Upgrade the weakest link in your Ford English axle with the Blackline Heavy-Duty Group 1 Half Shaft Kit. Precision-engineered from high-tensile 4340 chromoly steel, these two-piece shafts are built to handle up to 300 bhp while absorbing drivetrain shock to protect your differential and crown wheel and pinion (CWP).
Designed with an extra-long inner spline section, they fit standard-width Escort English axles out of the box and can be easily trimmed to suit narrowed casings.
How the Group 1 Setup Works
- Two-Piece Construction: Unlike factory single-piece forged shafts, the Group 1 design separates the drive shaft from the outer wheel flange.
- Collarless Bearing Retention: Traditional English half shafts rely on a pressed-on metal collar to hold the wheel bearing in place. The Group 1 setup removes this collar completely; instead, the separate bolt-on outer flange clamps directly against the inner bearing race to lock it securely onto the shaft.
- Standard Casing Compatibility: The assembly uses classic English axle wheel bearing dimensions and secures into the casing using the included retaining plates and spacers.
Trimming Guide for Narrowed Axles
Because each shaft features an extended 100 mm inner spline section, you can cut the shafts down to fit custom narrowed axle casings:
- Example (46" Narrowed Casing): A standard Escort English axle measures roughly 48.5" flange-to-flange. Narrowing the casing to 46" removes 2.5" (63.5 mm) overall, or 1.25" (31.75 mm) per side.
- Spline Engagement: Trimming 32 mm from the end of each shaft brings the overall length to ~693 mm and leaves 68 mm (2.68") of usable spline - more than double the 28–32 mm required for full engagement inside an 18-spline LSD side gear.
- Minimum Width Limit: You can safely narrow a Ford English axle casing down to approximately 43"–43.5" (1,092–1,105 mm) flange-to-flange while maintaining full spline engagement.
