Differential assembly

An open differential assembly, comprising:

• a differential case,
• a drive gear for driving the differential case,
• a first differential pin extending through a through hole in the differential case, and a connection member,
• wherein the differential case includes a first section and a second section that are positioned on opposing sides of the through hole,
• wherein the first section of the differential case is adjacent to the drive gear,
• wherein the connection member extends through a first bore in the drive gear and a second bore in the differential case, and partially through a third bore in the first differential pin to fixedly connect the drive gear and the first differential pin to the differential case,
• wherein the connection member includes a larger diameter section, a smaller diameter section, and a shoulder section that is arranged between the larger diameter section and the smaller diameter section,
• wherein a gap is formed between the shoulder section of the connection member and an interior surface of the second bore,
• wherein the gap has a continuous boundary that is formed between the shoulder section of the connection member and the interior surface of the second bore,
• wherein a terminal end of the connection member is spaced away from the second section of the differential case and is positioned in the third bore, wherein the second section of the differential case does not include a connection member bore,
• wherein the connection member includes a head that has a surface in face sharing contact with a side surface of the drive gear, and
• wherein the drive gear includes an output flange section that continuously extends from the first bore to:
• an interior surface that defines an output shaft opening;
• and
• an inboard surface that is positioned radially inward from the differential case.