does anyone know why the driveshaft flanges are different? The manual version has a spacer, and the bolt paterns are different too . The driveshaft lengths between auto and manual are also different. If the spacer on the manual rearend is just to make up for the driveshaft length, why did Mazda make the driveshaft lengths different? Thanks.

I believe the length of the tranny is different, hence the different length of drive shaft. But I'm positive diff is the same except for gearing. People use auto diff instead of manual because of the gearing. If I'm wrong someone correct me.. its been awhile..

gearing is 3.9 vs. 4.1 i think

i could be wrong but dont the manuals have a torsen in the rear and the autos not?

I have heard that the drive shaft connecting flange on the auto diff is different than that on a manual. I think it is interchangeable, the flange that is. There is a question about getting the nut tension right when swaping the flanges. I would take it to a professional to install/ do a swap.

flanges between auto and manuals are the same. Some people actually use Auto diff because its gearing is different. But thats about it. Everything else is the same for the diff.



I have both auto and manual drive shaft. If someone really wants to see the difference, I'll snap some pics (after I find it in my garage). But the length is definitely different!

auto has 3.9 and manual has 4.1