How can you tell the different from a standard 72 442 rear axle shaft and a Vista Cruiser rear axle shaft?

 

Width

 

VC axle shafts are thicker going towards the wheel bearings. In the O type axles they were flared thicker about midway down the axle shaft because standard axles were breaking. Not sure if the 10 bolts had flared or just thicker axles.

 

Thanks, I know they are thicker but to your point I don't know how much and where or if they have more splines. The other question is can you use them in a none VistaCruiser housing?

 

No splines are the same. In O type rears you can not use them in non VC rears because OD of bearing was different. I would assume the same for 71 and up 10 bolts. One of the rearend guys will cjime in. Also the rear drum shoes are 2 1/2" for a VC. You can swap the whole rear brake assembly to a non VC rear to use.

 

Usually the lower control arm where the shock mounts is set lower and the frame bump rubber is side ways from normal.

That is about it from the outside that is easy to recognize A10 bearing was used for the wagon being a larger out side and axle shaft diameter...Bit with an untrained eye you will never see it from the outside of the housing.

Jim

 

How much wider is the '71 VC rear end than a coupe or hardtop? Will a VC rear fit under a '71 cutlass supreme to gain some track width? Thanks!