The differential assembly, is a four pinion type limited slip differential final drive assembly mounted to and independent rear suspension. The differential is mounted directly to the crossmember which is rubber mounted to the underbody. The differential case and drive pinon are mounted in opposed taper roller bearing in the carrier. Differential case side bearing preload adjustment is provided by screw adjusters in the sides of the case. Pinon bearing pre-load is provided by a collapsible spacer. Torque is transferred from the propeller shaft to the differential via the pinon flange which is splined to the hypoid pinon. The torque is then transferred from the pinon through the ring gear, differential case, differential pinon cross shafts, differential pinons, side gears, and then via splines to the inner axle shafts and the drive shafts.

The limited slip differential performs the same functions as the conventual type differential. However, should the opposite wheel begin to spin, it transfers driving force to the wheel with traction. The differential case houses a cone type clutch pack that is an integral part of the side gears. The four pinon type limited slip differential has three pre-load springs inclosed in the center pinon cross shaft. The limited slip differential directs the major driving force to the wheel with greater amount of traction, but will not interfere with steering characteristics of differential action. The partial locking action, due to the spring load on the cones, is automatically increased by the inherent separating forces between the side gears and pinon, which progressively increases the resistance in the differential as applied torque is increased.

When the rear wheels are under extremely unbalanced conditions, such as one wheel on dry road and the other in mud or snow, with a standard differential, wheel spin easily occurs if over acceleration is attempted. However, with a limited slip differential, when the tendency for wheel spin occurs friction generated inside the case transfers driving force to the non-spinning wheel. In the event of continued spinning, a whirring sound from the over-running cones is produced, but this condition/sound does not indicate a failure of the unit.