I'm going to have to go with Dutch here on this one. Having had both for years, the ZF axle will outlast the Deere axle.......the seals especially. ZF front axle went for 10 years before needing new seals. Now, at 15,000 hours it needs another set of seals..........whoopty do. On either of the tractors we have owned with JD front axles if the seals lasted more than 2000 hours you were doing damn well. That goes for a late 4450, 7810, and our current 4255.