Rear

CAUTION: Extended use of other than matching size tires on a Traction-Lok rear axle could result in a permanent reduction of the axle's ability to provide added traction on slippery road conditions.

The rear axle assembly has the following features:
- An integral-type housing hypoid gear design. The hypoid differential gear and pinion consists of a ring gear and an overhung drive pinion which is supported by two opposed tapered roller bearings.
- The pinion bearing preload is maintained by a collapsible spacer on the pinion shaft and adjusted by the pinion nut. The axle housing assembly consists of a cast center section with two steel tube assemblies and a stamped axle housing cover which uses silicone sealant as a gasket. Rear axle identification is on an embossed metal tag bolted to the rear axle housing cover.
- The differential pinion shaft is retained by a threaded differential pinion shaft lock pin assembly to the differential case. The case is mounted in the rear axle housing between two opposing differential bearings that are retained in the carrier by removable bearing caps. Synthetic rear axle lubricant is used in all axle assemblies. Differential bearing preload and ring gear backlash are adjusted by differential bearing shims located between the differential bearing caps and the rear axle housing.
- The Traction-Lok rear axle assembly, except for the differential case and its internal components, are identical to the conventional rear axle assembly. The Traction-Lok differential employs two multi-disc clutch packs to control differential action. The mounting distance of the differential side gears are controlled by six plates per side on 8.8 rear axle and eight plates per side on 9.75 rear axle. Half of the plates are steel and the other half are friction. Also included is one or more steel selective shim to control the position of the differential side gear, and one Belleville spring plate which, because of its slight concave design, provides initial preload to the clutch pack. Additional clutch pack capacity is delivered from the thrust loads of the differential side gear. The steel clutch plates are splined to the side gear hub which, in turn is splined to the axle shaft. Tabs on the friction plates are captured in the case by matching slots, providing continuous engagement of the clutch packs.