Rod, I have had to shorten my 35 spline axles twice, once when I shorten the 8 3/4 and again when I put them in the Dana 60 that is in the car now. I had the Dana shortened one inch more than the old 8 3/4. I used a metal cut off wheel on a chop saw like they have at a muffler shop or a welders shop, beveled it lightly on the cut off wheel after the cutting