TAPERED MINOR DIAMETER SPLINE TO INCREASE STRENGTH AND FATIGUE LIFE

A motor vehicle shaft assembly has a shaft extending along a longitudinal axis between opposite ends, with the shaft having a male spline adjacent at least one of the opposite ends, and a housing having a through bore extending about the longitudinal axis, with the through bore having a female spline configured for meshed engagement with the male spline to prevent relative torsional movement between the shaft and the housing. At least one of the male and female splines includes a tapered spline extending in oblique relation to the longitudinal axis.