I have started making my hybrid driveshafts. I have MX5 outers and volvo 850 inners.

I have a question though, the volvo shafts are both 33mm diameter but the splined section on either side are different sizes. Makes me wonder if one of the shafts is from a different volvo?

Anyone know ifs common to have different size splines on either side of the car?????

FYI, I have mastered the art of removing mx5 outer CV joints without damaging them If anyone is interested.

Interested in pics, method of joining shafts and how you removed the joints, I have all of this still to come!

Cant help you with the Volvo question but I'm definitely interested in how to remove outer CV joints from the MX5 side

Yeah I'll gladly share pics. I'm off to the Ryder cup until Saturday though so i'll do it after that.
Its not magic but it works without damaging anything.


For joining the shafts I am machining a connector bored each end to accept the cut mazda and volvo shafts. I will then weld the shafts to the connector. I don't plan to run the car with these cut and shut shafts, they're more of a working pattern to have custom shafts made.

Hope that helps

Liam Mc

Might Volvo have made the ends different so they could not be fitted incorrectly (Murphy's Law preventative)?

I don't see how it would matter they are almost identical in every other respect??

the 850/70 has the drivers side driveshaft running in a bearing behind the engine so theyre equal length , it could be because of this .

the driveshafts could be considered quite unequal if you removed this bearing .