Rear Axle - 248RBI

DESCRIPTION
The Rear Beam-design Iron (RBI) axle housings consist of an iron center casting (differential housing) with axle shaft tubes extending from either side. The tubes are pressed in to form an one-piece axle housing. The integral type housing, hypoid gear design has the centerline of the pinion set below the centerline of the ring gear.
The axles are equipped with full-floating axle shafts, meaning that loads are supported by the axle housing tubes. The full-float axle shafts are retained by bolts attached to the hub. The hub rides on two bearings at the outboard end of the axle tube. The axle shafts can be removed without disturbing or removing the wheel bearings. The wheel bearings are opposed tapered roller bearings and are contained in the hub assembly.
The differential case for the standard differentials and the Trac-lok differential are a one-piece design. The differential pinion mate shaft is retained with a roll pin. Differential bearing preload and ring gear backlash are adjusted by the use of shims located between the differential bearing cones and case. Pinion bearing preload is set and maintained by the use of a collapsible spacer.
A Trac-lok differential has a one-piece differential case and the same internal components as a standard differential plus two clutch disc packs.
The differential cover provides a means for inspection and service without removing the complete axle from the vehicle. A small, stamped metal axle gear ratio identification tag is attached to the housing cover via one of the cover bolts. This tag also identifies the number of ring and pinion teeth.

OPERATION
The axle receives power from the transmission/ transfer case through the rear propeller shaft. The rear 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.