[Kevin in NJ]

Any used axle is likely to be bent.

From years of just being driven you have road forces pushing rearward on the stub of the axle out board of the perch. Think of the billions of hits at speed hammering the metal rearwards. Then all the time the car hits curbs and such.

To make matters worse, any axle that has been heated will be MUCH softer and even more likely to bend with less force.

So if you do get another axle you have to know if it is within spec. Otherwise you may not be better off.