9-1/2 Inch Ring Gear (Rear Axle)

The 9 1/2 inch ring gear rear axle uses a conventional ring and pinion gear set to transmit the driving force of the engine to the rear wheels. The gear set transfers this driving force at a 90° angle from the propeller shaft to the axle shafts.

This axle is semi-floating. The axle shafts are supported at the wheel end of the shaft by roller bearings pressed into the housing. The shafts. are retained into the housing by retaining clips in the differential. The pinion gear is supported by two tapered roller bearings.
The pinion depth is set by a shim pack located between the pinion gear end and roller bearing. The pinion bearing preload is set by crushing a collapsible spacer between the bearings in the axle housing.

The ring gear bolts to the differential case with left-hand thread bolts.

The differential case is supported by two tapered roller bearings. The differential and ring gears are located in relationship to the pinion using selective shims between the bearing and axle housing. To move the ring gear, change shim and adjust nut. The differential bearing preloads set by a threaded differential bearing adjusting nut located between the axle housing and differential bearing cap. Two bearing caps hold the differential in the axle housing.

The differential allows the wheels to turn at different rates of speed while the axle continues to transmit the driving force. This prevents tire scuffing on turns and premature wear on internal axle parts.

The axle is sealed with a pinion seal, a seal at each axle shaft end, and RTV sealant between the cover and axle housing.

All rear axles are identified by an alphanumeric broadcast code on the right axle tube near the carrier. The axle housing cover does not have a drain plug.