Description

The rear axle (4001) is an integral type housing, hypoid gear design with the centerline of the pinion set below the centerline of the ring gear.

The hypoid gearset consists of an 8.8-inch diameter ring gear and an overhung drive pinion which is supported by two opposed cone and roller bearings. Pinion bearing preload is maintained by the differential drive pinion collapsible spacer (4662) on the drive pinion shaft and adjusted by the pinion nut.

The rear axle housing (4010) consists of a cast center section (carrier) with two steel tube assemblies and a stamped axle housing cover (4033). The axle housing cover uses silicone sealant as a gasket.

The differential case (4204) is a one-piece design with two openings to allow for assembly of the internal components and lubricant flow. The differential pinion shaft (4211) is retained with a threaded lock bolt assembled to the differential case. The differential case is mounted in the rear axle housing between two opposed differential bearings (4221) and is retained in the housing by removable bearing caps.

Differential bearing preload and ring gear backlash are adjusted by the use of shims located between the differential bearing cup (4222) and the rear axle housing.

The use of a pinion depth gauge tool for drive pinion shim selection in conjunction with a dial indicator for differential case shim selection is required for proper gearset adjustment.

The semi-floating axle shafts (4234) are held in the rear axle housing by u-washers (4N237) positioned in a slot on the axle shaft splined end. These u-washers also fit into a machined recess in the differential side gears (4236) within the differential case.