A method for forming an axle shaft, comprising: inserting a first tubular blank having a leading end and a trailing end into a first die, the first die having an inlet end and an outlet end defining an extrusion throat through which the first tubular blank is extruded beginning with the leading end of the first tubular blank and ending with the trailing end of the first tubular blank; inserting a first tool into the first die, the first tool defining a surface configured to engage the trailing end of the first tubular blank and having a mandrel configured to be received within the extrusion throat of the first die and the first tubular blank, the mandrel having a first portion having a first diameter (d 1) and a second portion having a second diameter (d 2) greater than the first diameter; moving the first tool within the first die such that the surface of the first tool engages the trailing end of the first tubular blank and the first portion of the mandrel is disposed within the first tubular blank and the extrusion throat of the first die; applying a force to the first tool to move the first tool toward the outlet end of the first die and to extrude the first tubular blank through the extrusion throat to form the axle shaft, a first end portion of the axle shaft assuming a shape having an outer diameter defined by the extrusion throat and an inner diameter defined by the first portion of the mandrel and a first intermediate portion of the axle shaft assuming a shape having an outer diameter defined by the extrusion throat and an inner diameter defined by the second portion of the mandrel; withdrawing the first tool from the first die; and inserting a second tubular blank having a leading end and a trailing end into the first die, the leading end of the second tubular blank engaging the trailing end of the first tubular blank; inserting a second tool into the first die, the second tool defining a surface configured to engage the trailing end of the second tubular blank and having a mandrel configured to be received within the extrusion throat of the first die and the first tubular blank, the mandrel of the second tool having a third diameter that is less than the second diameter; moving the second tool within the first die such that the surface of the second tool engages the trailing end of the second tubular blank and the mandrel of the second tool is disposed within the first tubular blank and the extrusion throat of the first die; and applying a force to the second tool to move the second tool toward the outlet end of the first die such that a second end portion of the axle shaft assumes a shape having an outer diameter defined by the extrusion throat and an inner diameter defined by the mandrel of the second tool. inserting a first tubular blank having a leading end and a trailing end into a first die, the first die having an inlet end and an outlet end defining an extrusion throat through which the first tubular blank is extruded beginning with the leading end of the first tubular blank and ending with the trailing end of the first tubular blank; inserting a first tool into the first die, the first tool defining a surface configured to engage the trailing end of the first tubular blank and having a mandrel configured to be received within the extrusion throat of the first die and the first tubular blank, the mandrel having a first portion having a first diameter (d 1) and a second portion having a second diameter (d 2) greater than the first diameter; moving the first tool within the first die such that the surface of the first tool engages the trailing end of the first tubular blank and the first portion of the mandrel is disposed within the first tubular blank and the extrusion throat of the first die; applying a force to the first tool to move the first tool toward the outlet end of the first die and to extrude the first tubular blank through the extrusion throat to form the axle shaft, a first end portion of the axle shaft assuming a shape having an outer diameter defined by the extrusion throat and an inner diameter defined by the first portion of the mandrel and a first intermediate portion of the axle shaft assuming a shape having an outer diameter defined by the extrusion throat and an inner diameter defined by the second portion of the mandrel; withdrawing the first tool from the first die; and inserting a second tubular blank having a leading end and a trailing end into the first die, the leading end of the second tubular blank engaging the trailing end of the first tubular blank; inserting a second tool into the first die, the second tool defining a surface configured to engage the trailing end of the second tubular blank and having a mandrel configured to be received within the extrusion throat of the first die and the first tubular blank, the mandrel of the second tool having a third diameter that is less than the second diameter; moving the second tool within the first die such that the surface of the second tool engages the trailing end of the second tubular blank and the mandrel of the second tool is disposed within the first tubular blank and the extrusion throat of the first die; and applying a force to the second tool to move the second tool toward the outlet end of the first die such that a second end portion of the axle shaft assumes a shape having an outer diameter defined by the extrusion throat and an inner diameter defined by the mandrel of the second tool.