Differential Assembly: Description and Operation

DESCRIPTION
^ an integral-type housing hypoid gear design centerline of the pinion set below the centerline of the ring gear
^ hypoid differential ring gear and pinion with a 191 mm (7.5-inch) diameter ring gear
^ overhung drive pinion supported by two opposed tapered roller bearings
^ pinion bearing preload maintained by a differential drive pinion collapsible spacer
^ rear axle housing which has a cast center section with integral cast suspension attaching ears
^ differential case which is a one-piece design with two openings to allow assembly of internal components and lubrication flow
^ differential pinion shaft which is retained with a differential pinion shaft lock pin threaded to the differential case
^ differential case which is mounted in rear axle housing between two opposed tapered differential bearings
^ differential bearings which are retained by removable bearing caps
^ differential bearing preload and ring gear backlash are adjusted by differential bearing shims located between the differential bearing cups and the rear axle housing
^ semi-floating axle shafts which are retained in place by U-washers
^ U-washers that fit into machined recess in differential side gears

OPERATION
The rear drive axle operates as follows:
^ Rear axle drive pinion receives power from the engine through the transmission and driveshaft.
^ Pinion gear rotates differential case by engaging ring gear which is bolted to the differential case.
^ Inside the differential case, two differential pinion gears are mounted on the differential pinion shaft.
^ The differential pinion shaft is pinned to the differential case.
^ The differential pinion gears are engaged with differential side gears.
^ Differential side gears are splined to the axle shafts.
^ As differential case turns, it rotates the axle shafts and wheels.
^ When it is necessary for one wheel to rotate faster than the other, the faster turning differential side gear causes the differential pinion gear to roll on the slower differential side gear to allow differential action between the two axle shafts.