Adjustable axle shaft endplay
First Claim
1. A device for adjusting an axle shaft endplay in a differential assembly, said device comprising:
- an axle shaft having external splines adapted to mate with internal splines of a differential side gear and an annular groove located adjacent to a terminal shoulder provided at an inboard end of said shaft, said groove is provided for receiving a retainer ring, said retainer ring is provided to limit an axial displacement of said axle shaft in an outboard direction; and
an endplay adjustment member selectively positioned on said terminal shoulder along an axial direction of said axle shaft for variably limiting a range of axial movement of said retainer ring within said groove.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The device for adjusting an endplay of an axle shaft in a differential assembly includes an axle shaft supported in a differential case for rotation about a longitudinal axis, and an endplay adjustment member threadedly mounted on a terminal shoulder provided at an inboard end of the axle shaft. The axle shaft has external splines adapted to mate with internal splines of a differential side gear and an annular groove located adjacent to the terminal shoulder. The annular groove receives a retainer ring provided to limit an axial displacement of the axle shaft in an outboard direction. The endplay adjustment member is selectively positionable on the terminal shoulder along the axial direction of the axle shaft to variably limit an axial movement of the retainer ring within the annular groove, thus adjusting the axle shaft endplay.
45 Citations
10 Claims
-
1. A device for adjusting an axle shaft endplay in a differential assembly, said device comprising:
-
an axle shaft having external splines adapted to mate with internal splines of a differential side gear and an annular groove located adjacent to a terminal shoulder provided at an inboard end of said shaft, said groove is provided for receiving a retainer ring, said retainer ring is provided to limit an axial displacement of said axle shaft in an outboard direction; and
an endplay adjustment member selectively positioned on said terminal shoulder along an axial direction of said axle shaft for variably limiting a range of axial movement of said retainer ring within said groove. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A method for adjusting an axle shaft endplay in a differential assembly, said method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) assembling a side gear and an axle shaft non-rotatably engaging said side gear, said axle shaft having an annular groove located adjacent to a terminal shoulder provided at an inboard end of said shaft, said groove is provided for receiving a retainer ring, said retainer ring is provided to limit an axial displacement of said axle shaft in an outboard direction;
(b) mounting said retainer ring in said groove and installing an endplay adjustment member adjustably positioned on said terminal shoulder along an axial direction of said axle shaft;
(c) installing a differential pinion shaft carrying pinion gears providing continuous meshing engagement thereof with said side gear;
(d) measuring an axle shaft endplay;
(e) determining a desired axle shaft endplay;
(f) moving said endplay adjustment member to an axial position ensuring said desired axle shaft endplay. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
-
Specification