Axles - Auto vs. Manual & OEM vs. Aftermarket
 

Hi folks,

Just started looking for some axles, due to trying to remove the pass side, and even with PB blaster and heating, I ended up mushrooming the outside tip, and may need a new one.
They are nowhere to be found, and the few mazda sites (even Mazda Motorsports) that have them are priced upwards of $500 each, if they even have them in stock.
Since I've seen different part numbers for the auto vs. manual diff axle seals, I am assuming the axles themselves are also different? Please correct me if I am wrong.
So the questions are:
1) Can auto and manual axles be used interchangeably in, say a manual S1 diff (4.444)? Does the answer change based on which seals are used?
2) Are there any aftermarket sites you are aware of that have more reasonable prices for either OEM or aftermarket axles?

For the S1 (and I can update this for S2, if someone provides the part numbers) the part numbers are as follows, per Tasca parts:
Auto -
Driver's (LH) side: MA01-25-60XA
Pass. (RH) side: MA01-25-50XA

Manual -
Driver's (LH) side: MA02-25-60XB
Pass. (RH) side: MA02-25-50XB

EDIT: Is there a difference (length) between the left and right side axles? I see a bunch of left side axles on ebay, and no right side ones, so was hoping to buy two lefties, if need be.

Many thanks,

sil80

I have S2 manual axles fitted to a S1 auto diff. Fitted with no issues and for all intentions they were the same, although the centre axles (not stub axles) physically look different between the auto and manual versions.

Much appreciate the response! Did you end up buying new axle seals, and if so, were they manual or auto seals?

If the auto/manual axle length and spline diameter are the same, one last thing to consider is that auto axles could be thinner in the seal area, which would mean that putting auto axles in a manual diff would result in a leak, but not the other way around.

I did the swap of axles maybe 3 or 4 years ago, so my memory of exact details may not be 100% clear. The overall length of the axles between auto and manual were the same, as were the spline. At the time when I had both sets of axles side by side, I did measure all the critical dimensions and they were the same. I don't recall seeing or measuring any difference in seals. Suffice to say, the S2 manual axles have been in the S1 auto diff for at least 3 years without issues, no leaking oil etc. As mentioned previously, the only visual difference I could see was that the main axle assemblies are different, in that the manual varies in diameter whereas the auto are a consistent diameter as shown in the pics below.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...97d10ee287.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...170dd1ef5f.jpg

Thanks again for the response and the picture. Based on that pic of the two old axles, is it correct to assume that one is the pass and one is the driver side?
If so that answers my question in the edited OP - they are different lengths, which is too bad. I cannot find the right one anywhere.

Yes, they are left and right specific.

For what it’s worth if you check the parts for sale section on here there’s a guy parting out an r3 and the drivetrain is still complete on it, can see if he’s willing to part it out.