You bring up a good point. One which I have been thinking about. The seal wiping surface is indeed worn but not horribly so. No major gouges but a rough surface nonetheless. I have seen these axles powder coated to restore a smooth wiping surface. It seems to last for quite a while.
The idea of restoring my original axle is exciting and would be very satisfying for me. But at this point I am seriously considering finding a better core to work with. My Jeep is no longer original so a replacement axle would not scar a prime piece of history. Some would say not to mess with a Spicer 25 but swap in a stronger Dana 30 or 44. Options for sure but I think a 25 in good shape should be fine. Do you have any opinions on this Moses? If you are wondering, I have a Buick 231 V6, SM420, saginaw steering, and 32/9.50-15 tires. I am changing to 4.88 gears with the axle rebuild.
Ethan