Patent ID: 6497027
Filing Date: 2002-12-24
Classification: F16H,Y10T

Abstract:
A method for controlling an axle shaft endplay in a differential assembly, said method comprising the steps of:(a) assembling a side gear and a differential pinion shaft carrying pinions in continuous meshing engagement with said side gear in a differential case; (b) determining a desired axle shaft endplay &dgr;P; (c) providing an axle shaft adapted to non-rotatably engage said side gear, said axle shaft having an annular recess located adjacent to a terminal shoulder provided at an inboard end of said shaft, said recess 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; (d) determining a thickness WR of said retainer ring that would provide said desired axle shaft endplay; (e) selecting said retainer ring having the thickness WR as determined in step (d) for selectively controlling said endplay; (f) inserting said axle shaft through said side gear from said outboard direction toward an inboard direction; and (g) mounting said selected retainer ring in said recess.