Rear Drive Unit (RDU)

The active torque coupling/ RDU  is serviced as an assembly.

The RDU  housing cover uses a silicone sealant rather than a gasket.

Each halfshaft is held in the RDU  case by a driveshaft bearing retainer circlip that is located on the inner CV joint stub shaft pilot bearing housing. When each halfshaft is installed, the driveshaft bearing retainer circlip engages a slot in the RDU  side gear.

The RDU  operates as follows:

• The RDU  pinion receives power from the engine through the transaxle, transfer case, driveshaft and active torque coupling, and is always engaged.
• The pinion gear rotates the ring gear, which is bolted to the differential case outer flange.
• Inside the differential case, 2 differential pinion gears are mounted on a differential pinion shaft that 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 2 halfshafts.