Rear Drive Axle and Differential: Axle
The Model 60-1U, Model 70-2U and Model 70TR rear axles consist of the following components:
- Semi-floating or full-floating axle shafts on Model 60-1U rear axles
- Full floating axle shafts on Model 70-2U and Model 70TR rear axles
- An integral-type differential housing consisting of a cast center section with 2 steel tubes
- A stamped differential housing cover
- A hypoid-design differential ring gear and pinion with the centerline of the pinion set below the centerline of the differential ring gear
- Drive pinion bearing preload shims to maintain pinion bearing preload
- A selective outboard spacer, located between the differential bearing cups and the differential housing and a selective differential bearing shim located between the differential bearings and the differential case to adjust differential bearing preload and differential ring gear backlash
- Conventional or limited-slip differential assemblies
- An embossed metal tag identification tag, bolted to the differential housing cover
The Model 60 differential clutch packs have clutch discs with concentric grooves and clutch plates with radial grooves. Prior to assembly, soak the clutch packs for 20 minutes in Additive Friction Modifier. Arrangement of these plates and discs is at the option of the vehicle manufacturer. During disassembly, note the arrangement of these components to maintain their order during assembly.
The Model 70 axles have differential clutch packs with carbon fiber plates and require no friction modifier. Each differential clutch pack is pre-measured to make sure of correct stack height. Do not separate the differential clutch packs and intermix the clutch plates and clutch discs from other differential clutch packs.
The rear drive axle receives rotational torque from the driveshaft. The direction of the rotation determines movement of the vehicle. The rotation enters the rear drive axle through the drive pinion flange, turning the drive pinion and rotating the ring gear. The ring gear is bolted to the differential case. The differential case houses the pinion shaft upon which the differential pinion gears ride. The pinion gears are in mesh with the differential side gears to which the axle shafts are splined. It is the unique arrangement of the differential that allows the axle shafts to be driven at different speeds when needed, such as when driving around corners.