We do too: ALWAYS lay down a piece of cardboard or newspaper...[emoji482]
TK, I look at it like this. It's all about trying to run the strongest you can and spend as little as possible, yet still maintain some reliability. A d60 is the best way to do that 90% of the time, and can be half as expensive as a crate d44. I build almost all axles the same way: re-gear, upgrade the hubs, do a QUALITY full bearing replacement , locker, new brakes, new BJ's, and upgrade the steering. If you can catch a deal on used locker and steering the overall cost of the build can be surprisingly cheap. I paid $350 for the axle pictured, and completely rebuilt it, and still kept the total cost under $800. I've held onto it because just owning a decent d60 will get you laid, but hoped to reuse it in another rig. My plan never changes: Do a full bearing replacement & hub upgrade with quality parts, lunchbox locker(ARB if money allows), redo the brakes, and replace Kingpins or BJ's. You then have an axle that's stronger than a built d44, gives you the option in the future for 37"+ tires, and cost half what a crate axle would. I admit there are a couple disadvantages such as less clearance over a d44, but that can be easily fixed by shaving the housing or using more skinny pedal.
What I don't understand is y'all guys out west can get a good tcase for $50 all day long, but pay $1000k-1500 for a worn out ass d44, 9"or d60. Here we pay 350-500 for d60's in decent shape, but have to pay $300 for a worn out ass tcase that most likely has a bent output shaft or trashed bearings.
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