Replacement Rear Axle Questions... quick please!

2007 4.0ltr 4x4 Off Road

im not on the main boards much anymore, but i have the blues and need some help.

Did some searching but not turning up what i need which is a simple answer.

What type of rear end/axle can i put in the back of my truck? What can i get away with that is?

Got in a jam this morning. Got stuck in some frozen muddy rocky stuff and in reverse/locked/4x4low, bad things happened. Wasn't high on the rpm but, yeah. bad popping. . it's not the tranny, its not the drive shaft. it's all in the differential. will go forward very slowly quietly, but reverse loud and mad.

drug it on a trailer and dropped it at my local mechanic. i have no experience setting gears so im letting him play with it.

however, after hearing it come off the trailer he said look for a new rear end which is what im doing. and i know little to nothing about working on transmissions or rear ends. . start educating me folks. exactly what kind of axle and what gears do i have back there? what can i get away with in my search for used ones? can i get a first gen axle if i find it?

i don't care if i end up with or without the locker so i guess if i can find sport or prerunner rears that fine. but can i?

honestly, read this, post what you know about 2nd gen rear axles and i will be grateful. can't go long without my truck. '

thanks all.

 

bump and stuff..