Been running 33 spline axles and spool for quite a while. had right side of car lifted up and notice I could rock the wheel more than I thought it should. are the axle and spool normally a very tight fit or is there always some "free play"

Axle to spool is normally a snug fit with very little play. Now all I have had in past 35 years is 40 spline stuff and mostly floaters.
Now there may be a little play in wheel when you figure in rear gear and axle .Figuring you run u joint driveshaft and not solid shaft and coupler, because if coupler and shaft there is lot of motion in that combo. Guessing u joints in good shape too.

Only company out there that has, and keeps a snug fit is mark williams. ALL the other companies have a decent amount of slop. Ive had 40 spline stuff from ALL the companies now, and litterally, mark williams was the ONLY one that didnt.

How about the left side? Could be clearance on the RP?

I have a 33 spline axle/spool combo and from what I remember that's the one spline that there are differences in from one manufacturer to another. I have Moser axles and I believe a Strange spool and I had to tell Moser what spool. This all going from my poor memory.
What brand spool and what brand axles do you have?

Pitch Angle

Bob

quote:

Originally posted by Eman:
I have a 33 spline axle/spool combo and from what I remember that's the one spline that there are differences in from one manufacturer to another. I have Moser axles and I believe a Strange spool and I had to tell Moser what spool. This all going from my poor memory.
What brand spool and what brand axles do you have?

Mark Williams stuff has a unique spline angle.

Tom the Diff Dude (Toms Differentials) had axles manufactured to his specifications because of the poor fit from other manufacturers.

I seem to recall that 40 spline axles/spools from any manufacturer are interchangeable, but all other spline counts have proprietary pitch angle for each manufacturer.

quote:

Only company out there that has, and keeps a snug fit is mark williams

My 30+ yr old 35 spline MW are still snug. Very impressive. I’ve replaced diff gears 3x (different ratio) in the 17 yrs I’ve owned this car.

quote:

Originally posted by Lenny5160:
I seem to recall that 40 spline axles/spools from any manufacturer are interchangeable, but all other spline counts have proprietary pitch angle for each manufacturer.

I had forgotten that fact but 100% correct.

MW part maybe why I have never had much play.Most of out stuff other strange gears had been MW.

Spool and axles were bought together. Both are same brand.
Checked left side also, same amount of slack

Pull the axles out and check and see if there is any obvious wear or twist in the splines.
Be a lot cheaper than having one break and putting the car in the wall

Both sides the same? Odd?
Found one ready to spin in the spool and the other side looked like brand new.