OK, so I'm working on my swap (2 yrs. in the making, whatever) and I had both drivers side axles side by side. I didnt see any noticable differences in the 2. The ends that go into the trans appear exactly the same. Which leads me to ask, can the 5 spd axles be used in a 6spd? or are there minute tolerances that wont allow this?

I was wondering because I remember there being a shortage of 6spd axles at one point and a few people not being able to drive because their axle were bad. wouldnt it be nice if we could use 5 spd axles with the 6spd boxes? (well at least for us 4th gen swappers)

I always understood that they were different but I've never seen them side by side to confirm.

I always thought they were different also. If they are not visibly different maybe internally the one for the 6speed might have been built better/different to tolerate the higher power level

true, but what about all the people running 3.5 swaps, NOS, and/or boost with the 5 speed? They seem to hold up, unless they're doing burn out contest or repeated drag launches.

I'll try to take some pics before I put the tranny in...(which is another problem, cant seem to get it on. The shifter mechanism, hits the chassis and keeps getting in the way)

I believe the inner shaft splines are different that engage into the final drive. One is a 27mm diameter(A32) and the other is a 29mm diameter(A33b+A34+L31 etc). Would love to know if the A34 inners could work with the A32 shaft and outer CV joint though

After having pulled the 6MT out a half dozen times, I've found the quickest way to just yank the shift tower out and stuff a rag in there; 45 minutes from jacking the car up to having the trans on the ground and split in half.

I thought of that but didnt wanna try it for fear of damaging a tranny I have yet to use. But it does make total sense though. I guess its back to the FSM to see how it comes out. Thanx Pmohr

just eyeing them, they look to be the same size but I'll try to get a caliper to measure exactly...or maybe I should try to just stick one in to see...

pictures?

I have been informed today by my CV joint tech(he wrote the first book about CV joints/shafts etc) that the A32 and the Australian J31(American I35 I believe) shafts have the same shaft spline and diameter, so the 6 speed inner CV joints and 4th gen and 5th gen outer CV joints can be joined by any suitable A32/33 Maxima shaft to the 6 speed box.
I ordered a gearbox side(my passenger, USA driver side) shaft to confirm it works as this will solve a small problem of mine with the L31 Altima shaft being too long.

Im in for pics also.

Installed today A32 passenger(Australian driver side) driveshaft and outer CV joints into A34/L31 inner CV joints works. Untested about the US driver side(aussie passenger)

However, I believe the US passenger side axle from the 5 speed will encounter a problem from pics I found...

6 speed shaft is the one fitted and the 5 speed shaft is sitting where the gearbox would be, as the 5 speed shaft goes into the box in line with the block, not further toward the driver side axle like the 6 speed.
So, if the 5 speed shaft splines went into the 6 speed gearbox, it would be about 1.5" too short at the block bracket.

Can anyone tell me how many splines are there on the Shafts and ABS ring of a 6speed A33 Auto Trans

6spd a33 auto trans doesn't exist...