DESCRIPTION
The rear axle assembly is an integral-type housing hypoid gear design that has the centerline of the pinion set below the centerline of ring gear. (Scheme 1) The hypoid ring gear and pinion has a 203 -mm (8.0 inch) diameter ring gear and an overhung drive pinion which is supported by two opposed tapered roller bearings. Pinion bearing preload is maintained by a drive pinion collapsible spacer on the pinion shaft and adjusted by the pinion nut.
The rear axle housing assembly which consists of a cast aluminum center section and a cast-aluminum rear differential housing cover. The differential housing cover which uses a silicone sealant rather than a gasket. The differential case which is a one-piece design with two openings to allow for assembly of internal components and lubricant flow.
The differential pinion shaft is retained by a threaded differential pinion shaft lock bolt assembled to the differential case.
Differential bearing preload and ring gear backlash are adjusted by differential bearing shims located between the differential bearing cup and the rear axle housing. The use of a pinion depth gauge is required for correct differential ring gear and pinion adjustment.
The halfshafts are held in the differential case by a driveshaft bearing retainer circlip that is located on the inboard CV joint stub shaft pilot bearing housing. When each halfshaft is installed, the driveshaft bearing retainer circlip engages a step in the differential side gear.
Scheme 1
Legend For Exploded View Of Differential Assembly. Scheme 2
OPERATION
The rear axle drive pinion receives power from the engine through the transmission and driveshaft. The pinion gear rotates the differential case when engaged with the ring gear, which is bolted to the differential case outer flange.
Inside the differential case, two differential pinion gears are mounted on a differential pinion shaft which is pinned to the differential case. These differential pinion gears are engaged with the differential side gears to which the halfshafts are splined. As the differential case turns, it rotates the halfshafts and rear wheels.
When it is necessary for one wheel and halfshaft to rotate faster than the other, the faster turning differential side gear causes the differential pinion gears to roll on the slower turning differential side gear. This allows differential action between the two halfshafts.