Patent ID: 7155827

Claim:
A method for verifying a predetermined bearing preload of differential bearings in a differential assembly module during the mounting thereof to an axle support beam member of a drive axle assembly, said axle support beam member having a central section and at least two mounting studs outwardly extending therefrom, said differential assembly module including a differential carrier frame member having two axially spaced bearing hub portions each provided for receiving one of said differential bearings for rotatably supporting a differential case, each of said bearing hub portions of said differential carrier frame member having at least one mounting bore for receiving one of said at least two mounting studs of said support beam member, an axial spacing between said at least two mounting studs being complementary to a spacing between said mounting bores in said bearing hub portions when said differential bearings are properly preloaded to said predetermined bearing preload, said method comprising the steps of: a) providing said differential carrier frame member; b) mounting one of said differential bearings to each of said bearing hub portions of said differential carrier frame member and a differential case rotatably supported by said differential bearings; c) preloading each of said differential bearings to said predetermined bearing preload; d) providing said support beam member; e) inserting said mounting studs of said axle support beam member into said mounting bores in said bearing hub portions of said differential carrier frame member; and f) determining that said differential bearings are properly preloaded if said mounting studs are received in said mounting bores in said differential carrier frame member without substantial interference; or g) determining that said differential bearings are not properly preloaded if said mounting studs may not be received in said mounting bores in said differential carrier frame member or if said mounting studs are received in said mounting bores in said differential carrier frame member with substantial interference.