The bulbous center section of a solid axle that holds the ring and pinion, differential and carrier bearings. On some axles the whole center section unbolts as a removable carrier, called a third member, while on others the gears are serviced through a rear cover. Mechanics use the word for the housing and loosely for everything inside it.
Heard on the job
Pull the cover on the pumpkin and check the fuzz on the magnet before you condemn the gears.
Also heard as
- third member
- diff housing
- center section
Related terms
Ring and pinion
Shop name for the hypoid final drive in a vehicle axle, named by its ratio, such as 3.73 or 4.10.
Spider gears
Shop name for the small bevel gears inside a differential that let the two wheels turn at different speeds.
Fuzz
Shop word for the fine metallic paste that collects on a magnetic drain plug from normal gear wear.