I am happy with the cost but not with the fact that a one ton axle housing rusted through and I don't have a boat where it would be exposed to excessive water.

 

I never have seen that before and have been working on trucks 35 years. Unless you live where they salt the roads in winter. Rust needs to be stopped early or like cancer will spread until entire part is corroded away.

 

Michigan uses a lot of salt but truck was washed regular with undercarriage spray. I have pulled junk yard axles that have sat for years and never seen rust like this. Only thing i can think that it being a very early 2003 that the first housings off assembly line were made with bad steel.