FWD Axle = AWD Axle??

[Tiamat-red]

Are the half shaft/axles from the FWD's the same as the ones from the AWD's?
I have a 92 LS-L AWD and I'm trying to find a "new" front axle, but the local Advance auto only has the 2WD listed.
Advanced auto's website has 2WD and AWD's listed but I'd rather not pay to send the core back.
Not to mention the 2WD is $20 less for some reason.

[huck369]

Originally Posted by Tiamat-red

Are the half shaft/axles from the FWD's the same as the ones from the AWD's?
I have a 92 LS-L AWD and I'm trying to find a "new" front axle, but the local Advance auto only has the 2WD listed.
Advanced auto's website has 2WD and AWD's listed but I'd rather not pay to send the core back.
Not to mention the 2WD is $20 less for some reason.

They are interchangable....

[Manarius]

The FWD axles are generally more beefy than the AWD axles.

[davew833]

I just personally replaced the two front axles on my '95 LSi AWD with two front axles from a '94 FWD. They DO look beefier, and they looked like they were about half an inch longer, but they fit fine. Not sure why they'd be cheaper.

[Tiamat-red]

Awsome, but by half an inch longer do you mean the splined end that goes into the hub?
Or the shaft/cv joints themselves?
Because that would seem to be a problem?

But then if you just put 2 in then I guess there isn't.

Anyway, for whatever reason Advance's website lists them(2wd) as $59.88
and the awd ones for $84.99.
So I guess I'll save some money and go with the fwd axle.

Thanks!

[davew833]

No, I meant the shafts themselves, not the splined ends. It could have been just a matter of how worn the old joints (4wd) were and that they had more play/wear and were compressed more than the ones I replaced them with (2wd). As I said, putting them in was easy and painless with no difficulties.