I want to let you guys know You should never Mix Up the Left Hand & Right Hand Axle shafts on any Rear Differentials.
Upon Hard Launch The Axle shafts may fail Immediate.
You can not see but the Internal Steel Molecules Grain Structure takes a Set..
When asked to work in opposite direction full Torque Loads its Very Bad.
As Long as reinstalled in in same location as original no issues .
On all 1957-64 Pontiac Olds 9.3 Rears the Drivers side has Left Hand Wheel Stud Threads.
Passenger Side has Right Hand Threads.
Mopar Factory Muscle Car Dana 60 is made the
same way 1966-71.
The axle with extreme torque/stress loads from operating mainly in one direction often is defective when reversing direction of force to this same object . . .don't throw away that axle yet.
This is interesting for one reason. In metallurgy this is explained in the concept of work derived, stress pinning.
Most metal atoms link with covalent bonding - with an excessive amount of outer shell electrons constantly wanting to pair up with the electrons of the adjacent metal atoms. When applying heat, space between the metal atoms widens and with mechanical input (beating/hammering) tightens and realigns atoms for a most compact arrangement. Rapid cooling sets the molecular configurations and to a certain extent, depending on what type of metal, this process can compact to a functional maximum in just a few cycles of mechanical manipulation.
Constant static beating of the metal steel can form a molecular alignment strong in one direction of mechanical stress yet weaker in an opposing application of stress.
A metal object such as the axle shaft, subjected to millions of heat and force related cycles can be yet altered. There are several non abrasive metal pinning processes that can re-align the molecular structure to an omni-directional re-configuration. There are many metal forging, tool and die manufacturing shops that have several pinning processes for just such a purpose, one of which is cut wire pinning that is non abrasive (compared to shot pinning) and highly effective. Then the splines are typically rolled into the steel rather than cut for optimal strength and durability. There are several pinning methods most all are done with compact, portable machinery and the process is usually inexpensive.
There is a shop in Erie, PA that charges $35/axle shaft end up to a 2" diameter. . . . . . .FYI
