Abstract: A differential mechanism of a four-wheel driving apparatus for vehicles has a planetary gear and transmits the driving torque from an input shaft to a front wheel driving shaft and a rear wheel driving shaft in a distributing manner. The differential mechanism includes a first spline rotated by the driving torque from the input shaft, a second spline connected so as to the integrally rotated with a sun gear of the differential planteary gear, a third spline connected so as to be integrally rotated with a carrier, fourth spline formed on an outer circumferential surface of the ring gear, and a differential change sleeve mounted in an outward radial direction from the first spline to the fourth spline for axially sliding between two positions, one position for connecting first and fourth splines, and the other position for connecting first, second and third splines.

Abstract: An automatic transmission of a trans-axle type in which an input shaft is disposed above a differential across an axle of a vehicle. A case for the transmission is divided into a differential case for mounting a differential and a transmission case for an automatic transmission device. A bearing plate is disposed between the differential case and the transmission case. A drive pinion formed on an end of a drive pinion shaft is engaged with a ring gear of the differential. The drive pinion shaft is rotatably mounted in the bearing plate by a bearing, and an oil pump is provided in the bearing plate around the input shaft.