Why Same Axle Part Numbers?

[jimolson]

Axle/CV joint manufacturers Cardone and EMPI list the same part numbers for both the passenger and drivers side axle/CV assemblies. Said differently, they believe the two axle sides are identical parts.

When I crawl under my 1995 Avalon it's clear that the two axle assemblies are dramatically different. The passenger side is easily 9" longer than the drivers side and includes a mid-shaft carrier bearing.

Do Cardone and EMPI assume that the buyer will retrieve portions of the existing passenger side axle assembly and transfer them to the new one? Which parts to be transferred?

How do you transfer old parts to the new assembly without opening its boots and installing new clamp rings? Wouldn't the old carrier bearing be near end-of-life if the CV joints were worn out?

A very good video on YouTube showing replacement of a Camry CV joint from the same era hints that cutting the passenger side extension shaft with a SawzAll is necessary to withdraw the carrier bearing from the engine mount. The video says that the carrier bearing seizes into the engine mount.

If I cut the old extension shaft I can't move it to the new axle.

[BMR]

On my '96 Avy and my V6-equipped Camry, the axles are the same. The stub-shaft (or whatever it's called) with the carrier bearing on the passenger side doesn't have to come out. The CV axle attaches to a flange on it's end with 6 socket head cap screws.