
From the way you described taking it apart, it sounds like your carrier is just a standard, non-posi unit. And as stated above, all 90-92, 28 spline axles are the same diameter at the splines. I installed a 91, 10 bolt, 3.23 posi/disc rear in my 89. When I got it, I noticed one of the axles was slightly bent, so I went to the junkyard and grabbed an axle out of a 91 drum rear, and it fit/works perfectly. On that note, I'm at a loss to explain why it wouldn't be the same with the rear you've got.

Btw, whether it's posi or open carrier shouldn't make any difference in the axle size either. Maybe you've actually got one of the rare Dana 44 rears?