so whats the deal with the 7 5/8" axle

the 87 camaro axle i took apart yesterday is marked with 7 5/8" on the pinion gear


7.5 is 7 1/2"

so whats the deal with these two different sizes ?

technically three different axles under third gens ? or what ?

there is no deal 7.5 and 7.62 are the same thing, just another way gm thought up to confuce us.

Not counting the 9 bolt, GM produced a few different 10 bolt diffs over the years. Third gens originally got the 7.5". In 1986, it was upgraded to 7.625". Everything is interchangable between the 2 different sizes except the ring gear is now slightly larger. In 1990 they upgraded the 26 spline axles to 28 spline and kept the 7 5/8" with 28 spline up to the end of the fourth gen series except the fourth gens got longer axles.

ok so you can use 7 5/8 gearset and carrier in a 7.5 housing, and vice cersa ?

thanks