Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi fellow Morristers,
Can anyone tell me the exact length of the standard halfshaft on a Morris Minor.
I want to calculate the distance required to remove both of them, if possile, in my narrow garage.
Thanks in anticipation
Best rgds
Dawpooldad

From your signature I guess that the "standard" halfshaft is for a 1954 car. Whilst I haven't got the length to hand, you won't need that amount of space as once the end of the shaft is clear of the diff then the shaft can be moved away from the horizontal meaning that you need a little bit less space.

For the purposes of the exercise the standard length of a Morris Minor 1000 half-shaft is 27.75".
Whilst you may be able to gain an extra inch of clearance as described by simmitc that extra inch is neither here or there.

I also have a narrow Garage and after taking out one half shaft with enough room, the other side did not have enough. Solved the Problem by jacking up the rear from under the diff with the 4 wheel jack at right angles. Before, I had placed a metal sheet under the jack wheels for less friction und just in case, Axel stands under the rear axle. Then with some gentle pushing, the whole rear end of the car ( Traveller) easily shifted the required 10 to 15cm or so.

With the front wheels chocked, there was no risk to either car nor life.

I too have been wondering about this as well, as one day the time will come and my garage is narrowed down by having rack units all the way down one side.

I have a wheeled axle stand so pushing the car from side to side isn't too much of a problem, think I could just about get the NS one out by pushing the car right over to the racks, did wonder about cutting a hole in the wall and putting a little half shaft removal flap in.

biomed32uk wrote:I too have been wondering about this as well, as one day the time will come and my garage is narrowed down by having rack units all the way down one side.

I have a wheeled axle stand so pushing the car from side to side isn't too much of a problem, think I could just about get the NS one out by pushing the car right over to the racks, did wonder about cutting a hole in the wall and putting a little half shaft removal flap in.

Biomed,
You must be going through a lot of half shafts to warrant building a half shaft removal flap!
I fitted the Charles Ware hardened shafts about two weeks ago so I hope that will give me peace and quiet for a long time.
Regards
Declan

In my experience when you overcome transmission failure in one place by upgrading the parts that have failed it just moves the failure problem elsewhere up or down the transmission and then that part has to be upgraded and so the problems continues.

Hi Guys
Thanks for all the help.

Today I'm going to park Mowwisss smack bang in the middle of the garage and measure up.

If I don't have the clearance, then it'll have to be one side at a time with the rolling trolley jack method.

However, I'm very drawn to the "Hole in the wall" idea. Now, that's what you call "sideways" thinking!

Thanks again
Best regards

Dawpooldad

There is only one hole in the wall to consider and that is:-

http://www.triptojerusalem.com/

Life is like a box of chocolates...........................

just recently fitted a different diff. I removed the whole axle. put it on the bench, painted it all and renewed all the rear brakes. whilst off the car I replaced the spring bushes as well.

halfway through putting it all back on the car.......

Phil saw this old post regarding the half shaft length. Looking at a couple of suppliers Pete May quote 653mm (25.7"), Morris Register Spare quote 22.5". Do you know how the standard measurement is made? Pete

philthehill wrote: ↑Mon Oct 23, 2017 9:14 pm For the purposes of the exercise the standard length of a Morris Minor 1000 half-shaft is 27.75".
Whilst you may be able to gain an extra inch of clearance as described by simmitc that extra inch is neither here or there.

Not the most accurate measuring but you get the idea......Standard Morris 1000 half shaft


Stephen

Stephen have you taken into account the dome at the outer end of the half-shaft?
It looks as if you are measuring from the outer face of the flange.

philthehill wrote: ↑Wed Aug 27, 2025 4:13 pm Stephen have you taken into account the dome at the outer end of the half-shaft?
It looks as if you are measuring from the outer face of the flange.

Yes that’s right it’s from the outer face of the flange. It’s an old photo. I don’t have a half shaft on hand now.

Stephen

Stephen
Thank you for the clarification.
I have just been and measured a spare half-shaft.
The length of the half-shaft should be measured from the inside of the flange and which is 25.75".
The overall length of the half-shaft (including dome) is 26.5"
For the purpose of half-shaft removal I would still allow 27.75" to give some wiggle room as when the shaft is removed and the shaft angled to get it out from between the axle and the wall the the overall length increases because of the flange.
Phil

Thank you.

I depends what you need to do. I too have a narrow garage. I was lucky that I could get the half shafts out on both sides but it was quite tight. You could do one side and then move the car to do the other side.

Stephen