I recently bought and installed a DOHC ZC into my HF and when I bought it the guy said that the trans was an Si. I didn't think anything about it since he worked at Honda as a tech and thought it was an Si. I was finally able to start the car yesterday and happy with my results I went to Autozone this morning to get some axles. Not thinking anything anout it I told the guy I had a 91 CRX Si when he asked for what car I have.

I get home and upon installing the axles I noticed they go in but seem a little loose. I just think they haven't set in yey or anything and finish installing them. After finishing up I noticed there was some trans fluid leaking out the passengers side where the axles seats in and it was still a little loose like it was too small for the hole. The other side fit fine in the hub with no problem.

I went to start the car up and upon starting it I some grinding and look under the car and the drivers side axles has popped out on it's own even when the car wasn't moving and still on jackstands. Confused by the whole thing I grab a set of old axles that were on my '88 Civic Wagon 4WD (uses intermediate shaft) and it fits right into both the drivers and passengers side of the trans. Very confused now I go back to Autozone and they show me that both the 88 and 91 Si uses the same axles.

Still confused I take the axle and it fits into my 91 HF, 90 CRX auto, 90 DX and 91 Si trans that I have but still can't figure out what I need.

So what axles would I need and what trans is it? Is it a ZC trans?

 

Also, comparing the spline count between a 91 Si and 88 Civic 4WD wagon they are different.

1991 CRX Si

A-1 CARDONE Part # 604002 {Reman CV Half-Shaft Assembly / Overall Length=23.6875" Outboard Splines=26 Inboard Splines=25 Inboard Joint Type=Male}
Front Right
More Info
$56.79 $45.00 $101.79
A-1 CARDONE Part # 604003 {Reman CV Half-Shaft Assembly / Overall Length=35 9/16" Outboard Splines=26 Inboard Splines=25 Inboard Joint Type=Male}
Front Left

1988 Civic Wagon 4WD

A-1 CARDONE Part # 604067 {Reman CV Half-Shaft Assembly / Overall Length=23 3/4" Outboard Splines=26 Inboard Splines=27 Inboard Joint Type=Male}
Front Left
More Info
$67.89 $45.00 $112.89
A-1 CARDONE Part # 604074 {Reman CV Half-Shaft Assembly / Overall Length=23.75" Outboard Splines=26 Inboard Splines=27 Inboard Joint Type=Male}
Front Right

 

My guess is that they gave you the wrong axle for that side, or it was just manufactured poorly. This always seems to be an issue with aftermarket axles bought form a retail chain.

Does the inboard side of the passenger's axle fit in the driver's side?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by wiZCo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">My guess is that they gave you the wrong axle for that side, or it was just manufactured poorly. This always seems to be an issue with aftermarket axles bought form a retail chain.

Does the inboard side of the passenger's axle fit in the driver's side? </TD></TR></TABLE>

No the passengers side axle does't fit in the drivers side input shaft.

I counted the splines on the new axles and it was 25. I counted the splines on the wagon axle that fits and it's 27 so there is no way the new axles would fit.

I tested the axles out on 4 different other 89+ trans it they all fit snugly and well.

 

You can do a serach under this here on H-T :what to look for to identify si tranny?:

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MOE@Hyper16Valve &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You can do a serach under this here on H-T :what to look for to identify si tranny?:
</TD></TR></TABLE>

I saw that and forgot to check for the rings on the shaft. One thing I did see on it was about the ZC having a larger diameter spline opening.

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1551508

ZC transmissions and EX transmissions also say PL3/3000 or PL3/9000 but don't have the Si 4.25 final drive - the ZC has larger diameter splined openings where the axles go in

If it is a ZC I might just pull it off and put the Si trans on it since the axles I bought fit it.

 

sounds to me like you have a ZC transmission - 4wd axles are same diameter as the ZC - you will need a ZC intermediate shaft and 90-93 Integra axles - if you still have HF hubs on it, you will need to swap them out for ones from 88-91 CRX/Civic DX, Si or LX

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jlicrx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">sounds to me like you have a ZC transmission - 4wd axles are same diameter as the ZC - you will need a ZC intermediate shaft and 90-93 Integra axles - if you still have HF hubs on it, you will need to swap them out for ones from 88-91 CRX/Civic DX, Si or LX</TD></TR></TABLE>

Damn that's what I was afraid of, especially since the new axles fit the '90 Si trans I have and the wagon axles fit the trans on the motor now.