Hib Halverson
Amongst Corvette DIYs the most misunderstood and ignored powertrain component in the car is the rear drive axle assembly.
Perhaps it’s those strange-looking hypoid gears, or that limited slip differential which just works – we don’t know how, but it does. Might be that smelly gear lubricant we hope stays deep inside that rear end. It could be because rear axle work can be tedious and must be done just right or your gears will howl and whine and your limited slip will squeal and chatter.
High-Performance Differentials, Axles & Drivelines, by Joeseph Palazzolo, blows away the smoke and breaks the mirrors surrounding DIY misunderstanding of rear axles and differentials.
This book, which was a silver medalist in the 2009 International Automotive Media Competition, is not so much a repair manual as it is a text book. While rear axle service is a big part of this title, where it really shines is explaining the theories and engineering behind a modern rear drive axle.
The book covers wide range of topics having chapters on rear axle engineering basics, axle housings, ring-and-pinion gear sets, factory and aftermarket differentials, axle shafts and driveshafts. We found the chapters on the various types of limited slip differentials along with the chapter on ring-and-pinion gearsets to be of particular value in explaining some of the mystery inside rear axles.
Palazzolo delves pretty deep into some subjects and because of that, some understanding of math and algebra is necessary to get the full benefit of the book, but those who are math-challenged, can skip over those parts and still gain a lot of knowledge about rear ends. This book is superbly illustrated with excellent photography and outstanding line art both of which go a long way in supporting visually the points Palazzolo makes in the text.
The chapter on service and overhaul work uses Ford Mustang rear ends in a lot of the images and some might question that as being narrowly focused. In reality, the part of High-Performance Differentials, Axles & Drivelines which covers overhaul work is intended as a general guide, not specific service data.
The images are generic and apply to rear axles from many manufacturers. A DIY intent upon rebuilding a rear end will, also, need the information in the factory service manual for their car and that’s where specific instructions and illustrations should be found. This book gets high marks for demystifying rear axles and drivelines. I am glad to add it to my automotive book shelf.
