Ran into problems after installing a s5 t2 welded diff as previously ran s4 t2. Noticed axles were over extended. Saw maverick motorsports mentioning the s4 t2 axles are shorter than s5 t2. But by how much shorter? Just curious as people on this forum never distinguish between s4 and s5 when selling their t2 axles

 

Believe axles are the same, stub shafts different.

 

I think he's right. Pretty sure the info is documented on Mazdatrix's site.

 

axles are the same part number, if there is a length difference, it would have to be in the stub axles

 

very early S4 axles are shorter. (first half of 87) 87.5+ are the same as S5.

The early S4 stub shafts are slightly longer which accounts for the difference.

(I have some S5 axles I'll sell you if you need some, PM me)

 

it's the stub axles, since the diff carriers are different inside the case.

S4 has a clutch differential
S5 has a viscous differential

the 2 different stub shafts are not interchangable.

there is no discernable difference in the half shafts from s4 to s5, those can be swapped.

 

early 87 stub axles are different than late 87-88. it has nothing to do with the LSD type, they revised both the stub axles and the axle lengths half way through 87.

 

So the answer to the OP's question is they're 3/8"s shorter

 

Nice. Now it all makes sense. And I do believe all the axles I have are early 87 t2 which makes sense why I ran into problems going to a s5 t2 diff. Yeah just bought some axle spacers from maverick motorsports. Only company I found that makes them. 10mm so just a hair over that 3/8" difference. Thanks guys

 

I can post a picture of two T2 Half Shafts, One longer than the other. It's not a fable.

I seem to recall the the longer one goes on one side. Correct me if I'm wrong but that would be the drivers side.

 

The problem I had was on the driver side. Had to shim it with an axle spacer 10mm. Just wanted to clear this up since whenever anybody sells t2 axles, they never specify early s4 vs late s4/s5.

and it could be dangerous if this problem isn't addressed. I was on the freeway and the cv pulled out of the inner cup, throwing the ball bearings all over the freeway.

 

i stand corrected, sucks to own a '88 then since it will be pretty much like finding a needle in a haystack trying to get replacement axles for your cars. hard enough finding axles as it is with everyone who is attempting to turbo their crappy n/a cars and hoarding the parts.

 

That's why I used an S5 Diff in my TurboVert swap.