I ordered the level 0 axles from the driveshaft shop. After sitting in my garage for a while I decided to put them in today and I had trouble getting the drives side in. I didn't want to force it and accidentally break something so I took it out and lined it up next to the stock axle and it looks like the splines are different. The stock axle has more gap in between each one and the driveshaft shop axle looks like they are closer together. I called them before ordering and asked them if the cooper s version of the axle is for the getrag 6 speed and they confirmed. The car is a 2005 Cooper S. Did they give me the wrong axles?

 

You can always use our site as a guide.

For the manual transmission left-hand side. 31607574852

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-mini-parts/front-axle-assembly-left/31607574852kt/






Automatic transmission left: 1607574851

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-mini-parts/front-axle-assembly-left/31607574851kt/

 

Count the number of splines on each, and measure the diameters. That'll answer your question. Are they the same length?

 

Hard to tell from the pic, but the new one looks like it has fewer splines than the stock one.

 

Yeah they are the same length. I'm going to count the splines. The straight cut splines look to be the same to me but I won't know for sure until I count. The curved ones (not sure if they are splines or what they are) are absolutely different as you can see. I looked in the transmission and I only see slots for the straight cut splines and the spot where the curved ones would sit is just flat so I'm not sure if they even matter. Thanks for the response.

 

Those diagonal slots look more like oiling grooves than splines. But I don't know what would need oil that could be provided by those grooves. they could be grease repositories, if it rides in a bushing and not a bearing, but I can't imagine not using a bearing on that part.

 

I just got it in. Counted the splines and they were the same so I moved my attention to the retaining ring on the on the end of the splines. The ring on the new axle was much looser so I switched it out with the old one and it went in. I think the ring was getting caught up on the lip inside the transmission and wasn't compressing like it should. Thanks again.

 

Oh, cool! Yeah, those clearances can be snug, and if there is a C clip or something that doesn't fit exactly right they can get hung up. Nice work!