Abstract: Drivetrains and constant velocity joints for recreational vehicles are disclosed. These joints comprise a housing, an aperture for connecting with an axle, and interior components for rotatably connecting the axle to the housing. Various retention mechanisms improve the retention of constant velocity joints, including hydraulic-based, disc-based, pin-based, spline-based, and spring ring-based mechanisms. Hydraulic-based systems utilize adjustable hydraulic pressure for maintaining engagement. Disc-based mechanisms employ a conical disc that provides additional frictional force to resist pull-out forces. Pin-based retention involves drive pads or pins and corresponding tracks or grooves in the shaft interfacing gear. Spline-based mechanisms include a toolless locking half shaft retention system with rotating, interrupted splines. Spring ring-based retention features multiple flexible retaining rings placed axially along the spline, providing improved shaft retention.

Abstract: A differential assembly having a differential case, a differential gearset, a clutch pack and a preload spring. The differential gearset is received in the case and has a side gear and one or more differential pinion shaft members onto which differential pinions are rotatably mounted. The clutch pack is received in the differential case and has a plurality of first clutch plates, which are axially slidably but non-rotatably coupled to the differential case, and a plurality of second clutch plates that are interleaved with the first clutch plates and axially slidably but non-rotatably coupled to the side gear. The preload spring abuts the one or more differential pinion shaft members and the side gear and biases the side gear away from the one or more differential pinion shaft members to preload the clutch pack.