64 axle - 17 spline to 30

[chris1044]

There are a few threads about this already, but none answer the specific questions below. One of my axle bearings went bad and ate into my 17 spline shaft. I was able to score some 30 spline shafts out of a later truck - 6 lug which is what I want to run.

- My 17 lug shafts have a backplate on them, but it doesn't appear to be pressed on. Rather it looks like the wheel studs hold it in place. The new 30 spline shafts don't have this...problem if the backplate is eliminated?

- Can I simply source 30 spline spider gears (or a posi out of a later truck), and swap them in to make the 30 spline axles work with my housing?

The axle measurements are identical otherwise...fully aware of what needs to be done with the axle if I swap the carrier out as I've built a few axles over the years, but I keep coming across conflicting details on this axle swap.


Thanks,
Chris