Tight axles?

Couple of questions:

1. What parts did you change from the original rear end (assuming it was correct before)?

2. New axles?

3. The "spreader bar" you are referring to, is it the one I've highlighted with the arrow in the attached picture? (that part is called a strut.)

4. The axle studs are press in, correct? The part that confused me in your description was this: "Axles have 3" studs, bolts with lock washers under heads".