Section 24 (Differentials & Axle Shafts): Description

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2001 Mazda Tribute. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The rear axle assembly contains the following features:

Integral-type housing hypoid gear design has centerline of pinion set below centerline of ring gear.
A hypoid ring gear and pinion which consists of a ring gear and overhung drive pinion which is support by two opposed tapered roller bearings.
A pinion bearing preload is maintained by a drive pinion collapsible spacer on the pinion shaft and adjusted by the pinion nut.
A rear axle housing assembly which consists of a cast aluminum center section and a stamped-steel rear differential housing cover.
A differential housing cover which uses a silicone sealant rather than a gasket.
An aluminum rear axle housing that must be spread in order to remove the differential case.
A differential case which is a one-piece design with two openings to allow for assembly of internal components and lubricant flow.
A differential pinion shaft which is retained by a threaded differential pinion shaft lock bolt assembled to the differential case.
A differential case which is mounted in the rear axle housing between two opposed differential bearings.
Differential bearings which are retained in the rear axle housing by removable bearing caps.

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 rear axle drive pinion receives power from the engine through the transmission, transfer case, drive shaft and rotary blade coupling (when engage). The pinion gear rotates the differential case, 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.