An axle assembly having a drive pinion that may be rotatably supported by first and second sets of roller bearing elements. A preload element may exert a preload force on at least one of the first and second sets of roller bearing elements. The preload element may be disposed on the drive pinion in an inboard direction from the yoke.

An axle assembly having a drive pinion that may be rotatably supported by first and second sets of roller bearing elements. A preload element may exert a preload force on at least one of the first and second sets of roller bearing elements. The preload element may be disposed on the drive pinion in an inboard direction from the yoke.

A manufacturing method for a power transmission mechanism including: first and second shafts having first and second double helical gears; first and second rolling bearings rotatably supporting the shafts with respect to a case and restrict movement of the shafts in an axial direction thereof, includes an assembling step of assembling an outer ring of the first rolling bearing and an outer ring of the second rolling bearing to the case in a state where the outer rings are movable in the respective axial directions; and a positioning step of determining axial positions of the first rolling bearing and the second rolling bearing while rotating the first shaft and the second shaft in a state where the first double helical gear and the second double helical gear are meshed with each other, after the assembling step.

A disconnectable differential assembly has a reduced axial length and a side gear disconnectable from an axle shaft via a clutch unit. Various components of the disconnect mechanism are axially aligned and concentric to reduce the axial length. An output hub splined on the axle shaft and is actuatable, via an axially shiftable armature, into toothed engagement with the side gear via respective axially extending teeth. The output hub and armature include radially extending flanges that are axially adjacent and radially aligned with the teeth so that force is transmitted to the teeth at the same diameter. A thrust bearing is disposed between the flanges so that the output hub rotates relative to the armature. The side gear is supported for rotation on the axle shaft, and a bearing is disposed radially therebetween to improve radial alignment of the second side gear with the output hub.

An automotive propulsion system, a final drive assembly, and a bearing assembly are disclosed. The ball bearing assembly includes a bearing race structure having an inner race and an outer race, where the outer race is disposed concentrically about the inner race. A number of rotatable bearing elements (e.g., balls) are disposed between the inner race and the outer race. The bearing race structure has a plurality of threads extending therefrom (from either the outer race or the inner race). The bearing race structure is connected by the plurality of threads to an adjacent structure to prevent relative movement of the bearing race structure with respect to the adjacent structure.

A differential assembly for use in a vehicle. The differential assembly includes a differential case having an inner surface and an outer surface defining a hollow portion therein. At least a portion of a differential gear set having a first side gear, a second side gear and one or more pinion gears is disposed within the hollow portion of the differential case. The one or more pinion gears have one or more pinion gear apertures having at least a portion of one or more trunnions of a spider disposed therein. Interposed between an outer surface of the one or more trunnions of the one or more spiders and a surface defining the one or more pinion gear apertures is one or more first bearing assemblies.

An axle carrier includes a housing having an outer surface, an inner surface defining an interior portion, a first axle support member, and a second axle support member. The body is formed from a first material. A gear carrier is arranged within the interior portion. The gear carrier is formed from a second material. The first material comprises a metal matrix composite having a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) that substantially matches a CTE of the second material.

An axle assembly that includes a housing assembly, an input pinion, a ring gear, a ring gear bearing, and a differential assembly having a differential case. The ring gear bearing supports the ring gear for rotation on the housing assembly as well as handles thrust loads between the ring gear and the housing assembly in opposite axial directions. The ring gear bearing includes an outer bearing race having a first race member, which may be unitarily and integrally formed with the ring gear, and a second race member that is received in a groove formed on the ring gear. The differential case is coupled to the ring gear and secures the second race member to the ring gear.

An axle assembly includes a first axle shaft, an axle housing, a first inlet port, a first outlet port, and a first oil passage. The axle housing has a first housing component that includes a first space in which at least part of the first axle shaft is disposed, a flange that is adjacent to the first space and includes a communicating hole, and a central housing component that includes a central space connected to the first space through the communicating hole of the flange. The first inlet port is disposed below an axis of the first axle shaft in the central space. The first outlet port is disposed in the first space. The first oil passage extends from the first inlet port to the first outlet port.

A mechanical locking differential includes a drive lock motor supported by the differential housing. The drive lock motor is disposed opposite the input bevel gear assembly, higher than the differential input and the differential outputs. The drive lock motor is coupled to a differential lock with a gear train that includes a worm drive, to output rotational motion on a lock output gear. The lock output gear causes sliding motion of a rack and a rack follower, pressing the differential lock into or out of engagement. The drive lock motor assembly is disposed fully between the right and left extents of the differential.