Genuine Volvo 960 Axle Shaft

Volvo 960 Axle Shaft Parts and Q&A

• Axle Shaft
  3502336
  Q: What role does the axle shaft play in the function and design of the rear axle on Volvo 960?

  A:

  The rear axle acts as a special transmission which serves to reduce the driving speed of the engine and the transmission drives and to distribute it to the rear wheels through a power entering from the driveshaft via a companion flange mounted on the drive pinion shaft. The drive pinion shaft and gear transfer power into the differential which has a large ring gear driven by the pinion gear which changes the direction of power transfer causing the axle shafts to turn driving both wheels. Axle Gear Ratio The rear axle gear ratio is determined by dividing the number of teeth on the pinion gear by the number of teeth on the ring gear. With a hypoid design, the final drive has the drive pinion beneath the ring gear and the solid axle versions use splined sleeves for axle shafts mounted in tapered roller bearings protected by oil seals. In vehicles having multi-link suspension, halfshafts are bolted to the differential and each of the halfshafts has constant velocity joints for motion flexibility. The ring gear drives the differential case which has mounting points for the pinion shaft and pinion gears that drive side gears on axle shafts or driveshafts. The differential permits the outer drive wheel to turn faster than the inside wheel when turning. Proper adjustment of the ring and pinion gears is very important and should be carried out by experienced individuals. Limited-slip differentials have clutches which connect the axle shafts to the differential case, and engage by spring action or torque pressure during turns; requires a special lubricant because of the differential design. The Type 1041 rear axle is distinguished by its aluminum inspection cover, and is connected to the body by means of support arms, torque arm and Panhard rod, and the Type 1035 and 1045 rear axles by a member with an upper section and lower section, which are connected through links and track rods. Some rear axle variants have an Automatic Differential Lock, activated by a centrifugal governor when one drive wheel spins and the vehicle is traveling below 25 mph, so that the differential can be used as in a conventional type at constant speeds.