Reply to "Rear hub adjustment"

I need to rekindle this thread as I currently have the rear axles out of the car.

My temporary repair looks perfect after 300 miles and considering that I machined it to 40.04mm and it's endured a press fit of the new bearings, I'm actually very suprised that it held up as well as it did.

I've read over and over this thread and many others pertaining to the rear axles but I'm still in a quandary.

My axles appear to be original. They are hollow axles with the centre bore being approximately 19.5mm and on the very tip of the threaded end are stamped D and S indicating left hand and right hand threaded.

They measure as follows:

D axle (passenger side USA)
- spline end 39.87mm
- centre 39.98mm
- outer end 39.96mm
This indicates that I have some inner wear and less outer wear and that the centre is probably a factory spec as it is under size to the bearing inner.

S axle (drivers side USA)
- spline end 39.95mm
-centre 39.99mm
- outer end is badly worn and down to 39.75mm

Obviously the drivers side outer bearing has damaged the shaft badly, and the inner drivers side is showing slight wear, yet overall the centre measurement tends to indicate that these axles may be original (slightly undersize) factory items as evidenced by the center measurements being in the 39.98 / 39.99 range.

If these are original, then it's certainly time to change them but here lies the root of the quandry.

I'm more than happy to run the Wilkinson axle with the double size outer bearing and shortened centre spacer, but can anyone confirm that these axles are perfectly manufactured to 40.03/40.04mm with no taper to them. I'd like to run a 2 thou interference fit, and given the 335's on the back, I reckon it's prudent to go with the double width outer bearing if you guys think it's a good thing.

Is there any hub modification required to fit the Wilkinson double bearing axles?