Patent ID: 6840882

Claim:
A tandem drive axle set including a forward drive axle and a rear drive axle comprising: a forward drive assembly including a main differential having a forward pinion gear rotatably supported by a first bearing set and receiving input from an inter-axle differential, said inter-axle differential being rotatably supported by a second bearing set and having a first side gear and a second side gear; a through shaft having a first end secured to said first side gear and a second end extending past said forward drive assembly, said through shaft rotating with said first side gear; a rear drive assembly including a rear pinion gear and a rear differential, said through shaft driving said rear pinion gear; said second side gear in driving engagement with said forward pinion gear with rotation of said inter-axle differential resulting in rotation of said through shaft and said main differential via said forward pinion gear; wherein thrust loading of said second side gear is reacted by said first bearing set with said forward pinion gear including a thrust surface for reacting against said second side gear; and wherein said inter-axle differential, said through shaft, and said forward pinion gear are coaxial.