Manual Transaxle: Differential

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2007 Ford Escape. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The ends of the differential are supported on tapered roller differential bearings. The cups for these differential bearings are seated in the transaxle case and the flywheel housing. Differential bearing preload is set using a selective differential bearing shim that is installed under the differential bearing cup in the transaxle case.

The differential includes the differential side gears and the shaft mounted differential pinion gears. Direct contact between the gears and the differential case is prevented by the differential side gear thrust washers installed under the gears. The differential pinion shaft is held in position by a differential pinion shaft lock pin that extends through the end of the differential pinion shaft and the differential case.

The speedometer drive gear is also mounted on the differential case. It is located between the tapered roller differential bearing and the differential case. A tab on the speedometer drive gear and a matching slot in the differential case prevent the speedometer drive gear from spinning on the differential case.

For four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicles, there is an additional helical-cut ring gear installed on the differential case which is in constant mesh with the transfer case. For information concerning the transfer case, refer to FOUR WHEEL DRIVE (4WD) SYSTEMS article.