OK, I've had the actual suspension parts (control arms, spindles, brakes, wheels) on the car for a little over a week, and just haven't gotten around to doing the axles. Today I was planning on finishing it, and I ran into an issue, so I'm trying to figure out where the problem is.

Anyone who has done the swap, please post your info:
What year J-body you have,
What engine you have (2.2 OHV, 2.4, 2.2 Eco, etc)
Type of transmission (3/4 speed auto, 5-speed, Getrag or Isuzu)
Type of donor car the axles came from (ie 2000 GA 3.4 auto, 2002 Alero 2.2 5-speed, etc...)

The problem is this: my outter CV joint has a different size input shaft! I got the J-body shafts apart, and the N-body shafts apart, and when I was putting them together, the J-body shaft just bounces around inside the N-body outter. Now I've checked regs for the two people I know have done this exact swap (CTS and Viper98912), and they both have automatics. If anyone has done it with a manual, I'd like some input. I'm also I'm hoping that I don't have to have shafts built, because I don't have the extra cash at the moment, and I'd really like to get my f*cking car back on the road for the summer.




Edited 1 time(s). Last edited Saturday, May 10, 2008 8:25 AM

97 Z24- used the axles that came out of my isuzu 5speed. Donor for hubs and axles was a 2000 malibu- i think they only came 3.4 auto- but i had the yard ship them to me at work so....
They went together properly for me.

On a side note my left (driver side) axle is from a 2nd gen since it is slightly shorter. And the trans that i am using is an NVG out of a 2nd gen as well. This leads me to think that many of GMs FWD transmissions likely use the same inner splines.

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Now with northstar V8, IRS, 20's n 22's

Interesting. I'm starting to see a common thread. You, CTS, and Viper98912 all have 2.4 cars. Mine was a 2.2. I'm wondering if the shaft itself is bigger on the 2.4 cars. I wouldn't have expected it with our cars, but GM never ceases to surprize me. I called a few parts stores today, and no one has the axles in stock. I was hoping to go check them out and bring my caliper to measure the size of the shaft. This is frustrating. I planned on having the front end done today. Now I'm still researching to make sure the next set of axles I pick up are the right ones.

I doubt the cavalier ones are different from one engine to another since the inner and outer joints are the same for either cars (splines anyway) and GM wouldnt change things up since that would mean paying more for parts.
What year are you donor parts from- 99-up N-body axles are different from the older ones from what i have found, at this point thats all i can think of. If you do have the newer axles as well then i'm not sure. i could measure axles in a 2.2 manual on monday and the axles in the cavalier, if it comes down to it (my DD is a 2.2 but i dont think i have a set of calipers at home)

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Now with northstar V8, IRS, 20's n 22's

I have the correct axles for the N-body. I got the spindles, hubs, and axles off a 2000 Alero. I didn't ask which transmission or engine the car had, because I didn't expect it to make a difference on the outters, but the middle shafts on my J-body axles are definitely smaller than the N-body ones.

I really did not expect any variance in these, but that's why I'm hoping to get a few people to list out what they have. As I said, so far, the only common threads I've found are that the successful swaps have occured in 2.4 cars that are newer than mine. It's possibe that they changed them after 95, and it's possible that they are different between the base model and the Z. When I called about the axles, all of the stores asked if it was a 2.2 or 2.3. That's pretty much standard with the computer systems they use (they always ask which size engine), but it's possible it makes a difference.

I'll get a caliper on my two sets of axles and post the results. If you get the chance to measure, that would be cool, but don't go out of your way. I may call an axle manufacturer and just ask them some questions. I called a bunch of auto parts stores looking for some axles in stock. I may just be a real pain in their ass and find out which J-body axles they might have, and bring mine in.

Quiklilcav wrote:OK, I've had the actual suspension parts (control arms, spindles, brakes, wheels) on the car for a little over a week, and just haven't gotten around to doing the axles. Today I was planning on finishing it, and I ran into an issue, so I'm trying to figure out where the problem is.

Anyone who has done the swap, please post your info:
What year J-body you have,
What engine you have (2.2 OHV, 2.4, 2.2 Eco, etc)
Type of transmission (3/4 speed auto, 5-speed, Getrag or Isuzu)
Type of donor car the axles came from (ie 2000 GA 3.4 auto, 2002 Alero 2.2 5-speed, etc...)

The problem is this: my outter CV joint has a different size input shaft! I got the J-body shafts apart, and the N-body shafts apart, and when I was putting them together, the J-body shaft just bounces around inside the N-body outter. Now I've checked regs for the two people I know have done this exact swap (CTS and Viper98912), and they both have automatics. If anyone has done it with a manual, I'd like some input. I'm also I'm hoping that I don't have to have shafts built, because I don't have the extra cash at the moment, and I'd really like to get my f*cking car back on the road for the summer.

1999 Sunfire w/ 4t40e auto
I bought my axles brand new from www.macautoparts.net. They are for the Malibu. I had no fitment issues and they are the exact same length as my j-body axles were. $56.00 each!

Towards the NWF Sticky, Somebody with a manual tranny bought a brand new n-body axle from the auto parts store and he too had the same luck as me.

Hope this helps and good luck,


Car is for Sale!Supercharger kit is for sale!

OK, so here are the specs on mine:

My J-body shaft, where it goes into the outter joint, is 23mm
The N-body one is 25mm.

I'm obviously going to have to check some salvage yards, and/or some parts stores, to make sure I find J-body axles with the right shafts.