the Right Parts and Service
Chapter 2: Factory Rear Axle Housings
Chapter 3: Rebuilding the Rear Axle
Common Axle Problems
Vehicle Preparation
Axle Disassembly
Cleaning and Inspection
Axle Reassembly
Summary
Chapter 4: Factory Limited-Slip Differentials
Determining Limited-Slip vs. Open Differential
Tear-Down Process
Checking the Parts for Wear
Rebuild Process
Final Assembly and Performance
GM-Style Limited-Slip Differential
Cone-Style Limited-Slip Differential
Ford Mustang Differentials
Summary
Chapter 5: Aftermarket Differentials
Limited-Slip Differentials
Open Differential
Spools and Mini-Spools
Lockers
Helical Technology
Viscous Control Technology
Torque Vectoring
Summary
Chapter 6: Ring and Pinion Gears
Torque Multiplication
Hypoid vs. Spiral Bevel Gear Systems
Hypoid Mounting Dimensions
Tire Size and Gear Ratio
Gear Manufacturing
Gear Materials
Gear Tooth Geometry
Disassembly and Assembly of Ring and Pinion Gears
Setting Gear Contact Pattern
Ring and Pinion Break-In Procedure
Speedometer Accuracy
Summary
Chapter 7: Axle Shafts
Axle Shaft Function
Axle Shaft Geometry and Nomenclature
Materials and Manufacturing Methods
Spline Details
Bearing Surfaces
Flange, Lug Studs and Nuts
Summary
Chapter 8: Driveshafts, Universal Joints and Pinion Angle
Driveshaft Considerations
Retention Methods
Sizes
Vibrations
Joint Angles
Lubrication
Summary
Source Guide
Over the past 50 years, Ford, Chrysler, GM, and the aftermarket have developed and released a variety of differentials, axle shafts and housings, and driveline components. Finding and selecting the right combination of driveline components for a particular high-performance car is no easy task because the myriad of equipment and seemingly limitless options can appear overwhelming. And, I can’t think of a better person to wade through it than Joe Palazzolo.
I first met Palazzolo while attending his SAE driveline course. Back then I was the Technical Director at Car and Driver magazine and I wanted to learn exactly how modern drivelines work. There’s a lot of confusion out there, even among car-company employees and we wanted to be able to explain to our readers why some systems are better than others. Plus it’s fascinating stuff.
While we’ve come a long way since Positraction, that doesn’t mean your Ford nine-inch rear end will be shelved anytime soon. Actually, most of the driveline principles that dictate driveline function and operation haven’t changed much. So what you’ll learn in this book will be valuable, no matter what kind of car you’re working on.
So what will you learn? Through pictures, diagrams, and Palazzolo’s clear explanations, you’ll get the basics like the difference between CV and universal joints and what exactly is a hypoid gear. The book also goes much deeper into service techniques, modifications, and general maintenance. Plus, where else are you going to find the difference between face milling and face hobbing? I’m sure writing this book wasn’t easy, but he’s definitely up to the task.
In my line of work I quickly learned to differentiate the engineers who had cursory knowledge of a particular subject from the ones with a deep understanding. Palazzolo’s in the latter group. The guy’s not only a degreed engineer, but also an ASE master technician so he has the practical background that too many engineers lack.
There are many books out there that touch on some of these subjects, but not one that encompasses everything like this one does. It’ll
