Did they make 5x4” axles for 8 3/4 rear ends?
No ****? He ordered 5x4.5’s and now wants to charge me $250 to have them redrilled. He’s already built it. What do I do? Return the original axles? I’m kinda upset
Axle manufacturers will make pretty much anything you specify. Catalogue parts is different. Sounds to me the builder is a headstrong SOB. He screwed the pooch and wants you to cover the cost for his screwup. Tell him it is his problem and you are not paying for the wrong axles. If he does not like that, let him talk to your lawyer.
An additional thought, if he screwed getting the proper axles is the diff set up correctly with pinion preload, gear lash and pattern? May be wise to obtain a second opinion.
Checking pinion preload is simple if you have an inch pound dial torque wrench. The carrier needs to be removed as you only want pinion rotating torque. The torque to get it turning is not important. Once you get it rotating, watch the dial and note what it takes to keep it rotating at an even speed.
Carrier bearing preload is important to get right. Not enough and the carrier can move left. Gear pattern is extremely important for long life and quiet cool running. This involves gear marking paint to see how the drive and coast sides of the ring gear mesh. There are youtube videos and books that show photos of what is correct, pinion too deep or shallow, backlash too tight or too loose.
If you are unsure about tackling that get the second opinion from someone experienced that will walk you through it or let you observe. If it is not correct now, bearings or the gears will fail prematurely.
