Abstract: An salisbury axle assembly that includes a differential gearset in a carrier housing. A housing cover is coupled to the carrier housing and is operable for sealingly closing a window on the carrier housing through which there is access to the differential gearset. The housing cover includes a cover member and a seal ring. The cover member includes a mating face and a plurality of raised connection points that are disposed between the carrier housing and the mating face The seal ring is coupled to the mating face and encircles each of the raised connection points. The seal ring further includes at least first and second ring members that are disposed between each of the raised connection points. The pre-attach seal ring sealingly engages the carrier housing and the mating face to a proper compression distance.

Abstract: An axle shaft assembly for a motor vehicle has a bearing unit, an axle shaft, and a bearing retainer. The axle shaft is supported within the wheel bearing unit. The axle shaft has an outer diameter. The bearing retainer is mounted on the axle shaft and abuts the wheel bearing unit. The bearing retainer has a piloting feature for aligning the bearing retainer with respect to the axle shaft. The piloting feature includes a pilot surface with an inner diameter approximately equal to the outer diameter of the axle shaft.

Abstract: A differential cover for a differential unit of a vehicle includes a central area, a flange area having a lower surface facing a mating direction for mating with a surface of a differential housing. The flange area has a plurality of apertures distributed along the flange area. The flange between centerlines of adjacent apertures defines a plurality of segments, each of which extending further in the mating direction than the lower surfaces of the segment at respective centerlines.

Abstract: A differential cover for a differential unit of a vehicle includes a central area, a flange area having a lower surface facing a mating direction for mating with a surface of a differential housing. The flange area has a plurality of apertures distributed along the flange area. The flange between centerlines of adjacent apertures defines a plurality of segments, each of which extending further in the mating direction than the lower surfaces of the segment at respective centerlines.