Half Shaft differences? (All have ABS Rings)

#1

So I gummed up the threads on axle nut side of my half shaft and went to replace it. The strange thing is I can’t seem to figure out the differences in half shafts (all have ABS rings).

Here’s what mine looked like. Note the bump in the middle of the shaft. It’s also slightly thicker than the other one.

The other two I have look like this, they are slightly thinner…

So what’s the deal? And does it matter which one I run? Should I search harder for the same ones that I have? If yes, anybody have some near Atlanta?

#2

I do not know. After 12 years at this stuff I should.

Have done local rebuild units with a mixture of success.

Have installed new units from Autozone and one of the two would pull the snap ringed flange that goes into the diff slightly out of the diff and it would leak oil. (Ask Bob Rutzsky, we replaced the new AZ unit with a used shaft.)

So, I don’t know.

RP