Help ID front axle parts

Truck has 200k miles, I was told PO “replaced the front axle.” Can you help me identify in the pics what was installed? And thoughts on why they needed to replace? I remember reading somewhere in the threads that OEM was or is gonna become unavailable, but can’t remember the details of what I read and can’t find it again so far.

There is a puck style leveling kit installed with a spacer at the top of the coil over assembly. Don’t know when that was installed. I plan to remove and replace with a proper coil over.

 

Generally when they say they replaced the front axle, it refers to the CV axles (not in any of those pictures). You can see your front differential in those pics.

 

OEM rebuilt CV axles are NLA. New/non-rebuild OEM CV axles are available for the indefinite future it seems.

Would it help if someone drew up a pic of all the items in front suspension for you? I swore I had a link in the megathread for just that.

You may find the replies in this thread helpful for you as a new owner. The 3rd picture he posted is targeted at the CV axle. It’s the shaft with conical pleated boots on each end, between the center of the wheel and differential. If you don’t know what a CV axle is or how to identify it, please, take a minute to learn as much as you can about 4WD, and what NOT to do with it (like, don’t turn on dry asphalt while 4HI/4LO is engaged ).

This is a good time to ask, if you haven’t, since you can genuinely fuck shit up here: Have you ever owned a 4WD vehicle before? Have you checked to see if 4HI engages on this truck yet? No shame at all if you answer “NOPE” on either. We’re here to help, not to ridicule you.

 

Thats really F'n clean for 200k miles

 

That's what I was thinking!

 

Here you go, @DBombs: https://www.tundras.com/threads/how-to-plan-out-suspension-tires-part-of-build.128410/#post-3277935

I just rearranged that link in the megathread so it's the #1 bullet point in the "Suspension, wheels & tires" section as the "if this shit is confusing to you, the words don't make sense... see this reply"

That reply I just linked gives a full breakdown on everything you've got in the front end of your vehicle, minus the steering rack and differential, or other things that may be obvious. I updated it to post a shot of a CV axle.

One of these days I need to get a couple of good under-truck shots while my 1GT is on a lift so I can do a similar trace-out for engine/front-diff/transfer-case/actuators/bellhousing/transmission/etc.

 

Thank you all. I have a low level understanding of the suspension and the anatomy and am about to spend time on the above links. The CV axles are definitely new but it looked like the diff was new also, hence how clean it is. That was the part I was specifically curious about. But I don’t normally hear of the diff being replaced. Don’t know if you can tell by the stickers on it if it is new or reman. Or original and just super clean. I have started to do some cleaning under there because the valve cover gaskets were replaced, but not before it made a mess. But the diff was pretty clean to begin with as evidenced by the stickers.

The 4wd does work and I’ve owned 4wd before. I’m going to continue educating myself. You all have been so helpful so far. I promise I’ve read at least 100:1 for every post I’ve asked questions. Your expertise and willingness to share is amazing. I was thinking this morning, some of these guys have to be the most expert FGT voices in the world. Super impressive.

Once I get a bit more rounded out in my comfort and knowledge, I will post my plan to update all the suspension and get some needed confirmation on my plan.

 

Typically from what I've seen is that this sticker is YY.MM.DD which likely is the date it was assembled, so this is probably the original differential housing at least.

 

Ah thank you. Makes sense then that the diff is original and only CV axles were replaced.

 

My truck lived its entire lift in central/northern Alabama, and the last 5-6 years in NW GA. My diff looks very similar to yours in sheen, condition, quality.

Clearly your truck hasn't lived in a rust belt state.

 

Oh, and....

Reman OEM = Silver stickers like this.
New OEM = Pink stickers like this.

Ignore the text on those images, I'm borrowing pics from other helpful posts I've made in the past. Obviously, everything with a grain of salt, some variations may exist, but the two sentences above are always truth.

 

Nice, thanks. I’ll check out the CV axles closer to see what they installed and get pics. By memory I don’t remember any stickers.

This truck came from Lawrenceburg, TN which is not far north of Huntsvillle. Probably not too far from yours. I don’t know that area at all.

There are some spots of rust on the back end around the bumper. Light stuff I’m easily remedying. However, I did just find a spot that worries me more. I’ll post a relevant thread and pics on that sooner than later.