So I was looking at getting a replacement shaft before my next wheeling trip. A replacement stock rear is like $240. A chromoly replacement is $170. Is there any reason I couldn't run a stock shaft on one side and a chromoly shaft on the other side if I broke the stock one? It shouldn't matter as long as the spline count is the same right?

 

I'm no axle expert but I'd be slightly concerned of the chromoly shaft chewing through the stock if locked. Not sure if that could really happen but it makes sense in my head!

 

I don't see why one side would care what kind of axle shaft is on the other.

 

That's what I'm thinking, but I had a mechanic say something else which didn't really make sense to me. I'm no expert but it didn't make sense to me why I couldn't replace them one at a time.

 

So, what did he say would be the problem?

 

He didn't get into specifics and I didn't think to ask. This was a couple months ago. I'm getting ready to lock my rear and am trying to avoid getting stranded. Figured I would ask here, if I don't get a conclusive answer I'll ask the guys doing my regear/locker install next week.

 

It wouldn't be an issue at all.

All that would happen is that the other side would be the next thing to break.

If you are having your gears and lockers installed why don't you just have them change the shafts at the same time? Put in two new chromoly axle shafts and keep the stock ones as spares to get you off the trail.

 

because I'm spending close to $3k between parts and labor when all is said and done. I will change the shafts as I need to or as money allows.

 

As ron said, your jk won't know the difference. Not gonna hurt anything.