The method for manufacturing a banjo-type axle housing as defined in claim 5, further comprising the steps of:
selecting a desired size of a front opening in said central portion of said axle housing; and
trimming said wall sections of said banjo half portion of said axle housing half members to a degree so that more than burrs or flash material is removed so that when assembled said housing half members provide said desired size of said front opening in said central portion of said axle housing,
wherein said steps precede the step (d) of claim 1.
7. A method for manufacturing a banjo-type drive axle housing for a motor vehicle, said housing having a pair of axle beam portions axially oppositely extending from a central portion, said method including the steps of:
(a) forming first and second elongated axle housing half members each including a banjo half portion and opposite axle beam half portions outwardly laterally extending from opposite sides of said banjo half portion, each of said housing half members having a substantially U-shaped cross-section along entire length thereof with radially extending wall sections;
(b) selecting a desired box section of said beam portions of said axle housing;
(c) trimming said wall sections of said axle beam half portions of said axle housing half members to a degree so that more than burrs or flash material is removed so that when assembled said housing half members provide said desired box section of said axle beam portions of said axle housing;
(d) selecting a desired size of a front opening in said central portion of said axle housing;
(e) trimming said wall sections of said banjo half portion of said axle housing half members to a degree so that more than burrs or flash material is removed so that when assembled said housing half members provide said desired size of said front opening in said central portion of said axle housing; and
(f) welding said trimmed housing half members to each other to produce said axle housing.