Patent ID: 7611437

Claim:
A differential assembly, comprising: a case having first and second case apertures communicating with an internal chamber; a pair of output shafts having end segments disposed within said chamber; a gearset disposed in said chamber for transmitting drive power from said case to said output shafts while permitting speed differentiation therebetween and including a pair of laterally-spaced side gears coupled to said end segments of said output shafts; a spacer pin assembly having a spacer ring, a cross pin and a fastener, said spacer ring is disposed in said chamber between said side gears and has first and second spacer apertures alignable with said first and second case apertures, said cross pin is disposed within said aligned first and second case apertures and said first and second spacer apertures, and wherein said fastener secures said cross pin to said case; wherein said first case aperture in said case defines a window opening that is sized to permit insertion of C-clip retainers into said internal chamber for securing said output shafts to said side gears; and wherein said spacer ring includes channels adapted to surround said C-clips.