[reddwarf]

Old shafts ALWAYS last longer than new ones.

I think maybe it's because the caps seize in the bores, making it harder to spit them out

 

[reddwarf]

I actually think there is some truth to this. I blew up a "new" u-joint the first day our after installing it in another set of shafts, swapped back to the old axle shaft and joint and had no problems.

Sure seems that way don't it? I wheeled the piss outta the first Dana 44 axle shafts I ever had. AFAIK, they were the original 1974 shafts. After about a year, the first one let go. After that, I always installed new joints, and they wouldn't last more than 2-3 outings.

Mother Nature has been telling us to weld the caps all along (rust)