7.5 Inch Ring Gear

DESCRIPTION
The rear axle assembly is an integral-type axle housing, hypoid gear design with the centerline of the pinion (part of ring gear and pinion) set below the centerline of the ring gear.

The hypoid gear set consists of a 7.5-inch diameter ring gear and an overhung drive pinion which is supported by two opposed differential bearings. Pinion bearing preload is maintained by a collapsible spacer on the pinion shaft and adjusted by the pinion nut.

The axle housing consists of a cast center section with two steel tube assemblies and a steel.

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

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

The use of a pinion depth gauge is required for proper gear set adjustment.

The semi-floating axle shafts are held in the carrier by U-washers positioned in a slot on the axle shaft splined end. These U-washers also fit into a machined recess in the differential side gears within the differential case.

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OPERATION
The rear axle drive pinion receives its power from the engine through the transmission and driveshaft. The pinion gear rotates the differential case through engagement with the ring gear, which is bolted to the case outer flange. Inside the differential case, two pinion gears are mounted on the drive pinion shaft which is pinned to the differential case. These pinion gears are engaged with the differential side gears, to which the axle shafts are splined. Therefore, as the differential case turns, it rotates the axle shafts and rear wheels. When it is necessary for one wheel and axle shaft to rotate faster than the other, the faster turning differential side gear causes the pinion gears to roll on the slower turning differential side gear to allow differential action between the two axle shafts.