An axle assembly having a differential carrier, a drive pinion, a bearing assembly, and a preload nut. The drive pinion has a shaft that has a threaded portion. The bearing assembly rotatably supports the drive pinion on the differential carrier. The preload nut mates with the threaded portion and exerts a preload force on the bearing assembly.

An electric drive system for an electrified vehicle includes a driveline, a first axial flux motor, a second axial flux motor, a third axial flux motor, a differential, and an electric motor disconnect system. The first axial flux motor has a first primary output shaft. The second axial flux motor has a second primary output shaft. The third axial flux motor is positioned between the first and second axial flux motors. The third axial flux motor has a first output shaft that provides a first torque input to the first motor and a second output shaft that provides a second torque input to the second motor. The differential is disposed in the third axial flux motor. The differential provides selective speed differentiation between the first and second output shafts. The electric motor disconnect system includes a controller, an actuator, a first collar and a second collar.