Axle shaft compatibility

[VolvoDad]

I have a 79 that I just fitted a 83 GSL disk brake rear end into and it looks like the left axle may be bent. I will be looking into it more this weekend. Are the axles in the drum brake rear ends the same as the disk brake rear ends? I have the original 79 assembly that I can steal the axle out of although I'm sure the backing plates are different but they can be swapped.

Thanks,
Howie

[TOOL]

Same splines and same bearings. Length should also be the same as they run the same track and offset afaik.

They have different part numbers though, so perhaps the head is different. There's a good chance they are the same. One way to find out.

[VolvoDad]

Thank you for the info. I will do some measuring and comparing on Saturday.

[m swann]

You should be good, using stock drum brake half shafts with a stock LSD.
But this is a quote from the Mazda competition prep and service manual dated 1980.

E. rear axle
2. Axle shaft assembly, 4352 26 110 ( competition axle shaft that was available from Mazda)
This axle shaft is designed to be used with the rear disc brake arrangement, and it includes a larger capacity bearing.it is fully compatible with the competition LSD unit, but if used with the stock LSD, the axle must be cut off by 5 mm on the splined end to avoid interference.

[TOOL]

Yeah, but I think that has more to do with the thicker pins for the spider gears in the LSD than the actual axles themselves.

This is a known issue.