Drive assembly and method of assembly

A torque transfer assembly comprising:

• a torque shaft rotatable around a rotation axis, the torque shaft having a first end and a second end opposite the first end along the rotation axis, a first reference feature at an intermediary location between the first end and the second end, and a sun gear integrated to the first end of the torque shaft, the sun gear and the torque shaft having a unitary body, the second end of the torque shaft has a first external diameter, and the sun gear having a second external diameter greater than the first external diameter;
• and
• a reference tube having a fixed end secured to the torque shaft adjacent the second end, a free end having a second reference feature adjacent the first reference feature, the reference tube extending around the torque shaft, the reference tube having an internal diameter, the internal diameter being between the first external diameter and the second external diameter.

A method of assembling a torque transfer assembly, the method comprising:

• engaging a second end of a torque shaft into a free end of a reference tube bearing a first reference feature, and sliding the reference tube towards a first end of the torque shaft opposite the second end, until the free end of the reference tube reaches an intermediary location of the torque shaft, the torque shaft having a sun gear at the first end and a second reference feature at the intermediary location;
• and
• securing a fixed end of the reference tube to the second end of the torque shaft, the fixed end of the reference tube opposite the free end.