You can swap the R axle tube, the but L contains the bearing race for the differential assembly. And the position of that race is set using shims which have been adjusted by the factory for that particular axle tube and differential. So swapping L axle tubes can lead to problems far worse than the cosmetic issues caused by corrosion.

 

thanks, that was my real concern. Am I ok pulling the tube to blast and paint, and re-installing it with the original shims, or do I have to go through a process to re-set the correct shimming?

 

Am I ok pulling the tube to blast and paint, and re-installing it with the original shims, or do I have to go through a process to re-set the correct shimming?

Yes, you are ok pulling the tube to blast and paint, and re-installing with the original shims, as long as the tube (with shims), housing and internals all came from the same car. I've done this several times with no difficulties. I guess the manufacturing tolerances were pretty broad, so shims were necessary to set each combination of these three components.

 

Thanks for the guidance!

 

Shims are behind the bearing cup. So nothing will fall out when you remove the left side tube. Be careful. The pinion carrier will fall out.

 

You shouldn`t remove the bearing race in the left tub. Just seal the outer end of the tube and cover the bearing race to keep media off of it and out of the inside of the tube. Attempting to remove thes bearing race will most likely damage either it, or the shims.

What are you going to use as a speedometer? No senfer gears to match? A GPS unit?