Patent ID: 7951037

Claim:
A differential unit for an automotive driveline, comprising: a differential housing defining an internal cavity; a differential gearset disposed within said internal cavity and including first and second side gears, a pair of first pinions meshed with said first and second side gears, and a pair of second pinions meshed with said first and second side gears; a first pinion shaft rotatably supporting said first pinions and having its opposite ends disposed in a pair of first bores formed in said differential housing, said second pinion shaft extending through a central aperture formed in said first pinion shaft; a second pinion shaft rotatably supporting said second pinions and having its opposite ends disposed in a pair of second bores formed in said differential housing; an annular collar disposed radially inwardly of said first and second pinions and having a pair of first apertures through which said first pinion shaft extends and a pair of second apertures through which said second pinion shaft extends; and a retainer located radially inward of said collar and engaging at least one of said first and second pinion shafts, said retainer including at least one of a first member disposed in a first hole formed in said first pinion shaft and a second member disposed in a second hole formed in said second pinion shaft.