Upgrading the tie rod recently and noticed a lot of pitting/denting on the passenger side of the front axle.

Passenger side.



Driver's side



Driver's side looks almost new for one that is 31 years old.

I bought it from the original owner and he said it has never had any work done on the drive train and never been wrecked and never taken off road which I believe since I have known him and the vehicle for nearly 25 years. The other odd thing I noticed was that the gear ratio is written in white on the diff cover.



Not easy to see in the photo, but it is clearly 373 (the cover is actually black, the camera is just over exposed). Would it have had the ratio written on it at the factory? Just seems more like something that would happen if it came from a junk yard or something.

When I changed the Ujoints it was very difficult to remove the ones on the passenger's side and even the yokes looked like they had been beaten on with a ball peen hammer. Just wondering if anyone has ever seen something like this before and if I should be concerned.

 

The passenger side just looks like rust pitting..

It would appear that would be a junkyard axle, that's how they usually mark things

 

That's what I was thinking, just weird it is only one side. The only work he said he ever had done except for oil changes and tune ups was to have the fluid changed in the transfer case. But that sure does look like a used axle instead of factory markings, but then with AMC you never know at that point in time.

 

I work at a dealer now, and I can say I've never seen anything marked like that. On a jeep that old, I can't speak for but to me it looks to be marked by a salvage yard. If it isn't having any problems why worry about it?

 

Not really worried, just thought it was odd and wondering if anyone else had seen only one side get corroded that way. Wanted to make sure it wasn't as sign of something bad. Glad it seems not to be.

 

only thing i can think of is most puddles are curb side, so i can see it happening on the passenger side more than drivers side, same as shocks, they tend to wear out on the passenger side first for the same reason.

 

what engine and trans does it have ?

 

2.5L with the A904 three speed auto. Not going to win any drag races but durable.

 

That would make sense, 31 years of winter salt from puddles has to do something to it

 

Just that good ole 80's American Steel.

 

May have been made by someone changing fluid and decided to mark the ratio due to the tag being missing.