Could the 7-1/4" axles from a Volare/Aspen be shortened to fit an early A-body housing? It would give you the big bolt pattern as well as 10" brakes. I realize the 7-1/4" is pretty flimsy, but in a totally stock application and in a car that was not raced or thrashed on....??

Even if the axles can be shortened, the 7 1/4" A-body housing flange, backing plate and bearing retainer use a 4 stud fastening system. The 7 1/4" F-body housing, etc, uses 5 studs.

Cecil

Said another way, the "big bolt" (5 on 4 1/2) 7 1/4 axle has a bigger axle bearing and axle housing "cup" it fits into. Bottomline is the sizes and retaining plate bolt pattern is different so the axles won't swap into the eariler housing.
DD

Couldn't retaining plates from an earlier rear be put on these axles with earlier-style bearings pressed on?

Time + money = anything is possible! Right?

I really don't like the caged ball bearing style axle bearings of the 7 1/4" anyway!

_________________
'68 Dodge Dart 4dr Sedan

You would have to change the part of the tube the bearing fits in too. The 7-1/4 in my '66 had ball bearings in it too.

_________________
Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

I think the only good money spent on a 7-1/4" is the costs involved in changing it for an 8-1/4". I've killed 6 7-1/4" axles in one way or another, and 3 of them were behind STOCK Slants with automatics.
1 with a 125 hp Slant / automatic, 1 with a stock slant and a 4 speed, and 1 with a stock 318 / automatic.

the big problem i've had with 7 1/4s is the pinion seals like to leak like a dog on a fireplug. the last one did this to me on a roadtrip to ny. the real bitch was the new flowmaster exhaust on my valiant convert is loud enough to cover moderate bearing noise. suffice to say, once i heard it, it was toast. the 7-1/4 suregrip replacement i bought on the road was just as bad a few weeks after i got home.

-james

_________________

If you replace the OEM "rawhide" seal with a new tech. rubber one, you will not have this problem.

Those rawhide seals (leather sealing strip) do not rebound well if they get distorted. Therefore, I never leave a stored car in gear or in "park", with load on the driveshaft, doing that makes the rear end seal leak.
DD