IM replacing the CV joints and axels on my.

Im replacing the cv joints and axels on my girlfriends car. I web
nt to oreillys and they sold me two right front axels, the differance was one had a spindle that went into tranny. Not knowing I installed one into the drivers side and it seems to fit correctly, but the passenger side I took back and they ordered me another and it doesnt seem to fit. Now question is about the ring around the entry point of where the axel enters the tranny. The cv joint also has a ring. Does that slide inside of the one on the tranny? Or does the ring on the tranny have to come off because it seems the axel is about an inch to long? Or was I misinformed and the car is really a 1.6? Help me cuz im stumped.