Just for fun I sent a text to the shop/mechanic I use for axle/transmission stuff...he said 4 hours for the R&R labor rates vary by market and I'm on the opposite side of the country, but that's $600 from him...so you can see why everyone's having such a hard time finding how to get to $13k for that...you could literally upgrade to a fully built D60 for that.

 

That used to get you a FULL SET front and rear D60s! Might be a little bit more these days

People would roll into a dealership with chewed up gears and the dealers would quote replacing the entire axle housing and all as 1 unit rather than simply regearing. Even dealership prices I couldn't see how that number could get that high. Has me curious more than anything.

 

Inflation's a B...but yeah you definitely still could probably do both, especially with the rear being the cheaper axle if you sourced used axles and modified them... but I'm saying even pulling into a 4x4/offroad custom shop and saying "I want you to build me the best 1-ton front axle, spare no expense" I think you still today get out of there under $13k

OP if they gave you a written quote would love to see it!