a method of repairing a vehicle axle housing comprising the steps of enlarging a center passageway in the axle housing by , for example , boring , providing a stepped elongate sleeve having an outside diameter greater than the diameter of the enlarged center passageway of the axle housing , heating the axle housing to further enlarge the center passageway , inserting the sleeve in the center passageway and securing by , for example , welding , the sleeve to the axle housing . typically , the axle housing will be broken into two sections and the above steps will be performed on the sections as well an additional step relating to trimming , by grinding or other suitable process , the opposed ends of the axle housing sections adjacent the fracture .