Front Axle
FRONT AXLE - 186FBIDESCRIPTION
The Front Beam-design Iron (FBI) axle consists of a cast iron differential housing with axle shaft tubes extending from either side. The tubes are pressed into the differential housing and welded. The axles are semi-floating axle shafts, meaning the loads are supported by the hub bearings. The axle shafts are retained by nuts at the hub bearings.
OPERATION
The axle receives power from the transfer case through the front propeller shaft. The front propeller shaft is connected to the pinion gear which rotates the differential through the gear mesh with the ring gear bolted to the differential case. The engine power is transmitted to the axle shafts through the pinion mate and side gears. The side gears are splined to the axle shafts.