What is a spline count?

Splines are ridges or teeth at the end of a shaft that mesh with another part of a machine or engine to transfer torque. On your axles, the splines mesh with the differential or spool to rotate the shafts in order to supply motion to the drivetrain. That power is transferred back to the gears that rotate whatever is in contact with the axles, so it’s important to have the correct spline count that matches the power level being produced. 

To find out how many splines your specific axle has, you just need to count the individual ridges on the end of the axle. Generally, the more teeth on the spline, the more surface area there is to transfer the load of the torque from the differential. On the other hand, an axle with a lower spline count is easier to break, chip, or twist since there is less area being used to drive the axle. 

Another thing to take into consideration when purchasing a new axle with a higher spline count is that it will be physically bigger, at least in most modern axles. Therefore, it will have the diameter to take more twist before breaking apart, but it also means it might not fit your stock axle housing. Make sure to count the splines as well as measure the diameter of the axle before purchasing a new one.

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