for 350.00 a pop for some reason. What are my options here? Should I purchase a used axle from a junkyard, or rebuild the 12 bolt?

Its 0430 am...I think its a 12 bolt. Its very possible its a 10 bolt. I'm alittle fuzzy.

 

[Stomis]

84 should be a 10 bolt.

I would search for a used axle that has the correct price lol.

 

[Jeremy_C]

Is installing new gears THAT pricey? I've been looking for close to a year now. They are all in the 250-300 range. I have found a couple for a reasonable price, but they weren't aware what the gear ratio was, and refused to take the cover off to check.

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

A new ring a pinion set with new Timken bearings is probably in the $400 range, add another $200 at least for shop labor and that's pretty much the bare bottom price to have a shop put all new stuff in your diff.

You may have some options as far as going with cheaper bearings etc. but, yeah, they're cheaper.

 

[Fordum]

Is installing new gears THAT pricey? I've been looking for close to a year now. They are all in the 250-300 range. I have found a couple for a reasonable price, but they weren't aware what the gear ratio was, and refused to take the cover off to check.

Well, assuming they are stock, there is a tag that should tell the ratio without pulling the cover.
To be sure, you can turn the shaft and count the revs vs the wheel revs.

Or turn the wheel and count the shaft.