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An axle carrier, also known as a stub, differential, or third member, houses the gear set of a driveshaft. It can be removable or cast into the shaft housing. The pinion, ring gear, and spider gears are located inside the carrier, which is commonly made of cast iron or aluminum. Removable carriers are preferred in motorsports for easy gear changes. Ford’s design is favored for its strength and easy-to-change axle support.
An axle carrier is known by many names, such as stub, differential, and third member, each of which describes the component of a driveshaft that houses the gear set. The shaft support can be removable or designed and cast into the shaft housing, depending on the type and style of the shaft. When working with a removable carrier, the gear assembly can be accessed by sliding the drive shafts out of the differential and removing the carrier. When working with a non-removable carrier, the rear cover is removed from the differential to access the gear assembly.
The pinion, ring gear, and spider gears are located inside the shaft bracket. Commonly made of heavy cast iron, some heavy duty carrier designs are made of aluminum to reduce the unsprung weight of the axle. Some racing applications also use a spool to eliminate spider gears and the heavy, factory-engineered positive drive unit inside the carrier, creating a lighter option on the critical driveline component. Gear lubricant is used in the axle housing to lubricate the gear set. Seals placed on the axle tubes retain the lubricant within the carrier.
To remove a removable bracket from an axle housing, the first step is to drain the lubrication into a catch pan. The shafts must then be removed by loosening the bearing retainer plate located behind the shaft flange and sliding the shafts out of the housing. Once the fixing bolts are removed from the bracket, they can be removed from the axle housing. Any required service can be done with the carrier at a bank for added convenience. On a vehicle with a non-removable bracket design, service to the unit is commonly completed with the axle in the vehicle.
The removable axle carrier is preferred in most motorsports due to the ability to take several different carriers to the track, each with a different gear ratio set. This allows for easy gear changes to help the crew prepare the race car for the right track conditions. The most common style of hauler is manufactured to a Ford Motor Company design and is used in virtually all types of motorsports around the world. Favored for its strength and easy to change axle support, Ford’s design is the choice of race teams and powerful street car builders when building a bulletproof axle that will withstand extreme amounts of horsepower. force and torque.
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