Rear Drive Axle

Rear Drive Axle and Differential

8.8-Inch Axle:

The rear axle assembly contains the following features:
^ An integral-type housing hypoid gear design with the centerline of the pinion set below the centerline of the ring gear.
^ A hypoid ring and pinion, which consists of an 8.8-inch diameter ring gear and an overhung drive pinion which is supported by 2 opposed pinion bearings.
^ Pinion bearing preload is maintained by a drive pinion collapsible spacer on the pinion stem and adjusted by the pinion nut.
^ The differential housing assembly consists of a cast center section, 2 steel tube assemblies, a steel differential housing cover and a Watts linkage assembly.
^ The differential housing cover uses a silicone sealant rather than a gasket.
^ The differential case is a one-piece design with 2 openings to allow for assembly of internal components and lubricant flow.
^ The differential pinion shaft is retained by a differential pinion shaft lock bolt assembled to the differential case.
^ The differential case is mounted in the rear axle housing between 2 opposed tapered roller differential bearings.
^ The differential bearing cups are retained in the rear axle housing by removable bearing caps.
^ Differential bearing preload and ring gear backlash are adjusted by the differential bearing shim located between the differential bearing cup and the rear axle housing.
^ The semi-floating axle shafts are held in the housing by U-washers positioned in the slot on the axle shaft splined end.
^ These U-washers also fit into a machined recess in the differential side gears within the differential case.