I have a 96 Dakota. 7.25 axle (octagon). I need to replace the left rear axle shaft. The shaft is bent. I know that the spline count is 25. Can I use the axle shaft from a 8.25 (oval) axle? I know that the 8.25 axle has a 27 spline count. This might be a silly question, but I'm just beginning to tinker on my truck. Logically, I don't think I can, but I don't know the exact mechanics of the gears to know for sure. Thanks!

 

Plenty of 8.25 in the junk yards...why not do a complete swap? The wheel spacing is an inch longer and you'll have to shorten the drive shaft but the rest is plug and play and you'll have a stronger rear end. If the spline count is different then it's not going to slide into the ring gear would be my guess.

 

Thanks. I'll look into doing a complete swap. Let the research begin!

 

If you pull the rear end out, if the donor still has the transmission, go ahead and pull the speedometer drive gear out of the transmission (it's where the VSS goes; for those with mechanical speedos, the speedo cable goes into the end of the VSS save for 1987, where a cable goes into the transmission and the VSS is up by the cruise control servo).

That way you'll have the right drive gear for your new rear ratio.

RwP

 

No, you most definitely can not use an axle shaft from a 8.25 in your 7.25